Alcoholism Alcohol Addiction Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment

It is important to remember that AUD is not due to an individual’s lack of self-discipline or resolve. Long-term alcohol use can produce changes in the brain that can cause people to crave alcohol, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ lose control of their drinking and require greater quantities of alcohol to achieve its desired effects. It can also cause people to experience withdrawal symptoms if they discontinue alcohol use.

While many people experience withdrawal by themselves at home, it may be safer to seek the help of medical professionals with years of experience treating these types of issues. Researchers know that alcoholism has a genetic component, but it cannot be traced to a single gene. There seem to be several genes, and both their presence and how these genes interact with each other in the body helps determine whether alcoholism will develop. A known example of genetic risk is that having alcoholic parents makes a person four times more likely to develop the diagnosis, per the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. If you or a loved one is struggling with an alcohol use disorder, help is only a phone call away. Contact a treatment provider now to learn about available treatment options.

Identifying Alcoholism

It makes you aware of triggers and may motivate you to seek additional help from a counselor or support group. Participating in ongoing treatment methods provides you with a greater chance for long-term sobriety than those who do not continue recovery with maintenance programs. Call now to connect with a treatment provider and start your recovery journey. A health care provider might ask the following questions to assess a person’s symptoms. Medically managed withdrawal or detoxification can be safely carried out under medical guidance. Medications, such as benzodiazepines, are given to help control withdrawal symptoms.

In these cases, a person is often treated with a dual-diagnosis approach. The mental health professional focuses on treating the underlying mental health condition alongside helping the person recover from alcohol addiction. While there is no universal indicating factor to one’s risk level, there are some factors that have historically been known to contribute to developing the disorder. Sana Lake addiction rehab in Kansas City is filled with people who know exactly what you’re going through.

Taking Alcohol with Medication

The withdrawal process is very challenging and difficult to go through, as the brain and body crave the level of alcohol they are accustomed to receiving. Avoiding withdrawal is a strong motivator for an alcoholic to continue to drink. This can create a vicious cycle, where why are people alcoholics the alcoholic drinks to avoid the stress of withdrawal. Alcoholism, like other addictions, is ultimately a learned behavior, and a person’s thoughts and beliefs come into play. Alcohol is the most available, widely consumed, and widely misused recreational drug.

When you don’t properly address past abuse in therapy, you might turn to heavy drinking to temporarily feel better about your situation. Alcohol can lead to physical dependence as well as a psychological focus on the drug. When people use alcohol to mask unpleasant feelings, they may end up psychologically dependent on the substance.

How common is alcohol use disorder?

Triggers, including a group of friends who drink, certain activities or circumstances can lead someone to fall back into old drinking habits. When drinking too much becomes a pattern, you greatly increase your chances of developing an alcohol-related problem. The more you drink, the more your body builds a tolerance to alcohol. Tolerance means you’ll need more alcohol to feel the same effects you used to feel with less. Career paths that are more likely to face high levels of stress due to long hours and strenuous tasks include doctors, nurses, emergency rescue workers, construction workers and military.