If you’re suffering from alcoholism, you’re not alone. In fact, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), almost 18 million adults in the United States suffer from this disease. But there is hope. With treatment and support, you can recover from alcoholism and lead a healthy, productive life.
We will provide a compendium of information for alcoholism sufferers, including statistics on the disease, causes of addiction, and available treatments. We hope that by reading this post, you’ll feel informed and empowered to take control of your recovery.
Alcohol is a depressant that slows down the central nervous system
Alcohol is a substance that can drastically alter your physical and mental state. As a depressant, it slows down the functioning of your central nervous system. This affects your body in many ways, making it harder to think logically and remember recent events, as well as reducing coordination and reflexes.
Alcohol on your liver
Heavy or long-term alcohol use can cause serious damage to your liver. Alcoholism leads to fatty liver, which can progress to alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. Damage caused by alcoholism is not always reversible, so it’s important to take action as soon as possible if you are an alcoholic.
Risk factors for alcoholism
Risk factors for alcoholism vary from person to person. Common risk factors include a family history of alcohol abuse, mental health issues such as depression or anxiety, and the availability of alcohol. But regardless of risk factors, anyone can become an alcoholic if they consume enough of it over time.
Drinking alcohol can lead to addiction and dependence
Drinking alcohol can often lead to serious consequences ranging from addiction to dependence, and devastating health impacts. Not only can excessive or irresponsible drinking create negative physical effects such as liver and brain damage, but it may also affect relationships, finances, and deliverance of other prior commitments and even cause permanent alienation from friends and family.
These long-term repercussions can be devastating for victims of alcoholism and the effects are felt not only by the sufferer but by those close to them. Understanding how to recognize early warning signs of addiction is key to preventing habituation disorders from manifesting in full force.
Detoxing from alcohol requires professional help and should not be attempted at home
Alcoholism is a serious illness, and detoxing from it requires intensive medical care by professionals. Attempting to detach from alcohol on your own can be dangerous as there are potential side effects, such as seizures or sudden death, that could arise from the detox process.
Professional help will provide necessary supervision and monitoring to ensure safety throughout the course of the withdrawal protocol. Additionally, medical personnel can advise and administer medications during medically supervised detoxification to reduce suffering, making the process smoother and more successful.
Detoxing from alcohol should never be attempted at home but instead should be done under the watchful eyes of experienced healthcare providers.
There are many resources available for alcoholism sufferers, including AA and Al-Anon
Persons suffering from alcoholism are far from alone—there are many resources designed to help them through their journey of recovery. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Al-Anon Family Groups provide support to both individuals affected by drinking and their families, allowing them a safe space to share stories and gain strength in numbers.
AA also offers 12 steps for recovery covering topics such as accepting personal responsibility for mistakes and devoting oneself to the service of others, aiding those with alcohol addiction to maintain sobriety.
Besides AA and Al-Anon, there is an extensive amount of information available to aid those struggling with alcoholism, helping those who seek it find the resources best suited for their specific needs.
Treatment options for alcoholics
Treatment for alcoholics is individualized and often includes a combination of psychotherapy, medication, support groups, and lifestyle changes. During the treatment process, therapists work with each person to identify their triggers and develop strategies to cope when they are exposed to them.
Medication may be prescribed by your doctor to help reduce cravings or decrease the effects of withdrawal symptoms if needed. Support groups provide additional assistance by offering peer counseling in a nonjudgmental setting.
Lifestyle changes such as avoiding environments where drinking is promoted and increasing activities that promote sobriety can help maintain lasting abstinence from alcohol.
Signs that you may be an alcoholic
Certain key behaviors may indicate that someone is an alcoholic, such as:
Impaired control over alcohol use
This might mean not being able to control how long a drinking session is, how much alcohol you consume when you do drink, how frequently you drink, being unable to stop drinking once you start, or drinking on inappropriate occasions or at an inappropriate place
Giving increasing priority to alcohol
If you give precedence to drinking over other daily activities and responsibilities, if drinking is more important to you than looking after your health, or if you carry on drinking despite negative consequences for your health or life.
Unwanted physical or mental effects from drinking
Showing signs of increased tolerance to alcohol (having to drink more for the same effect), experiencing withdrawal symptoms, or using alcohol to prevent or alleviate withdrawal symptoms.
And can also include:
- drinking in secret
- drinking more frequently or over longer periods of time than intended
- feeling guilty after drinking, and being unable to quit even if desired.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcoholism, get help from a professional as soon as possible
Alcoholism is an insidious disease, and if left untreated can rob a person of meaningful relationships, career opportunities, and even their own life. Don’t wait to get help: reach out to a professional who specializes in this area as soon as possible.
A trained clinician can offer compassionate and personalized treatment for alcoholism. Furthermore, research shows that early interventions—when the addiction has not yet become severe—are more successful than interventions at later stages of the illness.
Don’t stay in denial, and don’t suffer alone: Talk to a qualified healthcare provider who understands how to best support those struggling with alcoholism.
Alcohol has the potential to be extremely destructive and has long-term physical and mental effects. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction and dependence on alcohol, it’s important to seek professional help immediately.
Thankfully, there are many resources available such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon for those suffering from alcoholism. Impact IOP – Louisville Addiction Treatment Center provides an extensive range of educational materials to manage drinking problems and equip those affected by this condition with the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions.
It’s key to remember that the sooner people seek help, the greater chance they have of getting proper medical treatment. Finally, if you are looking for more information on alcoholism, Impact IOP – Louisville Addiction Treatment Center offers comprehensive support with assistance from qualified professionals.