Alcohol Addiction Signs And Therapy

Do you have alcohol addiction or do you just simply love drinking? Do you find it helpful to just drink alcohol to drown away your problems and overcome sad experiences in your life? Let’s go deeper into an addiction to alcohol. What causes people to abuse alcohol and be addicted to alcohol? Does too much alcohol consumption have any effect on one’s mental health?

Source: pixabay.com

Alcohol Problems And Mental Disorders

This goes without saying, but excessive alcohol consumption can lead to alcohol addiction. The negative effects of alcohol consumption could result in disorders for both the individual and their family members, who may require treatment and emotional support.

Another common term for this mental health condition involving the excessive consumption of alcohol is alcohol abuse. Alcohol affects brain function, personal relationships, and the way you process health information and your feelings. Research shows that the effects of alcohol are similar to those of other drugs. Excessive intake of alcoholic drinks, especially among young people, can impair brain activity, disrupt nerve function, and pose risks to mental health, potentially leading to long-term mental health problems. In fact, individuals diagnosed with mild to severe mental illnesses or those who have attempted suicide before have a higher risk of developing alcohol dependence.

A person who is struggling with alcohol abuse is engaging in regular heavy drinking and has a high likelihood of encountering problems in their daily life – including mental health issues (e.g., bipolar disorder) and other health risks, such as high blood pressure, liver disease, and breast cancer, among others. Most individuals with alcohol use disorder also have a family history of excessive alcohol use and alcoholism. Additionally, the age and severity of alcoholism contribute to the risk of trauma. Access to appropriate health services is crucial for individuals dealing with alcohol abuse.

Consuming alcohol, including fetal alcohol, is not necessarily a bad thing, especially when people with alcohol use it in moderation. However, it becomes dangerous when individuals engage in alcohol consumption to excess, leading to binge drinking (five or more drinks) and the development of dependency or long-term alcohol use disorder. In many cases, those struggling with alcohol abuse may also involve themselves in other forms of substance abuse, such as drug abuse, resulting in serious consequences. Over time, individuals with early alcohol use disorders may ultimately experience liver disease and other mental health problems. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism provides valuable resources to help individuals better understand the risks associated with alcohol consumption and how to make informed choices about their drinking habits.

Additionally, if you have an alcohol use disorder and some mental disorders, you must not stop abruptly or else your alcohol withdrawal effects will be detrimental to you.

Alcohol Addiction And What To Do About It

The best way to find out if you have an alcohol-related problem, such as alcohol abuse and alcoholism, is to seek professional treatment advice from a certified professional. They may encourage you to initially join support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or refer you for alcohol treatment in a treatment facility.

Relapse is a common occurrence in adults with mild to moderate substance use disorders, and various factors can contribute to it. Avoid making any self-diagnosis, as there are potential health consequences for abruptly stopping without help from medical professionals. There are uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms that a person suffering from heavy drinking, which is alcohol-related, cannot easily manage.

As much as possible, book an appointment with a treatment provider or support groups so that the treatment provider can start the recovery process appropriately by first explaining what this addiction entails while minimizing the withdrawal symptoms as well as other negative consequences that might arise.

Some Of The Most Common Signs That Indicate The Presence Of Addiction To Alcohol

A kid saw his drunk dad passed out on their table.
Source: pixabay.com
    • You are ashamed or guilty about your drinking habits.
    • You start to lie, hide, or conceal all your alcohol use and binge drinking.
    • You seek more liquor to make you feel better or to relax, and then experience anxiety, high blood alcohol levels, long-term health risks, and other mental health issues when you are sober.
    • You usually black out after drinking too much liquor.
    • You make it a habit of engaging in excessive drinking – a few drinks first and then eventually too much.
    • You cannot control your consumption.
    • You fail in some aspects of your life because of your drinking habits.
    • If you try to stop suddenly, you start having severe withdrawal symptoms and need to get into a treatment facility.

There are several ways that can help you deal with alcohol abuse and alcoholism. First of all, if you’ve decided to stop drinking alcohol, you need to begin seeking treatment and reach out to a professional who can guide you throughout the process of detox and recovery. The assistance of a specific treatment provider allows you to have a better understanding of your developing alcoholism and early alcohol addiction management. At the same time, treatment providers also give you a chance to find the cause. Keep in mind that finding what causes this is necessary for a fast recovery.

Peers meeting with their counselors seeking help online. Too much drinking of liquors is considered the worst drinking problem. A person who is a liquor dependent has a high likelihood of encountering problems in his daily life. Taking liquors is not a bad thing, especially when it is taken in moderation. It becomes dangerous only if the person starts to become dependent on it.
Source: pixabay.com

Even if you are too busy at work or in your business, it is essential to seek early treatment for your alcohol addictionFortunately, there are the latest improvements in the way sessions are made by treatment providers with their patients. Nowadays, you can easily try online counseling, even with long-term alcohol use disorder. This method may be useful and efficient on your part, most importantly if you prefer to have online interaction with your treatment providers. All sessions will be made in a virtual environment, which is why you need to have a good Internet connection. It also offers access to mental health treatments to people in remote areas as well as those with physical limitations. Research has shown that this has had more or less the same effect as going to treatment centers.

Seeking Advice Through Online Counseling In BetterHelp

If you’re concerned about a family member, friend, or neighbor who is under a long period of alcohol dependence, call human services to help you. BetterHelp is a great example. It’s an online application that caters to people who want to know more about their mental health illnesses, including alcohol misuse. It has a team of therapists who are experienced in providing essential information on how to tackle mental illness and successfully manage life’s challenges. Learn more about it here.

The issue of dependence is dangerous. In order to cope with daily life stressors, you must be responsible with your behavior patterns. It involves making sure that you do everything you can to save yourself, which is an important role you must extend to others.

FAQs

How Many Drinks A Day Is Considered Abuse?

According to NIAAA, heavy drinking is consuming 4 drinks or more on any day or reaching 14 drinks or more in a week for men. For women, it would be drinking more than 3 drinks on any day or reaching 7 drinks or more per week.

SAMHSA, on the other hand, says that binge drinking for five or more days in the past month can be defined as heavy alcohol usage.

What Are The 4 Types Of Drinkers?

What Causes Someone To Be An Alcoholic?

What Are The Symptoms Of Alcoholism?

When is one considered an alcoholic?

How do I stop drinking?

Why does taking in liquor change people’s personalities?

What happens if you drink liquor every day?

How does drinking liquor affect behavior?

Which behavior is most likely to indicate liquor abuse?

Who is at risk of alcoholism?

What makes a person an alcoholic?

How do I know if I’m an alcoholic?