Alcohol Addiction – What Do You Really Know About It?

Addiction means being under the constant influence of a controlled substance, and it controls everything in a person’s life. Alcoholics can deal with tremendous amounts of stress while trying to balance daily responsibilities with addiction, and many cannot handle it. The people who feel they can tackle it alone are the ones who struggle the most while trying to get sober.

Going cold turkey can be extremely dangerous when the body has developed a certain level of chemical requirement. When your system expects it, and it isn’t met, your body can literally go into shock.

Why do so many people struggling try to do it themselves? Besides the stigma attached to it, a lot of people giving it up have tried before and are uncomfortable with acknowledging past failures. Some believe they’ve got a handle on it, because their friends have done it. “What’s the big deal? It’s just alcohol, you can buy it practically anywhere. It’s not like it’s cocaine or heroin.” This is a very dangerous way of thinking.

Quitting alcohol can be lethal. Experts warn, the chances of dying from alcohol withdrawal, is much more likely than heroin. It’s a stunning statement that surprises many people, but it’s true.

Studies reveal that alcohol slows the heart down, because it’s a depressant. A slower than average or erratic heart beat can cause anyone attempting to quit cold turkey to suffer a seizure or cardiac arrest.

Rehab centers wean addicts on milder forms of alcohol, such a beer or wine for several weeks, and gradually eases them down from there. Valium can also be prescribed to help addicts “step down” while attempting to quit.

Alcoholics in particular, will try going sober by themselves, but addicts need a supervised environment. Successful recovery comes with the structure of daily routines and responsibilities, like chores and meetings and a set curfew.

For many people, they will need to change everything, including their jobs and friends. They will have to make hard decisions and end relationships with loved ones who are detrimental to their sobriety. While dealing with the pressures of these new changes many recovering addicts will struggle with temptation while finding their way to a much happier life.

Group meetings help those in recovery interact with people in the same situation. The support from others who have dealt with these circumstances in the past is crucial for everyone who deals with lifetime recovery.

Alcohol Addiction – Symptoms of Alcoholism To Look For

What are the signs of alcohol addiction? Generally speaking, the signs of alcohol addiction are unclear to many people. Alcohol addiction is a condition that includes craving and continued alcohol abuse despite repeated drinking-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law. Alcoholism is characterized by several signs:

 

• Cravings: A strong need, or compulsion, to drink alcohol.
• Loss of control: The inability to limit one’s drinking on any given occasion.
• Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, occur when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.
• Tolerance: The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to “get high.”

 

To better determine whether someone has an alcohol addiction problem The World Health Organization (WHO) has made a list of conditions relating to alcohol addiction. The following are conditions for alcoholism (you don’t have to fulfill all of these conditions to have a problem with drinking):

 

• Continue to use alcohol even if you know it is damaging for you.
• Damaging effects due to the use on the person itself and its surroundings (problems at work or school, arguments with the people around the addict, dedicate less time to hobbies, illnesses).
• Failed attempts to control the alcohol use.
• Psychological dependence (have a desire for alcohol, varying from very little to very much).
• Spend a great deal of time on the use of alcohol or on the recovery of its use.
• Tolerance (need more alcohol to still feel the effect).
• Use alcohol more frequently and in higher doses than planned.
• Withdrawal symptoms (get all kinds of physical reactions after you stop).
• Use alcohol to reduce the withdrawal symptoms.

 

Just like other drug addictions, an individual with an alcohol addiction problem has to be committed to make a change for the better. Some people stop drinking and remain sober. Others have long periods of sobriety with bouts of relapse. And still others cannot stop drinking for any length of time. With alcohol rehabilitation, one thing is clear: the longer a person abstains from alcohol, the more likely he or she will be able to stay sober.

Once you or your loved one acknowledges the alcohol addiction, attending alcohol rehab is often the next step. There are many different types of alcohol rehabilitation programs to choose from. The exact type an individual chooses will depend on the severity of their addiction as well as what type of treatment corresponds with their personal beliefs and values. Some of the many different types of alcohol rehabilitation available are inpatient, outpatient and residential treatment. Many times an individual’s family and friends are an important part of the recovery process. Some programs may offer additional help such as marital counseling, family therapy, legal assistance, job training, childcare, and parenting classes.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment Step by Step Guide

Alcoholism is a serious disease. It destroys families, careers and the self-worth of the addicted individual. Some alcoholics manage to quit drinking on their own but most will need intervention, whether through a self-help group or an inpatient treatment program.

The first step in the treatment process is for the addicted person to admit there is a problem. No recovery program will work without it.

Inpatient treatment can come in many different forms, such as being focused on teenagers or one particular gender. Some are actually wilderness retreats which can aid in the recovery process by focusing on survival skills.

Inpatient alcohol addiction treatment begins with an evaluation. A medical and mental health history is taken and the patient is advised on what to expect from the program and what is expected of them. The next and most often difficult stage is detox. The detox process takes from one to two weeks, depending on the individual. The patient may become quite ill during this stage, suffering from shakes, nausea and even hallucinations. Detox is always best done in the inpatient setting in case there are medical complications.

After detox comes therapy, either in a group or one-on-one or both. Inpatient treatment programs can differ but most are based on 12 steps. The Steps help the patient to better self-awareness about their addiction and healthier ways of thinking and dealing with life, especially overcoming denial about how their addiction is affecting them and others. The patient may also be assigned daily work tasks and participate in exercise and art.

At a later point, the patient’s entire family is encouraged to become involved and learn how to be a positive support system in the recovery process.

The long-term goal of alcohol addiction treatment is to help the patient realize there is more to sobriety than ceasing to drink. A truly sober life involves daily self-reflection, acceptance of limitations and setting realistic goals.

Many inpatient treatment programs are covered by insurance and some employers may pay for it, as well. The alcoholic must take the first step in admitting there is a problem so they can move on to a better life.