What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction
September 24, 2024
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction
An abundance of people partake in alcoholic drinks from time to time. But alcohol can be habit-forming. If you begin consuming alcohol to get through life or find you’re not able to limit your drinking, you could have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This condition can swifty dominate your life and severely impact all the activities you enjoyed before.
But you shouldn’t lose hope. If you suspect you or a person you care about have alcohol use disorder support and lasting recovery are attainable. Read on to learn more about AUD and what you should do if you require guidance right now.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?
Alcohol use disorder is a health condition where you feel the urge to drink alcohol in spite of the negative ramifications of overconsumption. Your brain craves alcohol’s mind-altering qualities and no longer operates reliably without them. AUD might be severe, moderate, or mild. At its severest, you are at risk of an overdose with fatal consequences.
When enduring AUD, you may cultivate an alcohol addiction and suffer uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms if you attempt to stop using. Without skilled help, you can’t stop yourself from ingesting alcohol to lessen the discomfort your body experiences when you start alcohol detox. If you do manage to quit “cold turkey,” you will still need to combat the practice of consistent drinking. AUD needs skilled treatment to enjoy a total recovery.
Why Are People Burdened By Alcohol Use Disorder?
Lots of people drink, but not all of them develop an alcohol use disorder. A variety of factors influence your probability of experiencing AUD:
- Drinking early in life
- Underlying mental health conditions
- Background of trauma
- Poor coping mechanisms
- Genetics
- Family history of alcohol use disorder
Numerous individuals begin binging on alcohol as a response to high levels of stress. Without constructive coping skills, it’s easy to erase the uneasy feelings that stem from mental illness and trauma with the chemical stimulation of alcohol. Whenever those unwanted feelings return, you turn to alcohol to subdue them again. You get a temporary reprieve when using alcohol.
Regrettably, alcohol is not an answer. When you use it consistently, you may become reliant on those chemicals to live your daily life. When you don’t have them, you feel more uncomfortable than you did previously and want to drink more. Soon, drinking alcohol consumes your life and adversely impacts your job, relationships, wellness, leisure activities, and finances. When you become ensnared in this devastating spiral, you aren’t able to quit drinking without specialized guidance.
What Are Common Alcohol Addiction Symptoms?
Frequent drinking doesn’t definitively mean you have a disorder. Alcohol consumption manifests into a disorder when it begins interfering with your life. Many behaviors linked to drinking can signal an alcohol use disorder.
You may have AUD if you:
- Frequently drink in excess of or longer than you were expecting
- Can’t stop drinking even when you want to
- Spend much time seeking alcohol and drinking, even though it makes you feel bad or disrupts other activities
- Crave alcohol so much you are unable to focus on other things
- Have taken part in dangerous behaviors while drinking alcohol
- Have to drink more than before in order to get the wanted effect
- Have forsaken enjoyable activities so you can drink
- Have continued drinking despite its impact on family and friends
- Suffer withdrawal symptoms when you cease drinking alcohol
The gravity of your AUD generally correlates to the number of symptoms you experience. But any person who’s showing signals of alcohol addiction symptoms is entitled to specialized treatment and support. You shouldn’t have to take on alcohol use disorder on your own.
What You Need To Know About Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
If you have an alcohol addiction, your system requires it to perform. If you cease drinking, you get sick. This is referred to as withdrawal.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms differ for each individual and are reflective of how severe your alcohol use is. If you go into withdrawal, you may face any of these symptoms:
- Insomnia
- Shaky hands
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sweating
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Delirium tremens
- Delusions
- Confusion
- Racing heart
- Fever
- Increased blood pressure
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are an obvious sign that you or someone you love has AUD and needs help. Withdrawal can be painful and, in rare cases, even lethal if not controlled by medical specialists. If a person you care about| wants to quit alcohol but endures withdrawal when they try, turn to a substance use treatment provider for expert care.
Can You “Cure” Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol use disorder and addiction are known as chronic diseases. Technically speaking, there isn’t a cure. However, a lasting recovery is a real possibility. With the proper combination of medical and mental health care, you can find how to control the urge to drink and reach your goal of a sober lifestyle. It’s an arduous pursuit, but countless people eventually recover from alcohol use disorder and take back control of their lives.
Starting Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment
No person can attain sobriety on their own–and there’s no reason to do so! Finding alcohol use disorder treatment might feel daunting, but you have a right to expert care to help get yourself on a sober path.
Alcohol use recovery can feel more doable when you look at it as several steps. You won’t find a single road to sobriety. Many individuals endure setbacks and go through some of these steps several times. But it’s important to note that you can get assistance from loved ones and accredited professionals during your recovery.
Alcohol detox: Your first step is to detox from alcohol. As your body removes the alcohol, you require medical supervision that keeps you comfortable and safe. Whenever you’re ready to end your alcohol dependence, request admittance to a residential detox center. They will provide 24/7 support for one or two weeks as you overcome withdrawal.
Alcohol rehab: After detoxing, your mind and body will still yearn for alcohol. You need to move forward to residential rehab where medical providers can assist you in navigating post-acute withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol rehab emphasizes restoring your brain from the impact of alcohol addiction. You’ll go to several hours of therapy every day to treat the mental aspects of AUD. You’ll stay in rehab as long as you need.
Outpatient addiction treatment: Rehab will get you balanced enough to go back home, but you’ll still require ongoing support to keep on a path of sobriety. Don’t exit rehab without entering an outpatient addiction program that provides therapy and medically guided treatment. You may reside at home or in a sober living facility, but you still need to visit counselors and a doctor throughout the week.
Sober living: Over time, your need for treatment will abate. But, recovery is a long-term endeavor. Rely on the network of addiction experts, family, and new friends you have developed to keep up your healthy lifestyle. Avoid situations that trigger you to drink. Seek help whenever you need it. Lasting recovery can be accomplished!
Get Help Today For Alcohol Use Disorder
You don’t have to battle alcohol addiction by yourself. Turn to The Counseling Center to learn more about understanding, professional alcohol use disorder treatment. You can contact us at 866-850-5001 or by submitting the following form. One of our friendly staff members will respond immediately, regardless of the hour or day. All calls are free and private. We’ll get you the treatment you need today.