If you believe that you may be struggling with alcohol addiction, you are not alone. In the United States alone, around 15 million people struggle with alcohol use disorder. Every year, around 88,000 people die because of the negative effects of alcohol. Despite this, only a small percentage seek treatment for their alcohol addiction. Alcohol addiction is incredibly difficult to overcome and can be embarrassing to share with others. It might be tempting to try and overcome your addiction alone; however, attempting to overcome addiction can be much easier through an addiction recovery program. Rehabilitation programs provide several treatment options and personalize them for your journey to recovery.
It might be difficult to admit that help is needed, but these five signs of alcohol addiction might help you determine that it is time to seek help. Evaluate your own situation and consider if these signs of addiction describe your daily experience.
You Experience Withdrawal When You Do Not Drink
Withdrawals are a common symptom of attempting to overcome an addiction of any form. They arise whenever a person attempts to stop the addictive behavior, and their body craves the source of their addiction. More mild symptoms of withdrawal include nausea, shaky hands, vomiting, headaches, insomnia, and sweating. More severe withdrawals, however, may also include delirium tremens (DTs). Those experiencing DTs may be enduring fever, confusion, and high blood pressure during withdrawal, and they may sweat excessively. If you notice these symptoms, seek immediate medical help; DTs can be life-threatening.
You Struggle To Stop Drinking
Attempting to stop drinking can be difficult and frustrating. Many people who try to quit on their own often struggle, but this struggle to overcome alcohol should not be taken as a failure. Professional help is often necessary to manage and overcome alcohol addiction. If you have tried and failed to quit, you should consider receiving professional help. Quitting is not an easy task, and periods of relapse and recovery are common in attempts to overcome addiction. With each subsequent relapse, new methods of abstinence are needed to rejoin the road of recovery. Professional help can provide the support you need to overcome your addiction by personalizing a pathway to removing alcohol from your life. Whether you’re seeking help for the first time or looking for a different method to help you with your recovery, a rehabilitation program may be right for you. Both inpatient and outpatient options are available.
You Require Excessive Amounts To Get Drunk
Prolonged excessive alcohol consumption can build a tolerance to the effects of alcohol over time. Because of this, people who have an alcohol addiction will need more drinks to feel the desired effects of alcohol. Effects of excessive alcohol consumption are not simply a financial strain but a health strain as well.
You Are Experiencing Mental Or Physical Health Issues
The damaging effects of alcohol addiction are not merely short-term. Severe long-term health effects can arise from prolonged alcohol abuse. Physical health ailments caused by alcohol abuse can include heart damage, liver damage, anemia, numerous types of cancer, as well as brain and nervous system problems.
Additionally, alcohol abuse can create or exacerbate various mental health conditions. Mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and even dementia are all linked to alcohol abuse.
If you are experiencing mental or physical health issues as a result of alcohol, it might be time to seek out rehabilitation. The sooner you treat your alcohol addiction, the more you can prevent long-term damage to your health.
Your Main Priority Is Alcohol Consumption
Another sign of alcohol addiction is when alcohol becomes the driving force in your life, and all former interests, activities, and hobbies fade to the background. This can be costly, both mentally and financially, as the thought of obtaining alcohol becomes your main priority. Seeking out rehabilitation can help you both reprioritize your interests, activities, and hobbies and deprioritize the need for alcohol.
Reach Out To A Professional About Rehab For Alcohol
Whether you are new to an addiction recovery program or are trying again to overcome your addiction, be sure to work with an addiction recovery center with years of experience. A major benefit of a structured rehab program is the support, both mentally and physically, that you will receive throughout your recovery process. Insight Treatment Center can provide personalized, comprehensive addiction recovery programs suited for your needs. The professionals at Insight Treatment Center will work with you to assess which strategy is best for your successful addiction recovery. Reach out to schedule an appointment with an experienced alcohol rehabilitation professional.
