According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive alcohol consumption accounts for about 88,000 deaths and 2.5 million years of potential life lost in the U.S. every year. An alcohol addiction is a very serious condition in which a person feels like they have no control over their alcohol consumption, and this can affect their life in many negative ways. Thus, it’s important for one to learn about the signs of alcohol addiction to help yourself or a loved one overcome it.
It’s a very big step for someone to admit they have an alcohol addiction, and it’s an even bigger step for them to ask for help. Knowing the next step in the process of getting help is vital for someone who wants to become sober. You should know that there are many people and organizations out there that specialize and provide great care in helping people overcome an alcohol addiction. The most successful options available are taking part in a detox and rehab program suited for an individual’s specific needs.
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Signs of Alcohol Addiction
If you think you or a loved one is struggling with an alcohol addiction, you should see if the warning signs are present. The warning signs below will help you make an informed diagnosis:
Inability to limit amount consumed – A person cannot stop themselves from drinking excessive amounts alcohol, even if they say they won’t.
Always having an urge to drink – A person always feels compelled to drink, and even the smallest activity associated with alcohol may trigger an urge.
Concealing alcohol and drinking alone – A person who hides their alcohol and drinks alone doesn’t want anyone else to witness their addiction.
Creating drinking rituals – A person has rituals associated with their drinking habits and gets irritated when those rituals are interrupted.
Development of a tolerance – A person can tolerate a lot of alcohol due to drinking so often.
Lost interest in hobbies – A person has little or no interest in hobbies they used to enjoy.
Development of withdrawal symptoms – A person goes through withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia, nervousness, and depression when going for a longer than usual period without drinking.
Alcohol Addiction Side Effects
Alcohol addiction side effects are those that appear outside of the scope of the desired effects. Alcohol addiction side effects may appear during or after consumption:
- Headaches
- Decreased cardiovascular health
- Liver and kidney disease
- Gut inflammation
- Neuropathy
- Psychological disorders
- Unconsciousness
- Anemia
- Coma
- Blackouts
- Alcohol poisoning
- Nerve damage
- Permanent brain damage
Alcohol Addiction Withdrawal
When an addicted person discontinues use of alcohol, they experience withdrawal symptoms that manifest themselves both physically and emotionally. Withdrawal symptoms are strongest when a person suddenly stops consuming alcohol, but may also be present when there is reduced consumption. Withdrawal symptoms may be mild, severe, and even life-threatening. Below are some examples of alcohol addiction withdrawal symptoms:
- Seizures
- Anxiety and depression
- Hallucinations or delirium
- Tremors
- Nausea and vomiting
- Extreme sweating
- Irritability
- Confusion
- Insomnia
- Nightmares
- Heart attack or stroke
Withdrawal symptoms will affect each person differently depending on the length and severity of the addiction as well as individual tolerance.
Alcohol Addiction Detox
A detox facility provides significant help when a person’s addiction has become bigger than themselves, meaning they cannot beat the addiction alone. It’s a very big and important step for someone to admit they need professional help to get clean. With this in mind, a good detox facility is one that provides unfaltering support and has services designed to fit the needs of each individual to transition them to a life of sobriety. A good detox program also has qualified medical assistance to help patients with the physical withdrawal symptoms they may experience.
Picking a detox facility is a big first step for someone with an alcohol addiction, although it may bring some unpleasant thoughts to mind. However, it should be looked at it as an amazing opportunity to permanently change their lives for the better.
Each individual that decides to go through the detox process using a qualified detox facility will receive quality, customized care to fit their individual needs. Each person’s detox process will be different and is determined partly on the length and severity of the addiction. Detox for one person may be completely different for someone else. Likewise, current physical and mental health states are taken into consideration when determining the best process for each patient.
Choosing a Detox Facility
Once the decision has been made to use a detox facility, it’s time to compare each one and figure out which one would be the best fit. The following are tips for choosing the right detox center:
- Contact several detox facilities before settling on one.
- Figure out which amenities are important to you or your loved one.
- Decide whether or not a close location is important.
- Tour multiple detox centers and observe the treatment of patients.
- See if you can talk to the people who would be in charge of your care at the facility.
As with picking the right option for anything, you should do some comparing. See which facilities make you feel comfortable, have a great staff, and seem like a good fit for your needs before deciding on one. Oftentimes, a patient will want their family close so they can help in the process of recovery, so location may be an important factor. Lastly, it would be a great idea to tour each facility and see if you can get in contact with the people who will be directly caring for you. If you perform some of this research, there is a better chance of picking the perfect facility for yourself or your loved one and maximizing their chances of success.
Alcohol Addiction Rehab
The next step after detox is to participate in a rehab program that will give one the necessary tools to stay on the path of a sober life. Rehab is an important part of the recovery process because it empowers individuals to take control of their lives and keep addictions at bay for good. Someone suffering from an addiction has a much higher chance of successfully beating the addiction than somebody who goes at it alone.
Common Reasons for Avoiding Rehab
There are many reasons that people avoid going to rehab for their alcohol addiction. Much of it stems from their belief that their consumption is under control, which may be further supported by family that doesn’t think it’s such a big problem, even though they don’t see much of what happens. The thought of completely overhauling one’s habits and life can be overwhelming, which brings out justifications for not going to rehab. The following are some of the most common reasons someone may use to justify not going to rehab:
- One may be afraid of the social stigmas that come with going to rehab.
- One may believe that they can beat the addiction on their own.
- One may fear sharing personal details with strangers.
- One may think they are too needed in the outside world to go to rehab.
Looking at the big picture, getting help and changing one’s life is going to bring benefits that far outweigh the initial uncomfortable feelings of going to rehab. You or a loved one should not be deterred by social stigmas, because they hardly exist. The people who matter are going to be happy for you when getting help. Likewise, the people who you think need you are able to recognize that an addiction is a serious obstacle of life that needs overcoming, and again, these people will provide support.
Types of Rehab Programs
After one determines that they will enter rehab, there are several treatment options to choose from. Below are some of the choices that a person may have:
Residential Programs – This program involves living in the treatment facility where one will receive intensive treatment during the day. Usual treatment periods last from 30-90 days.
Partial Hospitalization – This type of treatment is meant for people who still need medical assistance but have a solid living situation. For these programs, a patient will meet at a hospital about 3-5 times a week for 4-6 hours a day.
Outpatient Rehab Programs – Although the patient doesn’t live in the treatment facility, there is still a big time commitment. These programs usually meet 3-5 days a week, last around 2-4 hours each day, and can be scheduled around a busy life.
Sober Living – This type of treatment usually follows a residential program. A person lives with other people recovering from an alcohol addiction in an alcohol-free environment.
Individual Therapy – In individual therapy, a person meets one-on-one with a Board Certified Substance Abuse Counselor. This therapy can be used as an effective aftercare arrangement.
It’s best to consider each option to determine which one fits an individual’s specific needs. Overcoming an alcohol addiction is a huge accomplishment for someone who has dealt with it for a long period of their lives, so it’s beneficial to everyone involved when plenty of research is done to decide on a recovery process that maximizes the chances of success.
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