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 refreshments every once in a while. But alcohol can be addictive. If you use alcohol to deal with life or cannot limit your drinking, you could have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This disorder can rapidly dominate your life and adversely impact all the things you once enjoyed.
But you shouldn’t lose hope. If you feel you or a loved one have alcohol use disorder care and long-term recovery are within reach. Discover more about AUD and the steps to take if you require guidance immediately.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?
Alcohol use disorder is a health condition where you feel the need to drink alcohol in spite of the detrimental ramifications of overconsumption. Your brain craves alcohol’s mind-altering qualities and fails to perform reliably without them. AUD might be severe, moderate, or mild. At its most extreme, you are in danger of overdosing on alcohol with potentially deadly consequences.
When enduring AUD, you might develop an alcohol addiction and have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you cease drinking. Without expert help, you cannot prevent yourself from ingesting alcohol to lessen the unease your body endures when you try to detox from alcohol. If you do manage to stop “cold turkey,” you still must combat the routine of consistent drinking. AUD must have specialized treatment to enjoy a complete recovery.
Why Do Individuals Develop Alcohol Use Disorder?
Lots of individuals drink, but not every person develops an alcohol use disorder. A variety of factors influence your odds of being impacted by AUD:
- Drinking at a young age
- Underlying mental health disorders
- History of trauma
- Inadequate coping skills
- Genetics
- Family history of addiction
Many people begin misusing alcohol in response to stressful events. With a lack of constructive coping mechanisms, it’s simple to combat the uneasy feelings that emerge from mental illness and trauma with the brain-altering effects of alcohol. When those negative feelings return, you reach for alcohol to subdue them again. You feel better for a bit when drinking alcohol.
But, alcohol is not the solution. When you consume it regularly, you may develop a dependency on those chemicals to live your daily life. When you go without them, you feel more uncomfortable than you did before and are urged to drink more. Soon, drinking alcohol controls your life and unfavorably affects your well-being, relationships, finances, job and hobbies. Once you’re trapped in this downward spiral, you aren’t able to stop drinking without skilled guidance.
What Are Some Alcohol Addiction Symptoms?
Regular drinking doesn’t automatically indicate a disorder. Alcohol usage becomes a disorder when it starts to interfere with your life. Various behaviors associated with drinking can signal an alcohol use disorder.
You may have AUD if you:
- Regularly drink longer or more than you were expecting
- Are unable to cease drinking even when you want to
- Spend a good deal of time seeking and drinking alcohol, despite the fact it makes you sick or impedes other parts of life
- Cravings are so intense you aren’t able to concentrate on other obligations
- Have taken part in risky behaviors while under the influence of alcohol
- Have to drink more than you used to in order to get the desired feeling
- Have given up enjoyable activities so you can drink
- Have continued drinking despite its impact on family and friends
- Have withdrawal symptoms when you cease drinking
The more symptoms of AUD you face, the more severe your case is. But anyone who’s demonstrating indicators of alcohol addiction symptoms deserves specialized therapy and guidance. You shouldn’t have to face alcohol use disorder alone.
What You Should Know About Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
If you have an addiction to alcohol, your body must have it to perform. If you stop drinking, your body gets sick. This is referred to as withdrawal.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms differ from person to person and depend on how severe your alcohol use is. If you go into withdrawal, you might experience any of these symptoms:
- Insomnia
- Shaky hands
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sweating
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Delirium tremens
- Delusions
- Confusion
- Heart racing
- Fever
- High blood pressure
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are an obvious indication that you or someone you love has AUD and should get help. Withdrawal is often agonizing and, in severe cases, even deadly if not managed by medical professionals. If an individual you care about| wishes to quit alcohol but experiences withdrawal whenever they make an attempt, turn to a substance use treatment facility for expert care.
Can You “Cure” Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol use disorder and addiction are deemed chronic illnesses. Technically speaking, there is no cure. However, there is hope for long-term recovery. With a customized combination of medical and mental health support, you can discover how to manage the impulse to drink and achieve sobriety. It’s a challenging pursuit, but numerous people eventually move past alcohol use disorder and reclaim their lives.
Getting Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment
No one can accomplish sobriety on their own–and you shouldn’t have to! Finding alcohol use disorder treatment might be unnerving, but you deserve professional support to help you get yourself on a sober path.
Alcohol use recovery can feel more doable when you perceive it as a progression of steps. There is no single pathway to a sober life. Numerous individuals endure setbacks and repeat some of these steps more than once. But you should know, you can get support from loved ones and trained providers throughout your recovery.
Alcohol detox: Your initial step is to detox from alcohol. While your body removes the alcohol, you require medical guidance to maintain your safety and comfort. Whenever you’re prepared to quit alcohol, enter a residential detox center. You’ll benefit from 24/7 support for 7 days or more as you go through withdrawal.
Alcohol rehab: After detoxing, your body and mind will still crave alcohol. You must proceed to residential alcohol rehab where medical providers can aid you in handling post-acute withdrawal. Alcohol rehab emphasizes repairing your brain from the effects of alcohol usage. You’ll attend several hours of therapy daily to look at the mental facets of AUD. You’ll stay in rehab for whatever length of time is right for you.
Outpatient addiction care: Rehab will stabilize you enough to return home, but you will still require constant support to keep on a path of sobriety. Don’t exit rehab without joining an outpatient addiction program that offers therapy and medically guided treatment. You are able to live at home or in a sober living residence, but you still need to visit counselors and a doctor during the week.
Sober living: n time, your need for therapy will taper off. But, recovery is an ongoing endeavor. Rely on the network of addiction specialists, loved ones, and new mentors you have built to keep up your healthy way of life. Steer clear of scenarios that compel you to use. Seek support when you need it. Enduring recovery can be accomplished!
Get The Help You Need Now For Alcohol Use Disorder
You don’t have to grapple with alcohol addiction by yourself. Talk to AffinityOne to get caring, professional alcohol use disorder treatment. You can reach us at 855-808-5120 or by filling out the form below. One of our friendly staff members will answer you right away, regardless of the hour or day. Every call is free and private. We’ll provide the care you need today.