The Dark Reality of Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction doesn’t only affect the person who drinks, in many cases, it can take over other family members as well.
Alcohol addiction can destroy your life and the lives of those around you, but until it is too late, you may not realize that it is happening.
The trouble with alcohol addiction is that it sneaks up on you.
With this blog learn more about the warning signs and effects of alcohol addiction before it is too late to do anything about it.
What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism is a disease that affects people across all demographics and social groups.
While many health experts recognize alcoholism as a disease, some believe it is more of a learned behavior.
Either way, studies show that those affected by alcoholism exhibit distinct symptoms and often lead to dangerous or even deadly consequences.
Although drinking alcohol can bring great joy, it also comes with serious consequences for those who suffer from an addiction to booze.
If you are worried about a loved one who has started drinking heavily or exhibits other signs of alcohol dependency, check out this blog for more information on what alcoholism is and how you can help them get back on track safely and effectively.
The dangers of alcoholism
More than 80,000 Americans die each year from alcohol-related causes, according to a study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
The CDC reports that more than 17 million American adults and about 633,000 underage youth binge drink four times per month.
While most people can not help but celebrate every once in a while with too many drinks, alcoholism is classified as a disease because those who have it cannot control their desire to drink.
In fact, 90 percent of alcoholics need help to quit drinking before they become disabled or die from their drinking habits.
Even if you don’t consider yourself an alcoholic or in danger of becoming one, these side effects might change your mind
Symptoms of alcoholism
The signs and symptoms of alcoholism can range in severity, from social issues to alcohol-related health problems.
For many people, becoming dependent on alcohol is a slow process.
It can take years for addiction to develop and most people who struggle with drinking don’t intend to become addicts.
The more you drink over time, however, and the longer you do it, the more likely it is that you will develop some degree of physical dependence on alcohol .
This physical dependence can cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you try to stop drinking suddenly but even so, most people are surprised by how easy it is to fall into drinking too much and developing alcoholism.
In fact, many medical professionals agree that stopping your addictive behavior may be one of hardest parts about quitting.
Causes and triggers
In 2014, nearly 17 million American adults had an alcohol use disorder.
And like most other addictions, it doesn’t happen overnight often times, people don’t realize they have a problem until their addiction has progressed to a severe level.
A 2015 review looked at many studies and found that alcohol addiction is often caused by both genetic and environmental factors.
In some cases, people are just predisposed to becoming addicted based on family history, in others, negative events in someone’s life can cause them to turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism. As such, it is not always clear what will trigger an addiction.
How do I know if I have an alcohol problem?
Asking yourself these seven questions can help you figure out if you have a problem with alcohol or not.
1. Do I drink more than my friends?
2. Has my drinking caused problems in relationships?
3. Have I ever had a blackout, memory loss, or been hangover while driving?
4. Does my drinking ever make me feel guilty, ashamed, depressed, or suicidal?
5. Does my job performance suffer because of drinking?
6. Do I need to drink in order to enjoy life?
7. Am I concerned about my own alcohol use or that of someone close to me?
If you answered yes to any one of these questions, then you might have an alcohol problem and should seek help right away.
Recovery options
No matter what your personal history with alcohol abuse may be, there are recovery options out there for you.
In some cases, you may need to seek professional treatment for an addiction which can include medically-supervised detox, inpatient rehab and aftercare programs.
When done right, these programs can make a big difference in helping people recover from alcoholism.
According to The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), more than 14 million people suffer from alcohol use disorder in any given year, but only about 10 percent receive help as part of a formal treatment program.
With help available and effective treatments at your disposal, there is no reason not to seek treatment if necessary.
You deserve recovery and it is never too late to start fresh.
Conclusion
Treatment for alcohol addiction is a significant investment in both time and money.
If you are wondering how to stop drinking, it is best to invest early to ensure lasting success.
If you or someone you love has already developed an addiction, there is help available.
It may seem like a frightening process, but it doesn’t have to be. Experienced treatment specialists in every States are 24/7 ready to assist you with all aspects of alcohol recovery and help restore your life one day at a time.
Call on their toll free numbers, available on internets. All calls are toll free and confidential.
Don’t wait, make today your last day suffering from alcoholism.