Take the first step on how to treat alcoholism. Ask yourself this very important question and answer honestly:
Am I Addicted To Alcohol?
You are on this website. so of course you may be wondering this.
But how do you know if you are addicted to alcohol or just having a friendly over-indulgence every now and then? Or is this something that needs treatment?
The first question to ask yourself is: how often are you drinking? If you are perhaps having a few too many drinks every six months or so at family events or dinners that is one thing. If it is every week or every weekend then it might be a different matter altogether.
Regular over-drinking and most importantly feeling the need to drink is a red flag and something to awaken you to potential issues. You may feel you are addicted to alcohol if you cannot imagine an evening or a social event without drinking. Just like other people have the same feeling with sugar or coffee you may feel the same way with your drinking.
Next Question: what are the consequences of your drinking? If you are just drinking one small glass of wine a couple of times a week with your evening meal and feel you cannot do without it but the consequences are limited then it might not be a serious issue. If you are drinking heavily every week and ending up feeling sick, with a hangover and doing things you later regret then these are consequences which you need to address sooner rather than later.
The very fact though that you are even considering the thought ‘Am I Addicted To Alcohol’ suggests that you are becoming consciously aware of the problem.
So lastly, what it would be like to go without drinking for a period of time? (Please note you must see your doctor before actually giving up as it may not be healthy to go cold-turkey) but assuming it is safe to do so, how would you feel about not drinking for a while?
Does this fill you with dread or do you not mind it? If so, then there could be a dependence or a feeling that you need alcohol. Now is the time to examine this dependence because it might only be based upon habit or what you think you need to, not on reality. This is for you to examine and to ask yourself if it is true that you are ‘addicted’ and what you are going to do about it.
Dealing With Addiction
Addictions eventually catch up with you and change your life in such a way that you will have to face the fact that you need help. Recovering from addictions usually happens once you have hit the bottom and finally realize that you need help from outside sources so that you can lead a life that is addiction free. There are many types of addictions that will have a devastating affect on your life.
Recovery from them may require that you actively seek help from a source other than yourself. You can consult with your family doctor or with an addictions counselor. This is a good place to start since it will be important to access both your emotional and your physical behavior as they are related to your alcoholism or substance abuse. You and your doctor will need to decide what is going to work best for you in order that you stop using your drug of choice. It won’t matter what your type of addiction is since all addictions require the same amount of professional help and support.
There are several different types of addictions that you may or may not already be aware of, including:
• alcohol abuse
• opiates
• food addictions
• marijuana abuse
• relationship addictions
• sex addictions
• gambling addictions
People become addicted to many types of substances. There are some substances that are more addictive than others. For instance, drugs like heroin are so addictive and it can take it only one or two uses before a person is addicted.
A person who is addicted to cocaine has grown so used to the drug that they feel they can’t live without it. Addiction can be physical, psychological, or both. Physical addiction is when a person has become physically dependent on a substance.
Over time a person will build up a tolerance to that substance, so that they need a larger dose so that they get the same effects. When an addict who is physically addicted to a substance stops using they may experience withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal can be much like having the flu and include symptoms such as the shakes, diarrhea, and weakness.
Believe that Recovery is Possible!
Freedom from addictions is often referred to as “recovery”. There are many temporary solutions for freedom from addictions but there are really only two ways to permanently overcome addictions.
One of the most common methods to treat alcoholism is to be firm with the practice of abstinence. This means that you completely stop using your drug of choice so that you have no way to continue to feed addictions. This means that the alcoholic can never have another drink or maybe go to a bar. The gambling addict can never again go to a casino or other place where any type of gambling action takes place.
Wanting to give up your addictions is one thing, but to actually to follow through with abstinence is usually very difficult for an addict. Many addicts think that they can continue with their addictions but to only use their drug of choice in a moderate manner. For most people with addictions this is only a dream and wishful thinking. Full recovery from addictions for most addicts will mean a lifetime of abstinence from their drug of choice.
For those addicts with addictions that can be controlled by limiting the drug of choice in a moderate manner, there is the realistic goal those addictions can be overcome permanently. These types of addictions include food addictions, shopping addictions, and sexual addictions. The addict will need to decide how much moderation they need to exercise before their addictive behavior pops up once again. This is the path of recovery.
How To Treat Alcoholism
Regardless of whether one believes alcoholism and addictions are diseases or not (It is a shame we are still having this argument in the 21st century), they are real problems for millions of people and millions upon millions of families around the world all through the year. But holiday seasons and other times of personal tragedy and importance such as the death of a loved one, a divorce date, etc seem to spur the dependence as well as the craving for self medication and chemically induced euphoria.
Alcohol is addictive. You will find many people who will argue with this statement, but alcohol fits all the definitions of a harmful and addictive drug;
1. You need to take more and more of it to get the same effect
2. Your body becomes physically dependent on alcohol.
3. People die from alcohol abuse
An alcoholic is someone who has become physically dependent on alcohol. Alcoholism is permanent, it can not be cured. An ex-alcoholic is simply one who has not had alcohol for a long time. If the “ex”-alcoholic has one drink they are hooked again and have to go through the whole drying out process again.
Alcohol treatment centers allow the alcoholic to live in a supportive and alcohol free environment while giving up the drug. Psychological advice is available and group therapy sessions help many recovering alcoholics.
Alcoholics Anonymous are one group that holds support meetings for alcoholics. AA has groups in most towns and cities in most countries and many recovering alcoholics find the group sessions to be an essential part of STAYING a recovered alcoholic.
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Start your Journey to wellness… Read our recent Article : What Type Of Drinker Are You?
