“Have you been hiding your alcohol consumption lately? Do you experience memory loss after drinking? Do you have health problems linked to alcohol?” Then, you need alcohol addiction treatment.
Many people don’t know how to recognize alcohol addiction. Thus, only a tiny number of alcohol addicts get treated. While a larger percentage of people die from it. Well, the first step to getting help is admitting you have a problem.
We know overcoming alcohol abuse can be difficult. Several people have failed to overcome alcoholism. In the same vein, many others live in denial of it.
However, it is important to know you’re not alone. The signs and treatments below will help you achieve full recovery. And also, they can help prevent health problems from spiralling in the process. Here’s how to know you need help with alcohol addiction.
Signs of Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol abuse is when you can’t control your alcohol intake. Now, there are signs which indicate alcohol addiction. We have identified these signs to help you have a better understanding of the problem.
Inability to cut back on drinking
Some alcohol addicts have tried to curtail their drinking habits to no avail. Yes, this can be frustrating and exhausting. But your inability to give up drinking means you need professional help. Alcohol addiction is not just a habit but a disease that requires professional treatment to be cured.
Sustaining health problems caused by alcohol
No doubt, when you abuse substances it takes a toll on the body. Alcohol addiction is not exempt. Too much alcohol intake can cause heart and liver problems.
Also, the individual will experience mental illness like anxiety, depression and psychosis. If you notice any of these symptoms, then you need alcohol addiction treatment.
Getting abuse after intoxication
It is no news that alcohol lowers inhibitions. There is every tendency for drunk individuals to endanger themselves or a relative.
Some people drive under the influence of alcohol. While others physically abuse people close to them. Alcohol addicts find it difficult to organize their thoughts. Hence, their abusive behaviour.
If you find yourself in these situations after drinking, it’s a sure sign you need professional alcohol addiction treatment. You don’t want to get into a situation where you cause irreparable damage.
Experiencing problems at work and school
Many alcoholics find it difficult to hold down a job. Someone suffering from a hangover will probably skip work or worse, attend classes late. Most times these individuals become indifferent towards work and school.
Aside from this, they may also have issues at work as a result of their health problems. In the long run, the person will be forced to leave his or her workplace or even quit school.
Related article: Best Alcohol Addiction Treatments
Losing touch with reality
You must have heard of the term “happy drunks”. Happy drunks are alcoholics who suffer alcohol-induced “insanity”. These people can’t discern what is real and what’s not.
They get frightened and also experience hallucinations. You will also notice an unstable shift in your mood. Or you may be getting too aggressive. A person who has lost touch with reality will need alcohol addiction treatment to prevent his or her condition from worsening.
Blackout episodes after drinking
When someone blacks out they lose the ability to create short-term memories or recall events in a period. This is dangerous as it puts the individual at the risk of hurting themselves or falling prey to danger.
So, have you gone out for drinks with your friends on many occasions? And you wake up the next day not recalling the events of the night before? Then it’s obvious you’re struggling with alcohol addiction and you need help.
Frequent craving to drink
Now, drinking has never been a problem. The only issue is when it becomes excessive. Many people do not know when their drinking becomes excessive. And some see drinking at any time of the day as normal.
If you find yourself yearning for a drink in the morning. Or reaching for a bottle anytime you develop the urge to drink. Well, there’s a problem.
Another indicator is when you crave to drink in events you should stay sober. For example, drinking in the church. All these may be pointers that you need alcohol addiction treatment.
Why you need Alcohol Addiction Treatment
You may ask, “Why do I need alcohol addiction treatment when I can overcome it myself?” You should know the challenge isn’t only about overcoming. But also, not experiencing a relapse.
It will take a lot of self-control to overcome alcohol addiction without treatment. Alcohol addiction treatment makes the psychological battle easier. There’s also the presence of self-care and a faster recovery in this treatment.
How to Treat Alcohol Addiction
We’ve identified the problem, now we fix it. The following strategies will serve as a good starting point in helping you recover from alcohol addiction.
Build a strong support group
Quitting alcohol addiction is a marathon that requires the support of friends and family to make it easier. In situations where you are dealing with drinking triggers, you’ll have a support system to rely on.
Also, there are online self-help groups for alcoholics like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Smart Recovery. Your family members can also help you keep track of your progress and offer a push when you need it.
If you’re not comfortable with your close relatives helping you recover. You can get recovery coaches who can give you advice on what to do at each stage of alcohol addiction treatment.
Replace alcohol with new hobbies
You’ll be amazed by the social activities that can happen without alcohol. Try taking long walks or hitting the gym. Join social groups that have focused hobbies. Your free time should be devoted to engaging activities.
There are apps like Sober Curious Movement which connect you with other sober people with similar interests. As time goes by, these hobbies will slowly replace addiction-enabling behaviours and lead you toward an alcohol-free life.
Medication
Alcohol medications are not well known but they can be effective. These medications have been in existence for a long time and fewer than 10% of people have benefited from it.
The three alcohol addiction drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate. According to research, the effect of taking these medications last for up to 6-12 months.
NB: If you don’t change your drinking habits, medication is not enough to stop your drinking.
Professional help
It’s okay to admit you need help. If you’ve noticed that every effort to overcome alcohol addiction has proved futile. Well, it’s time to seek medical care and speak to a specialist. Professional help will provide you with effective tools to manage addictive behaviours.
Conclusion
Remember, alcohol addiction is a disease that can be cured. Overdosing on alcohol simply means you need to begin alcohol addiction treatment. Over the course of this article, we have shown you how to recognize the need for professional help with alcohol abuse.
You may need rehab if you’ve been suffering a relapse accompanied by poor results of stopping on your own. Addiction rehab provides you with the best care, structure, therapy, and medical attention. Including every other thing, you need to aid your recovery.
No doubt, you’ll benefit from our world-class addiction rehab in Canada. Here at Addiction Rehab Toronto, we provide several treatment options to manage alcohol addiction. More importantly, all of our programmes can be customized for your specific situation. Book an appointment with us today!
Related article: The Complex World Of Alcohol Addiction Treatment
