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Spotting the Warning Signs of Alcohol Addiction
You may think you’re the only one trying to cope with addiction; however, that’s not true in the least. Many people struggle with alcohol addiction every day, and many also find the road to recovery.
The caring physicians at Carolina Wellness Psychiatry in Chapel Hill, North Carolina can help you navigate the path to sobriety, giving you the tools to beat your alcohol addiction.
What’s an addiction?
An addiction is a complex psychological and physiological disorder characterized by the abuse of substances such as alcohol, drugs, and tobacco, among many other things — even when you know the consequences can be harmful. Such behavior can interfere with every aspect of your daily life, including personal relationships, work, activities, and your health.
When you become addicted to something, changes in your brain occur that cause you to have an overwhelming craving for your substance of choice, such as alcohol, to the point that it’s almost impossible for you to resist. You'll likely find that you’re drinking more and more to achieve the same feeling of intoxication or euphoria you were able to achieve with less alcohol before. This is called building a tolerance, and it makes it even harder to quit, even if you know you want to.
Recognizing the warning signs
An alcohol disorder is characterized by how often you need to partake in drinking, what the effects on you are when you do drink, and what happens to you and your body when you try to cut back.
You may be wondering if you’re really suffering from alcohol addiction, or if you just enjoy a few drinks every day. Here are some of the signs that you may truly need help:
- Having to drink more and more to reach the desired effect
- Stopping doing the things you love so you can drink
- Constantly thinking about when and where you’ll have your next drink
- Missing work or family functions due to alcohol
- Continuing to drink alcohol even when it causes problems with your health
- Trying to quit more than once without success
- Having withdrawal symptoms when you do try to cut back or quit
Withdrawal is a very dangerous aspect of addiction. It happens when you attempt to cut back or quit drinking altogether, and your body can't handle the sudden stop due to the changes that have occurred in your brain. Withdrawal is characterized by symptoms such as:
- Trouble sleeping
- Shakiness
- Restlessness
- Hallucinations
- Nausea
- Profuse sweating
- Heart palpitations
- Seizures
Due to the fact that withdrawal from alcohol can be so dangerous, you should never attempt to detox without the care and guidance of one of our amazing physicians.
The path to sobriety
Although addiction can never truly be cured, you can certainly learn to live a lifestyle that supports your sobriety. There is always a risk of relapse in anyone with a true addiction, but treatment is aimed at reducing the risk of relapse through lifestyle changes.
To achieve sobriety from your addiction, our physicians may need to monitor you through a safe detox period to be able to treat the symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol safely.
After you have successfully gone through the detox period, treatment may involve medications, psychotherapy, or in some cases, both. AA meetings can also be beneficial by providing added support. The main goal is to help you identify the triggers that may cause a relapse and learn how to cope with and adapt to your environment.
For more information on alcohol addiction, call our office at 919-446-3232 to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online today.
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