Am I an alcoholic? An alcoholic is a person who feels the constant urge to consume alcohol even when it adversely affects them. A person struggling with alcoholism does not know how or when to stop drinking. People who consume alcohol excessively may experience physical or psychological harm. Heavy alcohol use leads to various medical conditions, such as digestive disease, diabetes, hypertension, liver disease, and cancer. A residential addiction treatment program can help you end your alcoholism.
Causes of Alcoholism
- Dependence does not occur rapidly and may take even years to develop. Regular consumption of alcohol over time disrupts the balance of hormones in the brains. Some of the risk factors that relate to alcohol dependence include:
Easy access: In areas where alcohol is readily available, most people abuse it and end up being alcoholics. - Genes: Some people are more likely to develop alcohol addiction from their family history.
- Stress: If one experiences anxiety or stress over life issues, they may turn to alcohol for consolation. This may lead to alcohol dependence and addiction. People with low self-esteem may also turn to alcohol.
- Advertising and media: Some media platforms tend to portray alcohol as a cool, worldly, and glamorous activity. This may convey the message that indulging in excessive drinking is acceptable which puts people at risk of alcohol addiction
- Depression: individuals struggling with depression use alcohol as a way of self-treatment. Taking too much alcohol increases the risk of depression and other mental health issues.
Treatment of Alcohol Addiction
Seeking treatment for alcohol dependence helps you to reclaim your life and live healthy without drugs or alcohol. Rehab centers help you to find out some of the issues that may trigger your dependence on alcohol. Medical treatment of alcohol addiction, together with psycho-social therapy and support, is effective in specialty care and primary medical settings.
After medical detox, one should work closely with the health care professional to find out how to handle the factors that may have led to the addiction. Alcohol addiction treatment programs provide inpatient and outpatient care that ensures the full recovery of the alcoholic.
Work closely with a psychiatrist to treat some mental health disorders that may occur as a result of alcohol addiction. A therapist should help you choose the best treatment programs that work well with your daily activities. Treatment professionals promote health care, long-term recovery, and positive coping mechanisms. This helps each individual remain positive about their recovery.
How to Answer Am I an Alcoholic?
Rehab helps you address the major issues surrounding alcohol addiction. The staff in the facility help you answer the question, ‘am I an alcoholic?’. They work closely with you throughout your recovery journey.
The treatment programs provided by the facility include:
- Drug detox centers: Some of the medical treatments provided at the facility are methadone, benzodiazepines, naltrexone, and buprenorphine. The drugs help in maintain long-term sobriety and ease withdrawal symptoms.
- Relapse prevention extension care: These aftercare programs help the addicts not to relapse to drinking after recovery.
- Holistic and evidence-based treatment.
- Comprehensive treatment assessments.
- Family therapy, group therapy, and individual therapy programs: Individual therapy helps people to share their issues in a private setting. Group therapy involves several people with similar issues. A counselor conducts the programs, but the participants talk the most. Family therapy brings the family together. They get to share the effects they experience from the addiction problem and how to help the addict.
Don’t let drug and alcohol addiction affect the activities of your daily life. If you find yourself asking, “Am I an alcoholic?” ensure you seek assistance at recognized substance abuse treatment programs by reaching out today.
