Alcoholism or alcohol use disorder as the condition is now referred to can seem to run in families. There’s good reason to suspect this, as there is a genetic link to an increased risk of developing alcohol addiction. This means that if you have biological family members who struggle with alcohol addiction, your chances of developing the disorder yourself are higher. Of course, this doesn’t mean that someone is fated to develop an alcohol addiction or abuse alcohol. Instead, it means that those with a genetic predisposition must be more aware of how they consume and monitor the effects of alcohol upon themselves.
While there is a clear link between genetics and alcohol use disorder, it isn’t the only component. Environmental factors, mental health issues, and each individual’s unique physiology all play a role in determining the risk one has of developing an alcohol use disorder. At Tides Edge Detox, we understand that addiction is a complicated disease that can arise in anyone at any time. Our alcohol addiction detox program can be the first step towards healing. At our facility, we offer comprehensive detox services to help individuals begin their recovery when drugs or alcohol use becomes an addiction.
Is Alcohol Addiction Genetic For Everyone?
There are times when a person becomes addicted to alcohol because of their choices. For instance, when individuals struggle with common mental health issues like depression or anxiety, they may turn to alcohol as a form of self-medicating. Unfortunately, coping with stress or mental health issues in this way doesn’t address them but only masks their impact. Individuals can easily find their condition worsening, which can create a feedback loop where they drink more because their depression, for example, worsens due to their drinking. When this situation arises, individuals experience what is called a co-occurring disorder. To recover, a person needs both mental health treatment and addiction treatment at the same time. This treatment approach is called dual diagnosis. Some of the therapies we provide in our detox programs include:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Program
- Group Therapy Program
- Individual Therapy Program
- Yoga Therapy Program
While genetics can increase the possibility or risk of individual developing alcohol addiction, it might not play a role in the disorder. You might find that no one in your family shows any signs of being addicted to or abusing alcohol while you struggle every day with the addiction. Whether your alcohol use disorder contains a genetic component or not, you can still get treatment for the addiction, starting with a medically assisted detox facility.
Signs That You Have an Alcohol Use Disorder
If you are not sure if you are addicted to alcohol, it’s time to ask yourself some important questions. If you are wondering about your alcohol use or changing your drinking habits, you might have an alcohol use disorder. Therefore, you could benefit from alcohol addiction treatment. Consider the following to determine if you have an alcohol use disorder and would benefit from treatment:
- Have I tried to stop drinking alcohol and always return to drinking anyway?
- Is my partner mad all the time because of how much alcohol I consume?
- Have I missed work because I was too sick from drinking alcohol the night before?
- Do I make bad choices while drinking, such as driving while under the influence of alcohol?
- Do I miss periods while I am drinking because I blackout?
When you can answer yes to more than one of the above questions, it’s probably time to consider getting treatment. If you are drinking too much, you are putting your health at risk. It’s time to get help before your addiction to alcohol takes over your life.
Finding Support In Recovery
When you decide to get help for your addiction, you might find some resistance from your family members. If genetics is playing a role in your alcoholism, it’s likely that members of your family struggle with an alcohol use disorder. When you admit something is wrong with your behavior, it may be difficult for others with the same problem to come to a similar conclusion. You may be talked out of seeking treatment by the very people who would benefit from it too. To find support in your recovery:
- Work with a therapist familiar with addictions and how to support recovery
- Go to meetings in the community to find others in recovery
- Participate in group sessions during detox and rehab to meet others
- Reach out to friends in recovery when you feel like you are going to abuse substances
You can recover from an addiction, and it starts with going to a detox facility. When alcoholism is genetic, support outside your family is often more beneficial.
Stop Your Addiction To Alcohol Now with Help from Tides Edge Detox
It’s time to take control of your addiction to alcohol. If you are struggling with alcohol addiction and are ready to change your life, contact Tides Edge Detox. We offer a variety of detox programs alongside our alcohol detox, such as:
- Benzo detox
- Cocaine detox
- Fentanyl detox
- Heroin detox
- Methamphetamine detox
- Opiate detox
- Opioid detox
- Prescription drug detox
Call us today at 866.723.3127, or contact us online and begin a detox program that will work for you.
