Problems related to alcohol use, which result from drinking too often, too fast or too much, are a significant issue in the United States. Many people struggle to control their drinking at some point in their lives. Roughly 17 million adults struggle with an alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Unhealthy alcohol use puts one’s health and/or safety at risk in addition to causing other problems related to alcohol use. Binge-drinking is a significant risk, which is a pattern of drinking where a male drinks five or more alcoholic beverages within two weeks or a female drinks at least four within two hours.
If you struggle with quitting drinking and your drinking pattern results in repeated distress and functioning in your daily life, you likely have an alcohol use disorder. AUD can range from mild to severe, but regardless of the severity, treatment is important. Even if you have a mild disorder, it can escalate quickly, which is why getting help at alcohol abuse treatment centers is recommended.
What Are the Signs of Alcoholism?
It is important to know how to identify the signs of alcoholism. Some of the most common signs of alcohol abuse include:
- Drinking alone or in secrecy.
- Exhibiting signs of extreme mood swings, including irritability.
- Experiencing short-term memory loss or temporary blackouts.
- Making excuses for drinking, such as to deal with stress.
- Feeling hungover when not drinking.
- Becoming distant and isolated from friends and family members.
- Giving up or cutting back on activities that were once interesting or important in order to drink.
- Wanting to cut down or stop drinking but couldn’t.
- Choosing drinking over other obligations and responsibilities.
Regardless of how minor a drinking problem may seem, the symptoms of alcohol abuse should not be ignored.
What Are Alcohol Abuse Treatment Centers?
Alcohol abuse treatment centers are often referred to as alcohol rehab and are often the only way a person struggling with alcohol addiction can get help. Because there is no one-size-fits-all solution for alcoholism, alcohol treatment programs should be tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual, taking in factors such as the person’s age and gender, the extent of the addiction and the amount of time the person has been battling alcohol abuse.
Treatment options at alcohol abuse treatment centers include medical detox, inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment and partial hospitalization in addition to mutual support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other 12-step programs.
Why You Should Not Quit Drinking on Your Own
There are many reasons you should not try to fight the battle of addiction on your own. If you feel like you cannot stop drinking, you should heavily consider getting help from an alcohol treatment program. Alcohol abuse can quickly spiral out of control, causing harm. Alcohol-related problems that may seem small right now can snowball into further problems down the road if left unchecked.
Another reason professional help for alcohol abuse is important is because the detoxification process can be very uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous as trace amounts of alcohol and its toxins are removed from your body. Staff supervision by medical professionals makes the process as easy and comfortable as possible.
Alcohol addiction treatment is also important because alcoholism is a complex mental health illness that often is linked with deep-rooted causes. Alcohol abuse treatment centers help patients to identify these causes while educating them on coping skills to increase their chance at lasting sobriety.
If you or a loved one needs help getting sober, My Recovery Source is here to guide you to the best alcohol abuse treatment centers available. Contact us today to get started on the path to recovery, free from the bondage of addiction.
