Alcohol

What is Alcohol Addiction?

In modern healthcare, addiction is classified as a mental health disorder called substance use disorder. Addiction is not simply someone’s lack of self-control; it goes much deeper, affecting the brain on a chemical level which results in a compulsive need to drink alcohol. Sometimes these compulsions are triggered by high-stress or emotional events; other times, continued abuse of alcohol causes withdrawal symptoms that make being sober unbearably painful. What’s important to understand is that no one is at fault for the development of an addiction — it emerges slowly as a response to a growing dependency on alcohol and eventually progresses beyond the control of the addict or those around them.

Since alcohol use is ubiquitous in modern American culture, it can be difficult to identify someone who is addicted to alcohol — or, it can be easy for someone who is addicted to pass their alcohol use off as normal behavior. At The Guest House Ocala we offer some insight into signs that might indicate alcohol addiction versus normal drinking habits, including:

• Drinking every day, possibly for many years
• Drinking interferes with responsibilities like school, work or family
• An increase over time in the amount of alcohol it takes for an individual to become intoxicated
• Continued alcohol use even if it causes problems with important aspects of life, such as relationships or finances
• Associated risky behaviors such as drunk driving, getting into fights or having unprotected sex

If you are questioning your own drinking habits or the drinking habits of someone close to you, addiction experts everywhere agree that reaching out for help is best done sooner rather than later. When left alone, alcoholism can take over a struggling addict’s life and trap them in a cycle of self-destructive behaviors. Finding a diagnosis and getting necessary treatment is the most effective way to help prevent long-lasting harm.

Alcoholism and Your Health

Just like any mind-altering substance, alcohol works in ways that can cause permanent damage to mental and physical health. Many people enjoy drinking alcohol — or become addicted to alcohol’s effects — because being drunk can be a pleasurable experience. Usually, drinking alcohol produces sensations including lowered inhibitions, dulled senses and heightened emotions; being drunk can make you feel pleasantly numb, more sociable or happier. But this happens because alcohol interferes with your natural brain chemistry. When you drink, alcohol becomes absorbed into your bloodstream and makes its way to your brain, where it triggers the release of chemicals that make you feel happy or rewarded while inhibiting the release of chemicals that make you awake and alert. With extended or regular use of alcohol, your brain can adjust to its effects, resulting in chemical imbalances that cause problems including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Memory loss
• Attention and learning disorders
• Sleep disruption
• Mood swings

And this is not to mention the possible impacts on physical health — some of which result from lack of self-care and some of which are directly related to alcohol consumption. These may include:

• Liver and other organ damage
• Weight fluctuations
• Malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies
• Limb tremors
• Injuries resulting from loss of coordination while drunk
• Tooth decay
• Heightened risk of cancer
• Overdose (possibly fatal)

When To Seek Treatment for Alcohol Addiction

As soon as you suspect that yourself or your loved one might be using alcohol in a way that is unhealthy, out of their control or problematic, you should seek professional help. A treatment program is the best and most effective way to help someone overcome their addiction and learn the best ways to stay sober and healthy for life. Getting treatment right away can prevent some of the most damaging effects of alcoholism, and can help an individual heal with a bright future ahead.

On the other hand, it’s never too late to turn a life around — even if someone you know has been struggling with alcoholism for years, they are not beyond healing. All it takes is the right treatment program and the right approach to help them uncover the roots of their addiction, giving them a new start on a path to health and fulfillment.