Call to speak with a treatment provider today to get started. When preparing to stop using alcohol, detox is the first step. Detoxification is the process by which a person’s body cleanses itself of toxins like alcohol. With chronic use, the body adapts to the presence of alcohol and learns to function in its presence. When alcohol is suddenly removed or reduced, the body must adjust again to its absence, which can result celebrities with fetal alcohol syndrome in withdrawal symptoms that may be experienced during detox.
Treatment Options & Programs
- Experts have tried to pinpoint factors like genetics, sex, race, or socioeconomics that may predispose someone to alcohol addiction.
- The evidence suggests that the free and flexible assistance provided by mutual-support groups can help people make and sustain beneficial changes and, thus, promote recovery.
- Many rehab centers will set patients up with aftercare as part of discharging them from a program.
- Many people find that a combination of treatments works best, and you can get them together through a program.
- If you are considering treatment for yourself or a loved one, call us today.
This is of particular concern when you’re taking certain medications that also depress the brain’s function. Genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors can impact how drinking alcohol affects your body and behavior. Theories suggest that for certain people drinking has a different and stronger impact that can lead to alcohol use disorder. Therapy is useful to help teach someone how to manage the stress of recovery and the skills needed to prevent a relapse. Also, a healthy diet can help undo damage alcohol may have done to the person’s health, like weight gain or loss. For example, antidepressants, if someone with an alcohol addiction were self-medicating to treat their depression.
AUD is characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. Health care providers diagnose AUD when a person has two or more of the symptoms listed below. AUD can be mild (the presence of two to three symptoms), moderate (the presence of four to five symptoms), or severe (the presence of six or more symptoms).
More often, people try to quit or cut back over time, experience recurrences, learn from them, and then continue on their recovery journey. For many, continued follow-up with a treatment provider is critical for overcoming alcohol problems. The provider can help central nervous system depression adjust the treatment plan and aid long-term recovery. When seeking professional help, it is important that you feel respected and understood and that you trust the person, group, or organization to help you.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Treatment may involve a brief intervention, individual or group counseling, an outpatient program, or a residential inpatient stay. Working to stop alcohol use to improve quality of life is the main treatment goal. The one that’s right for you depends on your situation and your goals. Many people find that a combination of treatments works best, and you can get them together through a program. Some of these are inpatient or residential programs, where you stay at a treatment center for a while.
Regardless of the type of support system, it’s helpful to get involved in at least one when getting sober. Sober communities can help someone struggling with alcohol addiction deal with the challenges of sobriety in day-to-day life. Sober communities can also share relatable experiences and offer new, healthy friendships. And these communities make the person with an alcohol addiction accountable and provide a place to turn to if there is a relapse. Alcohol use disorder (sometimes called alcoholism) is a common medical condition. People with this condition can’t stop drinking, even if their alcohol use upends their lives and the lives of those around them.
Starting with a Primary Care Provider
Your provider may also be able to suggest an online self-guided program. Such e-health tools have been shown to help people overcome alcohol problems. Your health care james anderson author provider can help you evaluate the pros and cons of each treatment setting. Cognitive–behavioral therapy can take place one-on-one with a therapist or in small groups. This form of therapy is focused on identifying the feelings and situations (called “cues”) that contribute to heavy drinking and managing stress that can lead to a return to drinking.
If you’re concerned that someone you know may be struggling with alcoholism and don’t know where to turn, Nexus is here to help. Our trusted and compassionate recovery advisors will provide a free, confidential consultation so you can decide on a course of action for treatment. Contact Nexus today and get started on the road to recovery. If your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life, you likely have alcohol use disorder. However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important.
News from Mayo Clinic
This may be more reliable and convenient than oral pills, especially if you think you may forget or be unwilling to take a pill every day. But keep in mind that support groups aren’t for everyone, and they may not be helpful for some people. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission.
This chronic illness can include symptoms like an intense need for using alcohol, even when the use has become problematic. Symptoms can also include intense periods of withdrawal once you stop using alcohol. The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you need help finding a mental health specialist. When is it common in society, it can be hard to tell the difference between someone who likes to have a few drinks now and then and someone with a real problem. The American Medical Association recommends a two-drink daily limit for people assigned male at birth (AMAB).