What is Alcoholism?
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition which is present when the individual drinking habits cause distress or harm. Alcohol addiction can range from mild to severe based on many factors. These can include drinking excessively, to not being able to cut down and everything in between.
When people that suffer from alcoholism try to cut down, they often feel withdrawal symptoms.
Some common alcohol withdrawal symptoms are:
• insomnia
• shakiness
• irritability
• anxiety
• depression
• restlessness
• nausea and seizures.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should discuss your drinking habits with a knowledgeable physician. One that can guide you safely towards an alcohol treatment center that will work for you. The more symptoms you feel, the more urgent is the need for professional help. A doctor can perform a comprehensive assessment of your medical history and withdrawal symptoms in order to guide you properly. If you are not sure you are suffering from alcoholism and would like an online evaluation of your condition, go to RethinkingDrinking.niaaa.nih.gov. Although seeking a private consultation with a doctor is also the best treatment option, you can also start with an online assessment.
Types of Treatment for Alcoholism
First and foremost, you need to remember that alcoholism is a medical condition that affects many different organs and bodily functions. A medical condition needs to be treated by doctors, especially one that disrupts how the brain communicates with the rest of the body (pathways). These interferences directly affect someone’s mood and behavior, making it difficult to think clearly or behave normally. Continuous drinking also causes direct damage to essential organs such as the heart, liver, and pancreas.
Common Health Risks related to Alcohol Addiction are:
• Cardiomyopathy
• Irregular heartbeat
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Fatty liver
• Hepatitis
• Fibrosis
• Cirrhosis
• Pancreatitis
As shown above, alcoholism is a medical condition with serious health risks. Detoxification in a medical environment is always the best and safest treatment option.
Choosing a Treatment Center
Choosing to get help for alcoholism is one of the most significant decisions one can make in their lifetime. Before selecting a treatment near you or one that a friend heard about, you should understand the different services each program offers. For instance, is the program focusing on “addiction” or the individual? Are there pre-set treatment protocols regardless of the patients’ unique needs? How much medical assistance is immediately available?
Let’s start from the beginning.
