COMMON SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOLISM
You have a drinking problem. In fact, you worry that it’s gotten much worse. Are you exhibiting the symptoms of alcoholism? Do you know what they are? Do you know how to find the treatment you need for help?
What is Alcoholism?
Therapists recognize that the symptoms of alcoholism fall into at least three stages. Moreover, they refer to the condition as an alcohol use disorder. It’s a compulsion to keep drinking with an inability to quit after just one or two drinks. Even if there are adverse effects, you keep drinking.
Through an alcohol addiction treatment program in Colorado, therapists see the initial stage as binge drinking. In other words, you drink to achieve the high. You down multiple drinks in about two hours. You’re still able to curtail the behavior to weekends only.
Then, something happens. Signs of alcoholism now include weekday drinking and frequent hangovers. You refer to it as partying. You might also tell yourself that you’ve earned a few drinks to wind down at night.
During the final stage, symptoms of alcoholism can be deadly. You now struggle with malnutrition, mood changes when you don’t have alcohol, and cognitive changes. You wake up to withdrawal symptoms.
Typical Symptoms of Alcoholism
You may have an alcohol use disorder if you’ve tried cutting back and couldn’t. Besides that, you may be hiding alcohol consumption by putting the liquid into different containers. You notice that you consistently drink more than you want to. In fact, much of your thinking and doing revolves around drinking.
You spend the time at work counting down the hours until you can have a drink. You might hide a flask in your desk. Loved ones have been telling you that it’s time to get help. Maybe your partner gave you an ultimatum.
Getting Help for an Alcohol Use Disorder
It’s never too late to connect with therapists at a rehab facility. Because it’s dangerous to quit drinking cold turkey, visit a facility that offers detoxification. It’s the first step to recovery. You withdraw from the alcohol in a safe setting.
There are medications that minimize discomfort. Similarly, they help you with the cravings you experience as well as psychological problems such as depression. Withdrawal takes about a week. One morning, you wake up without withdrawal symptoms.
That’s when you move over to the clinical side of care. Therapists now adapt a care protocol to meet your unique needs. Treatments might include:
- Individual therapy program that focuses on your reasons for drinking in the first place
- Neurofeedback therapy program as a tool for training your brain to react to healing stimuli
- Group therapy program that uses such approaches as processes or psychodrama
- Trauma-informed care that lets you process adverse situations from the past with an eye on removing alcohol abuse triggers
It’s Time to Enroll in Rehab When You Show Symptoms of Alcoholism
Signs of alcoholism don’t get better on their own. Contact AspenRidge Recovery Lakewood today by calling 866.977.8625 now. Our team is ready to help men and women struggling with these symptoms of alcoholism.