Problem Drinking

When it comes to the most commonly abused substances across the United States, alcohol is second only to nicotine. And while prolonged nicotine use can lead to a range of health problems, it isn’t quite in the same league as problem drinking. Alcoholism can lead to a number of different health problems, but it can also lead to marital and family problems. Additionally, problem drinking can result in losing your job, dropping out of school, and other serious, long-term issues impacting your quality of life. Thankfully, Mind Body Wellness offers alcoholism treatment to help those who suffer find long-term recovery.

What is Alcoholism?

Alcoholism, also called alcohol use disorder (AUD), is an addiction to alcohol. An AUD can range from mild to severe, with the most severe form typically being referred to as alcoholism. An addiction to alcohol means that you have a strong, undeniable urge to drink. You can’t stop drinking once you start, and you feel anxious or physically ill when you are not drinking. In order to be diagnosed with AUD, your drinking must be causing harm or distress to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being or your daily life.

Alcoholism Statistics

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), nearly eighteen million Americans over the age of twelve have an alcohol addiction. This number includes nearly half a million children between the ages of twelve and seventeen. Despite these numbers, less than ten percent of these people seek help for their problem, leaving many struggling with the toll this disorder takes on their daily lives.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcoholism

For many people, it can be difficult to realize that you have a problem with alcohol. If you have a drinking problem, you may struggle to understand whether it’s severe or mild. If you find yourself wondering if you do indeed have a problem but aren’t sure, there are some questions that you can ask about your own habits and behaviors. These include:

• Do you spend much of your time drinking or recovering from drinking?
• Is the urge to drink very strong, or even unable to be ignored?
• Does drinking interfere with your job, family life, or social life?
• Have you given up on things you used to enjoy in order to drink instead?
• Do you drink to try and make issues like depression or anxiety go away?
• Do you find yourself having to drink more in order to feel the effects of alcohol?
• Have you tried to drink less or stop drinking entirely but found that you couldn’t?
• When you go too long without a drink, do you have negative symptoms, like nausea, sweating, or shakiness?

Who Becomes Addicted to Alcohol?

As with any other type of addiction, alcoholism does not have just one cause. Instead, there is a range of factors that can lead someone to have an alcohol addiction. Scientists believe that these factors can be broken down into a few separate categories: biological, environmental, social, and psychological:

Biological Factors

Decades of research have found that certain biological factors can increase a person’s chances of becoming addicted to alcohol. Some people have genes that make them more susceptible to abuse substances, with or without a family history of addiction.

Environmental Factors

These include where you live, how often you see advertisements for alcohol, and even how much money you make. People who live in cities or suburbs view alcohol more positively than those who live in more rural areas, and people who make over $80k per year are twice as likely to drink regularly as those who make less than $35k per year.

Social Factors

Your culture, family, friend groups, religion, and work influence how you perceive alcohol and how likely you are to overindulge. If, for instance, your main friend group likes to go out for drinks or your work has frequent dinners or parties serving alcohol, you are more likely to drink heavily.

Psychological Factors

Scientists have found that certain mental health conditions, including ADHD, depression, and anxiety, all make a person more likely to end up addicted to alcohol. This is partly due to how mental health issues can alter your brain chemistry and can also happen when someone uses alcohol to self-medicate their mental health symptoms.

Risk Factors for Alcohol Addition and Problem Drinking

When it comes to alcohol addiction, people of all ages, groups, backgrounds, and lifestyles can be at risk. For many people, AUD begins as a result of one of a number of risk factors. These include:

• Drinking too much alcohol on a regular basis for an extended period of time.
• Starting drinking at an early age, especially if you were under eighteen.
• Having a family history of alcohol addiction.
• Suffering from depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues.
• Having a history of emotional or physical trauma.
• Having friend groups or a significant other who drinks.

What is the Process for Alcoholism Treatment?

For people who are dealing with a drinking problem, there are a number of different facilities offering alcoholism treatment, including Mind Body Wellness. These treatments offer real, evidence-based options to help clients to treat and manage their addiction. The most commonly offered treatments include:

Detoxification

Also called detox, this is the process of allowing your body to get all of the alcohol out of your system in a safe and effective way. Not all facilities offer detox, as mild to moderate alcohol use disorder doesn’t necessarily require it. Be sure to discuss your options with the facilities to decide if you would benefit from a detox program.

Inpatient Treatment

Most often, if you require detox, you will also require inpatient alcoholism treatment. These programs require you to live at the facility while you receive treatment and are best for those with a high risk of relapse. It is also ideal for clients who do not have a strong support system at home.

Outpatient Rehab Services

Perhaps the most common type of alcoholism treatment is outpatient rehab services allow clients to still live at home while in treatment. This means that clients can still go to work or school or take care of their families while getting the alcoholism treatment that they need. Most clients begin with around twenty hours of treatment per week, which slowly tapers off as you need less support.

Begin Treatment for Problem Drinking Today

No matter what led you to abuse alcohol, Mind Body Wellness offers alcoholism treatment to suit people from all walks of life. In fact, our scientifically-backed treatments will help you stop drinking, learn the reasons behind your addiction, and give you healthy ways to cope with cravings and avoid relapse.

You can always trust that our staff will be there to support you through any difficulties or setbacks to give you the best chances of finding long-term sobriety. Contact our admissions team today to learn more about our alcoholism treatment and let us help you relearn how to live a life that is free from the grip of alcohol abuse.