What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In Duluth
September 24, 2024
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In Duluth
Numerous people enjoy alcoholic refreshments every once in a while. But alcohol can be addictive. If you consume alcohol to deal with life or find you’re not able to manage your drinking, you could have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This disorder can quickly take over your life and negatively affect all the pursuits you previously enjoyed.
But you shouldn’t lose hope. If you feel you or a loved one have alcohol use disorder near Duluth, care and lasting recovery are possible. Read on to learn more about AUD and what you should do if you require guidance right away.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?
Alcohol use disorder is a health condition where you feel the urge to use alcohol in spite of the adverse repercussions of overuse. Your brain seeks the mind-altering chemicals in alcohol and fails to function adequately without them. AUD can be mild, moderate, or severe. At its most extreme, you are at risk of overdosing on alcohol with lethal ramifications.
When you have AUD, you might cultivate an alcohol addiction and experience disturbing withdrawal symptoms if you attempt to stop partaking. Without expert help, you can’t stop yourself from ingesting alcohol to ease the discomfort your body endures when you start alcohol detox. If you are able to stop “cold turkey,” you still have to combat the practice of consistent drinking. AUD must have professional treatment to enjoy a complete recovery.
Why Do Individuals Develop Alcohol Use Disorder?
Lots of individuals in Duluth drink, but not every person develops an alcohol use disorder. A variety of factors help determine your odds of experiencing AUD:
- Drinking early in life
- Core mental health conditions
- Background of trauma
- Poor coping skills
- Genetics
- Family history of addiction
Countless individuals begin misusing alcohol as a result of major stressors. Without constructive coping skills, it’s simple to erase the difficult feelings that emerge from mental illness and trauma with the mind-altering effects of alcohol. Whenever those unwanted feelings return, you reach for alcohol to subdue them again. You feel temporarily better when using alcohol.
But, alcohol is not a solution. When you use it habitually, you may become reliant on those chemicals to go about life. When you don’t have them, you feel more uncomfortable than you did before and are urged to drink even more. Over time, drinking alcohol consumes your life and adversely impacts your employment, relationships, well-being, leisure activities, and finances. When you become ensnared in this downward spiral, you cannot quit drinking without expert guidance.
What Are Alcohol Addiction Symptoms?
Frequent drinking doesn’t definitively mean you have a disorder. Alcohol consumption manifests into a disorder when it starts to interfere with your life. Many negative behaviors linked to drinking can signal an alcohol use disorder.
You could have AUD if you:
- Regularly drink longer or more than you had intended
- Are not able to cease drinking even when you want to
- Spend much time obtaining and using alcohol, even though it makes you feel bad or interferes with other activities
- Cravings are so strong you are unable to focus on other tasks
- Have engaged in risky behaviors while under the influence of alcohol
- Need to drink more than before in order to attain the desired feeling
- Have forsaken activities you once enjoyed to make time for drinking
- Persistent drinking despite its impact on family and friends
- Suffer withdrawal symptoms when you quit drinking alcohol
The more symptoms of AUD you face, the more severe your circumstances are. But any individual who’s displaying signs of alcohol addiction symptoms near Duluth has a right to specialized therapy and support. You don’t need to take on alcohol use disorder by yourself.
What You Should Know About Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
If you have an alcohol addiction, your system needs it to function. If you cease drinking, your body gets sick. This is known as withdrawal.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms vary from person to person and depend on your degree of alcohol consumption. If you go into withdrawal, you could endure any combination of these symptoms:
- Insomnia
- Shaky hands
- Headache
- Vomiting or nausea
- Sweating
- Anxious feelings
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Delirium tremens
- Delusions
- Confusion
- Racing heart
- Fever
- High blood pressure
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are an obvious indicator that you or a loved one has AUD and needs help. Withdrawal is often agonizing and, in severe cases, even fatal if not managed by medical professionals. If a person you know| desires to quit alcohol but endures withdrawal when they make an attempt, reach out to a Duluth substance use treatment facility for expert care.
Can Alcohol Addiction Be “Cured”?
Alcohol use disorder and addiction are considered chronic illnesses. With that in mind, there isn’t a cure. Even so, an enduring recovery is possible. With the proper combination of mental health and medical support, you can discover how to manage the urge to drink and achieve a sober lifestyle. It’s an arduous process, but countless people eventually recover from alcohol use disorder in Duluth and take back control of their lives.
Getting Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment In Duluth
No person can accomplish sobriety alone–and you don’t have to! Seeking alcohol use disorder treatment near Duluth might be unnerving, but you are entitled to skilled treatment to help get yourself on a sober path.
Alcohol use recovery might feel more achievable when you view it as a progression of steps. There isn’t a single road to sobriety. Numerous people endure setbacks and repeat parts of the process more than once. But rest assured, you can get assistance from family members and accredited practitioners throughout your journey to recovery.
Alcohol detox: Your first step is alcohol detox. As your system removes those chemicals, you need medical guidance to maintain your safety and comfort. Whenever you’re ready to end your alcohol dependence, request admittance to a residential detox center near Duluth. They will provide 24/7 support for one or two weeks as you undergo withdrawal.
Alcohol rehab: Following detox, your body and mind will still crave alcohol. You need to transfer to residential rehab care where medical professionals can help you navigate post-acute withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol rehab focuses on mending your brain from the effects of alcohol use. You’ll go to several hours of therapy every day to address the mental facets of AUD. You’ll stay in rehab as long as necessary.
Outpatient addiction support: Rehab will get you balanced enough to return home, but you’ll still require continued support to remain sober. Don’t depart rehab without entering an outpatient addiction program that provides therapy and medically guided treatment. You are able to stay at home or in a sober living facility, but you still should visit psychotherapists and a doctor over the course of the week.
Sober living: Eventually, your need for addiction services will taper off. But, recovery is an ongoing undertaking. Turn to the network of addiction experts, family, and new mentors you have built to continue living a healthy way of life. Steer clear of people or activities that trigger you to use. Find help if you ever need it. Lasting recovery can be achieved!
Get The Help You Need Today For Alcohol Use Disorder Near Duluth
You don’t need to battle alcohol addiction by yourself. Call The Counseling Center At Duluth to find caring, professional alcohol use disorder treatment near Duluth. You can request help at 470-444-4194 or by submitting the following form. One of our friendly staff members will answer you right away, regardless of the day or time. Your call is free and confidential. We’ll get you the care you require today.