What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In Long Island
September 24, 2024
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In Long Island
Many people enjoy alcoholic drinks on occasion. But alcohol can become addictive. If you begin consuming alcohol to deal with life or find you’re not able to control your drinking, you may have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This disorder can swifty overtake your life and severely influence all the activities you enjoyed before.
But don’t lose hope. If you think you or someone you love have alcohol use disorder near Long Island, support and lasting recovery are within reach. Discover more about AUD and what you should do if you need help right away.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?
Alcohol use disorder is an illness where you feel the need to use alcohol in spite of the negative repercussions of overconsumption. Your brain seeks alcohol’s mind-altering qualities and fails to function adequately without them. AUD may be severe, moderate, or mild. At its severest, you are in jeopardy of overdosing on alcohol with potentially deadly consequences.
When going through AUD, you might become addicted to alcohol and have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you attempt to stop partaking. Without skilled assistance, you cannot keep yourself from ingesting alcohol to lessen the unease your body experiences when you start alcohol detox. If you are able to quit “cold turkey,” you still have to combat the habit of regular drinking. AUD must have specialized treatment to enjoy a full recovery.
Why Do Some People Develop Alcohol Use Disorder?
Numerous individuals in Long Island drink, but not everyone develops an alcohol use disorder. A variety of factors influence your odds of developing AUD:
- Drinking from an early age
- Core mental illness
- History of trauma
- Inadequate coping mechanisms
- Genetics
- Family history of addiction
Many individuals begin misusing alcohol as a result of major stressors. With a lack of healthy coping skills, it’s simple to counteract the uncomfortable feelings that stem from traumatic expereinces and mental illness with the chemical stimulation of alcohol. Whenever those feelings come back, you reach for alcohol to subdue them again. You feel better temporarily under the influence of alcohol.
Unfortunately, alcohol is not ever a solution. When you consume it regularly, you might become dependent on those chemicals to function. When you don’t have them, you feel more unpleasant than you did prior and want to drink more. Soon, drinking dominates your life and adversely infuences your relationships, job, finances, health, and pastimes. When you become trapped in this devastating spiral, you aren’t able to stop drinking without expert treatment.
What Are Common Alcohol Addiction Symptoms?
Frequent drinking doesn’t automatically indicate a disorder. Alcohol consumption becomes a disorder when it starts to disrupt your life. Many behaviors associated with drinking can indicate an alcohol use disorder.
You may have AUD if you:
- Often drink longer or more than you were expecting
- Are unable to stop drinking even when wanting to
- Spend much time seeking and using alcohol, despite the fact it makes you feel bad or impedes other parts of life
- You’re compelled to drink so much you aren’t able to focus on other things
- Have participated in risky behaviors while drinking alcohol
- Need to drink more than you used to in order to get the desired feeling
- Have forsaken enjoyable activities to make more time for drinking
- Persistent drinking despite its impact on loved ones
- Suffer withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking alcohol
The severity of your AUD often relates to the number of symptoms you experience. But anyone who’s displaying indicators of alcohol addiction symptoms near Long Island deserves specialized therapy and guidance. You shouldn’t have to confront alcohol use disorder on your own.
What You Need To Know About Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
If you have an addiction to alcohol, your body must have it to perform. If you cease drinking, your body gets sick. This is known as withdrawal.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are different for each individual and reflect your degree of alcohol consumption. If you go into withdrawal, you may experience any mix of these symptoms:
- Insomnia
- Shaky hands
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sweating
- Anxiety
- 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 requires help. Withdrawal may be agonizing and, in rare cases, even fatal if not managed by medical professionals. If someone close to you| wants to quit alcohol but endures withdrawal when they try, contact a Long Island substance use treatment facility for help.
Can You “Cure” Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol use disorder and addiction are considered chronic conditions. Technically speaking, there is no cure. Even so, there is a chance for lasting recovery. With a customized combination of medical and mental health care, you can find how to control the urge to drink and reach your goal of a sober lifestyle. It’s a challenging pursuit, but numerous individuals move past alcohol use disorder in Long Island and reclaim their lives.
Starting Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment In Long Island
Nobody can achieve sobriety on their own–and you shouldn’t have to! Seeking alcohol use disorder treatment near Long Island can feel intimidating, but you have a right to expert support to help you get yourself on a sober path.
Alcohol use recovery may feel more doable when you perceive it as several steps. You won’t find single pathway to sobriety. Countless individuals relapse and repeat certain steps more than once. But you should know, you can get assistance from loved ones and qualified practitioners during your journey.
Alcohol detox: The initial step is to detox from alcohol. When your body removes those chemicals, you need medical guidance to maintain your safety and comfort. Whenever you’re ready to quit alcohol, seek admittance to a residential detox center near Long Island. They will provide 24/7 guidance for a week or two as you overcome withdrawal.
Alcohol rehab: Following detox, your body and mind will still yearn for alcohol. You will need to transfer to residential alcohol rehab where medical providers can aid you in handling post-acute withdrawal. Alcohol rehab focuses on mending your brain from the impact of alcohol addiction. You’ll go to a few hours of therapy each day to treat the mental aspects of AUD. You’ll continue in rehab for whatever length of time is right for you.
Outpatient addiction support: Rehab will get you balanced enough to return home, but you’ll still want ongoing support to remain sober. Don’t depart rehab without starting an outpatient addiction program that offers therapy and medically guided treatment. You may reside at home or at a sober living facility, but you still need to engage therapists and a doctor throughout the week.
Sober living: n time, your need for addiction services will subside. However, recovery is an ongoing undertaking. Tap into the network of addiction experts, loved ones, and new confidants you have built to keep up your healthy life. Abstain from situations that compel you to use. Find support whenever you need it. Lasting recovery is possible!
Find Help Now For Alcohol Use Disorder Near Long Island
You don’t have to fight alcohol addiction on your own. Talk to Sunrise Detox Long Island to get compassionate, specialized alcohol use disorder treatment near Long Island. You can request help at 631-857-3800 or by completing the form below. One of our representatives will respond immediately, no matter the time or day. All calls are free and confidential. We’ll provide the care you require at once.