Negative emotions like loneliness, rejection, sadness, anger, or fear, are an inevitable part of our lives. When faced with such, not everyone has healthy mechanisms to deal with it. Alcohol poses as a reliever for them to escape distressing feelings, and unfortunately, many succumb to it and develop addiction.
Alcohol addiction is when individuals have no control over their drinking habits and develop disruptive behaviours that impair relationships, work, and overall well-being. An individual with an addiction problem continues their dependence even knowing the negative consequences. Overcoming alcohol addiction can be hard, but resources like alcohol addiction psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists are available to help them overcome alcohol.
Understanding Alcohol Addiction: Causes & Symptoms
Most of the time, people assume alcohol addiction only affects the user’s physical health. However, their mental and emotional well-being are equally affected. Therefore, it is important to get the right support and treatment to be alcohol-free.
Everyone reacts and perceives things differently therefore; causes may vary case by case. However, there are a few factors that contribute to alcohol addiction.
- Negative emotions can be triggering points for someone who struggles to manage them healthily, and individuals with existing mental health conditions are even more susceptible to developing addiction to ease their emotional pain.
- For some, certain places, objects, people or even situations can act as their trigger points. While for others, boredom itself can be a big trigger. They need constant stimulation to satisfy their curiosity.
- Peer pressure can be one of the major factors in starting to consume alcohol, especially for younger people seeking to fit into a certain group or maintain a particular social status.
- Conflicts with family members, friends, colleagues, or classmates can stress you out and lead you to turn to alcohol to ease your distressing feelings.
- When there is a history of family members with alcohol addiction, early exposure to alcohol from them can contribute to developing alcohol addiction.
Signs & Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction
The intensity of dependency varies, and here are some indicators to assist you in recognizing whether you or a loved one might be grappling with alcohol addiction. It's crucial to highlight the importance of seeking help, including completing an online drug and alcohol evaluation, to address potential substance abuse issues and begin the journey towards recovery.
- Participating in violence and fighting, stealing, excessive eating, or overspending money are the risky behaviours that are frequently exhibited by alcohol addiction.
- Excessive consumption of alcohol with increased amounts and longer amounts to achieve the same effect or rush.
- They may isolate themselves from social interactions and stop participating in activities they once enjoyed.
- When most of their time is spent on alcohol, their health is completely neglected. Their livers are compromised from excessive drinking and exhaust their financial resources.
- It becomes difficult for alcoholics to maintain a healthy relationship. Your work, family, romantic, or school relationships are damaged.
Alcohol Addiction Psychiatrist
When someone struggles with alcohol addiction, they often turn to alcohol addiction psychiatrists first. These mental health professionals will conduct a comprehensive evaluation consisting of physical exams, psychiatric assessments, and diverse diagnostic measures to understand their conditions. Then, based on what they learn, they diagnose the addiction and come up with a treatment plan to help.
Since each person's experiences with alcohol addiction are different, their treatment approach will be tailored to suit their specific needs. Therefore, psychiatrists offer various treatment options like psychotherapy, medication, and different therapeutic approaches.
Psychiatrists may recommend therapy or medication, or a combination of both to ease withdrawal symptoms, lessen alcohol cravings and address any additional mental health issues because mental health rarely occurs alone. It often co-exists with other mental health illnesses.
Treatments for Alcohol Addiction
Medication
Alcohol addiction psychiatrist may use medication to ease their symptoms. Drugs like Disulfiram, Naltrexone, or Acamprosate are prescribed to help manage alcohol cravings and support recovery. These drugs work differently from each other eventually helping them to overcome.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy offers one-on-one sessions with psychiatrists or therapists to explore the root cause of their addiction problem, develop coping mechanisms, and create healthier ways to manage distressing emotions. Most prominent psychotherapy like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns that fuel addictive behaviours.
Support Groups
Another treatment approach recommended by psychiatrists is joining support groups. Individuals with similar conditions get to share their experiences and challenges and offer helpful tips for tackling alcoholism.
Group Therapy
Group therapy such as family therapy involves family members in the treatment process, providing better insight into the condition, improving their relationship, and offering emotional support. It provides a safe space for family members to learn healthy coping mechanisms for their loved one's situation, minimizing the risk of unintentional triggers.
Overcoming Alcohol Addiction
Life without alcohol dependency requires a lifestyle change. Establishing a regular routine with sleep, meals, and exercise and sticking to it is important for stability and reducing cravings. Exercise, even light activities like walking, improves mood and helps in tackling cravings. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains replenishes your body’s nutrients depleted by alcohol.
Finally, surrounding yourself with supportive people and seeking professional help or joining support groups to connect with others who have similar experiences, make your recovery journey easier.
