What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In Duluth
September 23, 2024
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In Duluth
Many people indulge in alcoholic beverages from time to time. But alcohol can be habit-forming. If you begin consuming alcohol to deal with life or find you’re not able to limit your drinking, you might have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This condition can quickly dominate your life and have a detrimental impact on all the things you once enjoyed.
But you shouldn’t lose hope. If you think you or someone you love have alcohol use disorder near Duluth, care and lasting recovery are attainable. Read on to learn more about AUD and the steps to take if you require help immediately.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?
Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition where you feel compelled to ingest alcohol in spite of the negative consequences of overconsumption. Your brain craves alcohol’s mind-altering effects and no longer operates adequately without them. AUD can be anywhere from mild to severe. At its most extreme, you are in jeopardy of overdosing with fatal repercussions.
When enduring AUD, you could become addicted to alcohol and experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms if you cease partaking. Without specialized assistance, you aren’t able to prevent yourself from consuming alcohol to mitigate the unease your body endures when you detox from alcohol. If you are able to stop “cold turkey,” you still must fight the habit of consistent drinking. AUD requires specialized treatment to enjoy a full recovery.
Why Are Some People Burdened By Alcohol Use Disorder?
Numerous individuals in Duluth drink, but not every person develops an alcohol use disorder. Several factors contribute to your odds of experiencing AUD:
- Drinking early in life
- Existing mental health conditions
- Background of trauma
- Insufficient coping skills
- Genetics
- Family history of alcohol addiction
Countless people begin binging on alcohol as a response to high levels of stress. With a lack of healthy coping strategies, it’s easy to counteract the difficult feelings that stem from mental illness and trauma with the mind-altering effects of alcohol. Whenever those feelings come back, you turn to alcohol to shut them down again. You feel better for a bit when drinking alcohol.
Unfortunately, alcohol is never the solution. When you consume it consistently, you may become reliant on those chemicals to function. Without them, you feel more unpleasant than you did prior and are urged to drink more. In time, drinking alcohol consumes your life and unfavorably impacts your relationships, employment, finances, wellnes, and pastimes. When you become ensnared in this downward spiral, you cannot stop drinking without skilled treatment.
What Are Alcohol Addiction Symptoms?
Continual drinking doesn’t necessarily mean you have a disorder. Alcohol use becomes a disorder when it begins interfering with your life. Various negative behaviors connected with drinking can indicate an alcohol use disorder.
You may have AUD if you:
- Regularly drink in excess of or longer than you were expecting
- Are unable to stop drinking even when you want to
- Spend a good deal of time acquiring and drinking alcohol, even when it makes you feel bad or impedes other aspects of life
- Cravings are so intense you can’t focus on other obligations
- Have engaged in risky behaviors while drinking alcohol
- Have to drink more than before in order to achieve the desired feeling
- Have given up enjoyable activities to make more time for drinking
- Have continued drinking despite its influence on friends and family
- Suffer withdrawal symptoms when you cease drinking
The severity of your AUD generally relates to the number of symptoms you endure. But any individual who’s showing signs of alcohol addiction symptoms near Duluth is entitled to specialized treatment and care. You don’t need to take on alcohol use disorder by yourself.
What To Know About Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
If you have an addiction to alcohol, your body needs it to operate. If you halt usage, your body gets sick. This is known as withdrawal.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms differ for each individual and are reflective of how intense your alcohol use is. If you enter withdrawal, you may face any combination of these symptoms:
- Insomnia
- Shaky hands
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sweating
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Delirium tremens
- Delusions
- Confusion
- Rapid heart rate
- Fever
- High blood pressure
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are an obvious sign that you or a person you care about has AUD and should get help. Withdrawal is often painful and, in severe cases, even deadly if not managed by medical providers. If a person you care about| wants to quit alcohol but experiences withdrawal whenever they try, turn to a Duluth substance use treatment provider for expert care.
Can You “Cure” Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol use disorder and addiction are known as chronic illnesses. Technically speaking, there isn’t a cure. Even so, there is a possibility for lasting recovery. With the right combination of medical and mental health care, you can discover how to navigate the compulsion to drink and attain a sober life. It’s an arduous process, but many people eventually recover from alcohol use disorder in Duluth and take back control of their lives.
Finding Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment In Duluth
Nobody can accomplish sobriety by themselves–and you don’t have to! Finding alcohol use disorder treatment near Duluth might be unnerving, but you have a right to skilled support to help you get yourself on a sober path.
Alcohol use recovery may feel less overwhelming when you view it as a series of steps steps. There is no single pathway to a sober lifestyle. Countless people relapse and go through parts of the process more than once. But rest assured, you can get help from family members and accredited providers throughout your journey to recovery.
Alcohol detox: The first step is to detox from alcohol. When your body removes the alcohol, you need medical guidance that keeps you safe and comfortable. If you’re set to stop your alcohol use, enter a residential detox center near Duluth. They will provide 24/7 support for a week or two as you undergo withdrawal.
Alcohol rehab: Following detox, your mind and body will still yearn for alcohol. You must move forward to residential rehab care where medical staff can help you control post-acute withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol rehab emphasizes mending your brain from the influence of alcohol usage. You’ll go to a few hours of therapy every day to look at the mental aspects of AUD. You’ll stay in rehab as long as you need.
Outpatient addiction treatment: Rehab will get you balanced enough to return home, but you will still need ongoing support to keep on a path of sobriety. Don’t depart rehab without entering an outpatient addiction program that supplies therapy and medically guided treatment. You can reside at home or in a sober living residence, but you still need to see psychotherapists and a doctor throughout the week.
Sober living: Eventually, your need for addiction services will taper off. However, recovery is an ongoing process. Tap into the network of addiction specialists, family, and new confidants you have put together to continue living a healthy lifestyle. Avoid people or activities that trigger you to use. Find help whenever you need it. Enduring recovery can be achieved!
Get Help Today For Alcohol Use Disorder Near Duluth
You don’t have to battle alcohol addiction alone. Call Evolve Recovery Center Duluth to get compassionate, specialized alcohol use disorder treatment near Duluth. You can request help at 470-348-5426 or by submitting the form below. One of our friendly staff members will respond immediately, no matter the time or day. Every call is free and private. We’ll get you the treatment you need today.