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What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In Roxbury

September 24, 2024

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In Roxbury

Numerous people enjoy alcoholic refreshments from time to time. But alcohol can be habit-forming. If you consume alcohol to cope with life or find you’re not able to manage your drinking, you might have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This condition can swifty take over your life and have a negative affect on all the activities you previously enjoyed. 
 
But you shouldn’t lose hope. If you feel you or a person you care about have alcohol use disorder near Roxbury, care and enduring recovery are possible. Find out more about AUD and the steps to take if you need guidance right now. 
 

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol use disorder is a health condition where you feel the need to ingest alcohol regardless of the negative repercussions of overuse. Your brain craves the mind-altering chemicals in alcohol and fails to function properly without them. AUD might be severe, moderate, or mild. At its most extreme, you are at risk of overdosing on alcohol with potentially deadly consequences. 
 
When enduring AUD, you might develop an alcohol addiction and suffer uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms if you attempt to stop using. Without specialized help, you cannot prevent yourself from consuming alcohol to lessen the discomfort your body experiences when you detox from alcohol. If you can quit “cold turkey,” you will still need to combat the practice of regular drinking. AUD requires professional treatment to fully recover. 
 

Why Are People Impacted By Alcohol Use Disorder? 

Many individuals in Roxbury drink, but not everyone develops an alcohol use disorder. Various factors help determine your odds of developing AUD: 

  • Drinking early on in life
  • Existing mental health disorders
  • Past trauma 
  • Inadequate coping mechanisms
  • Genetics
  • Family history of addiction 
Countless individuals begin overusing alcohol as a response to major stressors. Without healthy coping skills, it’s simple to counteract the uncomfortable feelings that emerge from mental illness and trauma with the mind-altering effects of alcohol. When those unwanted feelings resurface, you reach for alcohol to subdue them again. You feel temporarily better when drinking alcohol. 
 
Regrettably, alcohol is not a solution. When you use it consistently, you might become dependent on those chemicals to function. When you go without them, you feel worse than you did prior and are compelled to drink more. Over time, drinking alcohol controls your life and unfavorably affects your wellness, relationships, finances, employment and leisure pursuits. When you become caught in this devastating spiral, you cannot cease drinking without skilled care. 
 

What Are Common Alcohol Addiction Symptoms?

Continual drinking doesn’t automatically mean you have a disorder. Alcohol consumption becomes a disorder when it begins interfering with your life. Many behaviors associated with drinking can signal an alcohol use disorder. 
 
You might have AUD if you: 

  • Regularly drink more or longer than you were expecting
  • Are not able to quit drinking even when you want to
  • Spend a lot of time seeking and using alcohol, even when it makes you sick or disrupts other activities
  • Urges are so strong you can’t direct attention on other obligations
  • Have engaged in dangerous behaviors while drinking alcohol 
  • Need to drink more than before in order to attain the desired effect 
  • Have forsaken activities you once enjoyed to make more time for drinking 
  • Persistent drinking despite its impact on family and friends
  • Experience withdrawal symptoms when you quit drinking 
 
The more symptoms of AUD you face, the more severe your case is. But anyone who’s showing signals of alcohol addiction symptoms near Roxbury has a right to specialized treatment and guidance. You shouldn’t have to take on alcohol use disorder by yourself. 
 

What You Should Know About Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

If you are addicted to alcohol, your system needs it to perform. If you cease drinking, you get sick. This is known as withdrawal. 
 
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are different for each person and are reflective of how severe your alcohol usage is. If you begin to withdrawal, you may endure any mix of these symptoms: 
 
  • Insomnia
  • Shaky hands
  • Headache 
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sweating 
  • Anxious feelings
  • Hallucinations 
  • Seizures 
  • Delirium tremens 
  • Delusions 
  • Confusion
  • Heart racing
  • Fever
  • High blood pressure 
 
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are an obvious indicator that you or a person you care about has AUD and should get help. Withdrawal can be distressing and, in severe cases, even deadly if not addressed by medical providers. If someone you know| wishes to quit alcohol but endures withdrawal whenever they try, reach out to a Roxbury substance use treatment provider for expert care. 
 

Can You “Cure” Alcohol Addiction?

Alcohol use disorder and addiction are considered chronic conditions. With that in mind, there isn’t a cure. However, a long-term recovery is a definite possibility. With the proper combination of mental health and medical care, you can learn to control the urge to drink and attain sobriety. It’s a difficult process, but countless individuals eventually overcome alcohol use disorder in Roxbury  and reclaim their lives. 
 

Getting Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment In Roxbury

Nobody can accomplish sobriety alone–and you shouldn’t have to! Finding alcohol use disorder treatment near Roxbury might feel intimidating, but you are entitled to skilled support to help you get yourself on a path of lasting sobriety. 
 
Alcohol use recovery can feel more feasible when you look at it as several steps. There is no single road to a sober life. Many people endure setbacks and go through parts of the process multiple times. But rest assured, you can get assistance from family and trained professionals throughout your journey. 
 
Alcohol detox: The preliminary step is alcohol detox. While your system flushes out those chemicals, you require medical observation that keeps you comfortable and safe. When you’re prepared to quit alcohol, request admittance to a residential detox center near Roxbury. You will get round-the-clock care for one or two weeks as you overcome withdrawal. 
 
Alcohol rehab: Following detox, your body and mind will still crave alcohol. You will need to proceed to residential alcohol rehab where medical staff can aid you in navigating post-acute withdrawal. Alcohol rehab focuses on restoring your brain from the influence of alcohol usage. You’ll attend therapy every day to treat the mental facets of AUD. You’ll continue in rehab as long as necessary. 
 
Outpatient addiction treatment: Rehab will get you stable enough to go home, but you’ll still need ongoing support to remain sober. Don’t depart rehab without entering an outpatient addiction program that provides therapy and medical-assisted treatment. You are able to live at home or in a sober living residence, but you still must visit counselors and a doctor throughout the week. 
 
Sober living: Over time, your need for treatment will taper off. Even so, recovery is a life-long process. Rely on the network of addiction professionals, family members, and new friends you have developed to continue living a healthy life. Abstain from people or activities that trigger you to consume alcohol. Get support when you need it. Long-term recovery is possible!  
 

Find Help Today For Alcohol Use Disorder Near Roxbury

You don’t have to grapple with alcohol addiction alone. Talk to The Counseling Center at Roxbury-Succasunna to find compassionate, specialized alcohol use disorder treatment near Roxbury. You may contact us at 862-707-2469 or by completing the form on this page. One of our team members will answer you immediately, regardless of the day or time. Your call is free and private. We’ll provide the care you need at once.