What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In Toms River
September 24, 2024
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In Toms River
An abundance of people indulge in alcoholic beverages now and then. But alcohol can be addictive. If you begin using alcohol to deal with life or find you’re unable to limit your drinking, you may have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This disorder can quickly dominate your life and have a negative impact on all the pursuits you previously enjoyed.
But there is hope. If you think you or a loved one have alcohol use disorder near Toms River, care and long-term recovery are possible. Read on to learn more about AUD and the steps to take if you require help right away.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?
Alcohol use disorder is a health condition where you feel the need to use alcohol despite the negative consequences of overconsumption. Your brain calls for alcohol’s mind-altering effects and no longer functions adequately without them. AUD can be severe, moderate, or mild. At its most intense, you are at risk of an overdose with potentially deadly ramifications.
As part of AUD, you might cultivate an alcohol addiction and suffer disturbing withdrawal symptoms if you cease using. Without specialized assistance, you aren’t able to prevent yourself from drinking alcohol to lessen the unease your body experiences when you try to detox from alcohol. If you are able to stop “cold turkey,” you still must counter the routine of consistent drinking. AUD must have specialized treatment to recover completely.
Why Are Individuals Affected By Alcohol Use Disorder?
Lots of residents of Toms River drink, but not every person develops an alcohol use disorder. A variety of factors help determine your odds of developing AUD:
- Drinking at a young age
- Existing mental illness
- Past trauma
- Poor coping mechanisms
- Genetics
- Family history of addiction
Many individuals begin binging on alcohol as a result of major stressors. In the absence of constructive coping skills, it’s easy to combat the uneasy feelings that result from trauma and mental illness with the brain-altering effects of alcohol. When those unwanted feelings come back, you reach for alcohol to subdue them again. You gain a brief reprieve under the influence of alcohol.
But, alcohol is not the solution. When you use it consistently, you might become dependent on those chemicals to function. When you don’t have them, you feel more unpleasant than you did before and want to drink even more. Soon, drinking dominates your life and negatively affects your relationships, job, finances, well-being, and pastimes. When you get caught in this endless spiral, you cannot stop drinking without skilled treatment.
What Are Common Alcohol Addiction Symptoms?
Continual drinking doesn’t automatically signify a disorder. Alcohol usage progresses into a disorder when it begins interfering with your life. Many negative behaviors linked to drinking can signal an alcohol use disorder.
You may have AUD if you:
- Often drink in excess of or longer than you had intended
- Are not able to quit drinking even if you want to
- Spend a good deal of time acquiring and drinking alcohol, despite the fact it makes you sick or disrupts other activities
- Compulsions are so strong you aren’t able to concentrate on other things
- Have participated in unsafe behaviors while under the influence of alcohol
- Need to drink more than you used to in order to get the wanted result
- Have given up activities you used to enjoy to make more time for drinking
- Persistent drinking despite its influence on friends and family
- Have withdrawal symptoms when you cease drinking
The severity of your AUD often correlates to the number of symptoms you have. But anyone who’s showing signs of alcohol addiction symptoms near Toms River deserves professional therapy and support. You don’t have to face alcohol use disorder on your own.
What You Should Know About Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
If you have an alcohol addiction, your system must have it to perform. If you stop drinking, you become sick. This is called withdrawal.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms vary from person to person and reflect how intense your alcohol usage is. If you begin to withdrawal, you could experience any of these symptoms:
- Insomnia
- Shaky hands
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sweating
- Anxious feelings
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Delirium tremens
- Delusions
- Confusion
- Racing heart
- Fever
- High blood pressure
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are a tell-tale sign that you or someone you love has AUD and needs help. Withdrawal is often painful and, in severe cases, even deadly if not managed by medical specialists. If an individual you know| wants to quit alcohol but faces withdrawal if they make an attempt, contact a Toms River substance use treatment provider for support.
Can Alcohol Addiction Be “Cured”?
Alcohol use disorder and addiction are considered chronic illnesses. Technically speaking, there isn’t a cure. However, there is a chance for long-term recovery. With the right combination of mental health and medical care, you can learn to navigate the compulsion to drink and reach your goal of a sober life. It’s an arduous process, but many individuals recover from alcohol use disorder in Toms River and regain control of their lives.
Finding Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment In Toms River
No one can attain sobriety alone–and you don’t have to! Seeking alcohol use disorder treatment near Toms River might feel daunting, but you are entitled to skilled treatment to help you get yourself on the right path.
Alcohol use recovery may feel less daunting when you perceive it as several steps. There isn’t a single journey to a sober lifestyle. Many individuals endure setbacks and go through some of these steps more than once. But you should know, you can get assistance from loved ones and qualified professionals over the course of your journey to recovery.
Alcohol detox: The preliminary step is to detox from alcohol. While your system removes the toxins, you require medical guidance that keeps you safe and comfortable. If you’re ready to stop your alcohol use, request admittance to a residential detox center near Toms River. They will provide 24-hour guidance for one or two weeks as you go through withdrawal.
Alcohol rehab: Following detox, your mind and body will still yearn for alcohol. You need to proceed to residential rehab care where medical providers can help you manage post-acute withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol rehab focuses on mending your brain from the effects of alcohol use. You’ll attend several hours of therapy every day to look at the mental facets of AUD. You’ll stay in rehab for whatever length of time is right for you.
Outpatient addiction care: Rehab will stabilize you enough to go back home, but you will still require continued support to keep on a path of sobriety. Don’t depart rehab without entering an outpatient addiction program that supplies therapy and medical-assisted treatment. You may live at home or in a sober living residence, but you still need to see therapists and a doctor throughout the week.
Sober living: n time, your need for addiction services will subside. Even so, recovery is a life-long endeavor. Turn to the network of addiction professionals, loved ones, and new confidants you have developed to continue living a healthy way of life. Abstain from scenarios that push you to drink. Get assistance if you ever need it. Lasting recovery is possible!
Get Help Now For Alcohol Use Disorder Near Toms River
You don’t have to fight alcohol addiction by yourself. Call AffinityOne Toms River to get caring, expert alcohol use disorder treatment near Toms River. You may reach us at (908) 883-3963 or by filling out the form below. One of our representatives will respond immediately, no matter the day or time. All calls are free and confidential. We’ll get you the care you require now.