What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In Duluth
September 24, 2024
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In Duluth
Numerous people indulge in alcoholic drinks from time to time. But alcohol can be habit-forming. If you begin consuming alcohol to deal with life or cannot control your drinking, you could have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This disorder can rapidly take over your life and severely affect all the things you enjoyed before.
But there is hope. If you think you or a person you care about have alcohol use disorder near Duluth, treatment and enduring recovery are possible. Read on to learn more about AUD and what you should do if you need guidance right now.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?
Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition where you feel the need to drink alcohol regardless of the negative consequences of having too much. Your brain calls for alcohol’s mind-altering effects and fails to perform reliably without them. AUD might be anywhere from mild to severe. At its most intense, you are in danger of overdosing on alcohol with potentially deadly ramifications.
When you have AUD, you could become addicted to alcohol and suffer unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you attempt to stop partaking. Without skilled assistance, you cannot stop yourself from consuming alcohol to ease the difficulty your body experiences when you start alcohol detox. If you can quit “cold turkey,” you will still need to counter the habit of regular drinking. AUD must have professional treatment to enjoy a full recovery.
Why Are Some People Burdened By Alcohol Use Disorder?
Many residents of Duluth drink, but not everyone develops an alcohol use disorder. Various factors influence your probability of experiencing AUD:
- Drinking at a young age
- Underlying mental health conditions
- Past trauma
- Inadequate coping skills
- Genetics
- Family history of addiction
Many people begin misusing alcohol as a response to stressful events. With a lack of healthy coping strategies, it’s easy to counteract the uncomfortable feelings that emerge from trauma and mental illness with the brain-altering effects of alcohol. When those negative feelings return, you turn to alcohol to shut them down again. You feel temporarily better under the influence of alcohol.
Unfortunately, alcohol is not the solution. When you drink it regularly, you may become reliant on those chemicals to function. When you go without them, you feel more unpleasant than you did peviously and are compelled to drink more. In time, drinking alcohol controls your life and negatively affects your relationships, job, finances, wellnes, and pastimes. When you become ensnared in this devastating spiral, you aren’t able to quit drinking without specialized guidance.
What Are Some Alcohol Addiction Symptoms?
Frequent drinking doesn’t necessarily mean you have a disorder. Alcohol consumption manifests into a disorder when it starts to disrupt your life. Many negative behaviors linked to drinking can signal an alcohol use disorder.
You might have AUD if you:
- Often drink longer or more than you had intended
- Can’t cease drinking even when wanting to
- Spend a good deal of time seeking and drinking alcohol, even though it makes you sick or interferes with other aspects of life
- You want to drink so much you are unable to focus on other tasks
- Have taken part in risky behaviors while consuming alcohol
- Must drink more than before in order to get the desired result
- Have given up enjoyable activities to make time for drinking
- Have continued drinking despite its effect on friends and family
- Have withdrawal symptoms when you quit drinking alcohol
The more symptoms of AUD you have, the more severe your case is. But any person who’s demonstrating indicators of alcohol addiction symptoms near Duluth deserves specialized therapy and support. You shouldn’t have to face alcohol use disorder by yourself.
What You Need To Know About Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
If you have an alcohol addiction, your body must have it to function. If you stop drinking, you get sick. This is called withdrawal.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms differ from person to person and reflect how intense your alcohol usage is. If you go into withdrawal, you might endure any of these symptoms:
- Insomnia
- Shaky hands
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sweating
- Anxious feelings
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Delirium tremens
- Delusions
- Confusion
- Rapid heart rate
- Fever
- High blood pressure
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are a sure-fire indication that you or someone you love has AUD and requires help. Withdrawal can be painful and, in severe cases, even fatal if not addressed by medical professionals. If someone you care about| wishes to stop using alcohol but endures withdrawal if they attempt to, turn to a Duluth substance use treatment provider for help.
Can You “Cure” Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol use disorder and addiction are considered chronic conditions. With that in mind, there isn’t a cure. But, a lasting recovery is possible. With the right combination of medical and mental health support, you can learn to control the urge to drink and achieve a sober lifestyle. It’s a challenging undertaking, but many individuals eventually move past alcohol use disorder in Duluth and regain control of their lives.
Finding Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment In Duluth
No one can attain sobriety alone–and there’s no reason to do so! Getting alcohol use disorder treatment near Duluth may feel daunting, but you deserve skilled treatment to help get your life back together.
Alcohol use recovery might feel more doable when you perceive it as several steps. You won’t find single journey to a sober life. Many people endure relapses and go through certain steps several times. But you should know, you can get help from loved ones and qualified practitioners over the course of your recovery.
Alcohol detox: Your initial step is alcohol detox. When your system flushes out those chemicals, you require medical observation to maintain your comfort and safety. When you’re set to stop your alcohol use, enter a residential detox center near Duluth. You’ll benefit from 24-hour guidance for 7 days or more as you go through withdrawal.
Alcohol rehab: After detoxing, your body and mind will still yearn for alcohol. You need to transfer to residential rehab where medical providers can aid you in handling post-acute withdrawal. Alcohol rehab focuses on restoring your brain from the impact of alcohol use. You’ll attend therapy every day to treat the mental facets of AUD. You’ll remain in rehab as long as you need.
Outpatient addiction support: Rehab will get you balanced enough to go home, but you’ll still require continued support to remain sober. Don’t exit rehab without starting an outpatient addiction program that supplies therapy and medically guided treatment. You are able to stay at home or in a sober living residence, but you still must visit psychotherapists and a doctor throughout the week.
Sober living: n time, your need for treatment will abate. However, recovery is a long-term undertaking. Tap into the network of addiction experts, loved ones, and new mentors you have built to keep up your healthy way of life. Steer clear of situations that push you to consume alcohol. Seek assistance if you ever need it. Enduring recovery is possible!
Get Help Today For Alcohol Use Disorder Near Duluth
You don’t need to fight alcohol addiction alone. Talk to Sunrise Detox Duluth to get caring, expert alcohol use disorder treatment near Duluth. You can request help at 470-327-8336 or by completing the form on this page. One of our representatives will respond promptly, no matter the hour or day. Every call is free and private. We’ll get you the support you require at once.