Talking to a qualified therapist can help you get to the root of your condition and devise a means to kick it. While the condition might not develop for several years in some people, it might take only a few months for others. People in the latter category are often genetically predisposed to alcohol use disorder. Consuming large amounts of alcohol over a long period is most likely to result in alcohol use disorder. However, the time it takes for the condition to develop is highly individual.

If you’re close with someone who has alcohol use disorder (AUD), it can be difficult to know what to do to minimize conflict and stress, support your loved one, and tend to your own needs at the same time. While the exact causes of alcoholism are not known, a number of factors can play a role. The condition is likely the result of a combination of genetic, social, psychological, and environmental factors. Today, we know that the symptoms of alcoholism can vary from one person to the next. Because the condition is progressive, these symptoms may increase over time in terms of the number of symptoms, their severity, and their impact. Rehabilitation programs are an excellent treatment option for people with severe symptoms of the condition.

Warning Signs of Alcoholism

These changes can compromise brain function and drive the transition from controlled, occasional use to chronic misuse, which can be difficult to control. The changes can endure long after a person stops consuming alcohol, and can contribute to relapse in drinking. Some people may be hesitant to seek treatment because they don’t want why do people become alcoholics to abstain entirely. Moderation management or moderation treatment can be an effective approach, in which people learn responsible drinking habits through a structured program. Research suggests this form of treatment can help people shift from heavy to moderate drinking, improve quality of life, and enhance emotional well-being.

• If you’ve been covering up for your loved one and not talking about their addiction openly for a long time, it may seem daunting to reach out for help.
• Doing this in advance will allow time for both people to process the discussion and set clear expectations.
• Alcohol consumption was also linked to a greater risk for stroke, coronary disease, heart failure, and fatally high blood pressure.
• The progression into a full addiction is usually gradual and withdrawal from alcohol can produce physical symptoms.
• Alcoholism has been known by a variety of terms, including alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence.

A person who is overly stressed, anxious or depressed may begin using alcohol to cope but eventually develop an alcohol addiction. Alcoholism is a term that is sometimes used to describe what is known as an alcohol use disorder (AUD). If you have it, you should know that you are not alone and you are living with a chronic medical condition that needs proper management and treatment. Some research shows that up to 6.2% of the American population lives with this condition. Recognizing that you need help is the first step in your treatment journey.

State officials wouldn’t let these homeowners build a sea wall. Their lawsuit could reshape California’s coast

It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. Slips can be fueled by withdrawal symptoms, mental health challenges, and drug-related cues, such as spending time with old drinking partners or visiting old drinking locations. Triggers become engrained in addiction, so it’s valuable to recognize these cues, avoid them, and replace them with new behaviors, such as calling a sponsor or loved one when craving alcohol, which can help avoid a relapse. As the Cleveland Clinic excellently states, alcohol use disorder (or alcoholism) is a medical condition where a person is unable to control their heavy or frequent drinking.

Although alcoholism usually develops in a person’s 20s or 30s, people who begin drinking, especially people who binge drink, at an early age may be at higher risk of developing an alcohol use disorder down the line. Teenagers who hang out with others who drink or peer pressure them to drink might be more susceptible to the dangers of alcohol abuse due to the popularity of binge drinking. If these drinking patterns become a habit, individuals may struggle to socialize with others without drinking or feel as though they need to drink in order to be accepted. All of these factors that stem from drinking at an early age can increase a person’s risk of becoming an alcoholic. It’s extremely common for people who suffer from alcohol use disorder to have a co-occurring mental health condition. For example, someone who suffers from depression may drink as a means of self-medicating their symptoms.

What Does the Term ‘Alcoholic’ Mean?

If the person is incapable of even being honest with themselves, it may not be reasonable to expect them to be honest with you. Protect your children, and don’t hesitate to keep them away from someone who drinks and does not respect your boundaries. Growing up in a home where alcohol use is common, can leave lasting scars. If you have children, it’s important to protect them from unacceptable behavior as well. Accepting unacceptable behavior usually begins with some small incident that you brush off with, “They just had too much to drink.” But the next time, the behavior may get a little worse and then even worse. You might slowly begin to accept more and more unacceptable behavior.

It’s common for someone with AUD to try to blame their drinking on circumstances or others around them, including those who are closest to them. It’s common to hear them say, “The only reason I drink is because you…” Discover the impact alcohol has on children living with a parent or caregiver with alcohol use disorder. Explore how many people ages 18 to 25 engage in alcohol misuse in the United States and the impact it has. Learn how many people ages 12 to 20 engage in underage alcohol misuse in the United States and the impact it has. In addition to getting professional treatment and support, there are things that you can do to help feel better and improve your chances of recovery.

Filed under: Sober living by admindcd