Am I an alcoholic? If you’re asking yourself this question, you found cause for concern. However, an alcohol use disorder is notoriously difficult to pinpoint since it’s different for everyone. That said, there are some common threads.
Alcohol Addiction Has Little to Do with Quantity
It’s a misconception that only the person who’s falling down drunk at 11 a.m. has an alcohol problem. Another problematic line of reasoning has to do with the type of liquor someone drinks. Wine is okay, but hard liquor is what people with a problem prefer. None of these statements is correct.
You need addiction treatment services when you struggle to manage uncontrollable cravings for the drug. They start as soon as you wake up. They continue throughout the day. Your body signals its need for the alcohol with withdrawal symptoms.
Am I An Alcoholic If I Can’t Stop Reaching for the Next Drink?
Yes, you might be. This realization makes you an excellent candidate for an alcohol detox program. It’s the first step on the road to sobriety. Before detox, you undergo an intake interview that charts your course for treatment.
Possible modalities include:
- Dual diagnosis assessment and treatment of mental health disorders that could be influencing your alcohol addiction
- Physical wellness evaluation that provides a baseline profile for caregivers who deal with the medical supervision of your withdrawal
- Pharmacological support, which assists with your comfort and maintenance of physiological health during detoxification
- Introduction to psychotherapy that readies you for transitioning to rehab after you finish breaking the physical addiction to alcohol
- Individual and group therapy sessions that affirm your decision to end alcohol abuse in your life
Good-quality detox programs prepare you for rehab. Excellent facilities offer both types of treatments on the same campus. Doing so cuts down on time between medical and clinical care. The shorter this period, the less likely you are to relapse at that time.
What Comes after Detox?
Rehab isn’t like what you see in the movies. It’s hard work. At the same time, you have fun with peers who’re also overcoming an addiction.
Your body no longer expresses its need for alcohol. You can now function without dreading withdrawal symptoms. But there are still the cravings. Overcoming them is possible with rehab.
Unless someone’s struggled with addiction, it’s impossible to understand the grip that these cravings can have. Psychotherapy offers a way of dealing with them and redirecting them. For example, you may realize that you used alcohol to self-medicate because of personal trauma. In therapy, you deal with the trauma and find new ways of handling your response to stressors.
Find Help Today
Am I an alcoholic? If you’re asking yourself this question, you’ve found something that worries you. Why not get a reality check from a caring therapist who’s an addiction treatment specialist? Call Morningside Recovery today by dialing 855-631-2135 now for access to a counselor.