Do you have a strong dependence on alcohol? If yes, you have symptoms of alcohol addiction. There are many factors that make an individual addicted to alcohol. One can develop addiction as a result of depression, stress, heartbreaks, unbalanced emotional health and social environment.
Fact is alcohol addiction has a far greater impact on the lives of an individual. These effects can take different forms – medical or social. Some of the social effects of alcohol addiction include being a source of concern and worry to family, friends, and colleague. The medical effects of alcohol addiction, on the other hand, include damage to the gastrointestinal system. Additionally, anyone addicted to alcohol may suffer severe health conditions that may likely affect the heart, liver, pancreas, blood and nervous systems. And the end result can be sexual dysfunction, alcoholic dementia, neuropathy, and epilepsy.
Symptoms of alcohol addiction
Addiction to alcohol comes with many different symptoms. These include
- Shaking hands
- Chronic diarrhea
- Poor health
- Yellowish skin tone
- Abdominal fluids
To determine whether or not an individual is addicted to alcohol, keep them away from drinking an alcoholic substance for a while. They will begin to exhibit withdrawal symptoms within just a short time. Also, alcohol addicts have a high tolerance for alcohol which means such person have to take as much alcohol as possible to reach a certain stage of highness. They resort to drinking alcohol for longer periods than other people irrespective of other commitments they may have.
Fortunately, alcohol addiction can be treated. There are many treatment options for alcohol addiction treatment. However, the process takes about four stages to complete. These stages include detoxification, medication, psychotherapy and recovery stages.
Detoxification
At this stage, the patient is expected to avoid drinking alcohol while treatment is ongoing. Detoxification helps to completely eliminate the toxic substances from the body of the addict. Substances in alcohol are harmful. For this reason, it is advised that even if you must drink alcohol, do that in small quantity.
When undergoing detoxification, patients may develop withdrawal symptoms. During this time, the patient is closely monitored by doctors who are skilled and experienced in handling such cases
Medication
At this stage, the patients get medicine to help limit the effect of any psychiatric conditions that may push them into drinking alcohol. It is not easy to quit drinking alcohol. As a matter of fact, most alcoholics who decide to quit drinking usually face a hurdle in the sense that they develop a craving for alcohol from time to time. To effectively overcome such temptations, the patient will have to take some medicines.
Psychotherapy
The psychotherapy stage helps the patient deal with psychological issues. These problems might be the reasons why patient rend to drink alcohol. To them, alcohol consumption is the best way to overcome stress and anxiety.
Recovery
This is the final stage of the treatment procedure. This is a must-do for everyone suffering from alcohol addiction. The recovery stage is where patients meet with others struggling with alcoholism and share their experience.