How to Treat Alcohol Dependence
This article is for those who are looking for an answer to their question about how to stop drinking.
Dependence on Alcohol is the last stage of a person who has lost the ability to control the amount of alcohol he intakes. It is better to understand the process of becoming alcoholic so that one can determine what treatment method should be taken. It is necessary to get treatment because Alcoholism or Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) as it is also called is an illness that affects not only the body but also the mind. It could take years to reach the stage of chronic dependence on alcohol or one could find themselves unable to control ones drinking very early.
The stages of AUD: Research into the phenomenon of AUD or alcoholism has led to creation of a set of questions that help in assessing what stage of AUD one is at. Some of the questions from manuals of alcohol dependence studies that help in understanding the severity or the stage one is at are as follows:
In the past year, have you:
- Had times when you ended up drinking more, or longer than you intended?
- More than once wanted to cut down or stop drinking, or tried to, but couldn’t?
- Spent a lot of time drinking? Or being sick or getting over the aftereffects?
- Experienced craving—a strong need, or urge, to drink?
- Found that drinking—or being sick from drinking—often interfered with taking care of your home or family? Or caused job troubles? Or school problems?
- Continued to drink even though it was causing trouble with your family or friends?
- Given up or cut back on activities that were important or interesting to you, or gave you pleasure, in order to drink?
- More than once gotten into situations while or after drinking that increased your chances of getting hurt (such as driving, swimming, using machinery, walking in a dangerous area, or having unsafe sex)?
- Continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem? Or after having had a memory blackout?
- Had to drink much more than you once did to get the effect you want? Or found that your usual number of drinks had much less effect than before?
- Found that when the effects of alcohol were wearing off, you had withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, irritability, anxiety, depression, restlessness, nausea, or sweating? Or sensed things, that were not there(hallucinated)?
Early danger signs of AUD include:
• Excessive and compulsive drinking
• Drinking more in spite of deciding to limit oneself shows a loss of control when it relates to alcohol
• Developing anxiety and frustration leading to bad mood when not able to drink
• Noticeable progression in the quantity of alcohol imbibed
Interim Stage: At least three of the following criteria should have been present during the past 12 months: - Alcohol tolerance: The person needs a large quantity of alcohol to feel intoxicated. However, when the liver is damaged and cannot metabolize the alcohol so well, this tolerance may drop. Damage to the central nervous system may also reduce tolerance levels.
- Withdrawal symptoms: When the individual abstains from alcohol or cuts down, they experience tremors, insomnia, nausea, or anxiety. They may drink more to avoid these symptoms.
- Beyond intentions: The person drinks more alcohol, or over a longer period, than they intended.
- Unsuccessful attempts to cut down: The person is continuously trying to cut down alcohol consumption but does not succeed. They may have a persistent desire to cut down.
- Time consumed: The person spends a lot of time obtaining, using, or recovering from alcohol consumption.
- Withdrawal: The individual withdraws from recreational, social, or occupational activities that they previously participated in.
- Persistence: The person continues consuming alcohol, even though they know it is harming them physically and psychologically.
Reaching out for help:
If one finds that one fits even just 3 of the above criteria, then it is best to reach out for help. The best thing to do according to Zorba the best rehab in Pune, is to get oneself into a residential programme that offers a complete package. The person with AUD needs several things that begin his journey towards sobriety. Depending on the physical and mental withdrawals one faces, one may need a hospitalization for Detoxification. Basically the patient is given medical treatment to counter the effects of alcohol leaving the body (withdrawals). After that one is left with mental cravings that could lead to relapse. People end up drinking again because not enough importance is placed on correcting the mentality that prevents us from coping with life and reality without taking recourse to the drink.
Rehab Centre in india like Zorbacare provides the retreat that helps a person reassess ones life. Here one can see with an unfogged head and do the necessary inner work that leads to new perspectives, attitudes and behaviours. One reaches a point where drinking is understood for what it was and a sober life begins to be most appealing.
How to Get Help:
Treatment can help most people who have AUD. Rehabilitation Centre in India like Zorbacare, the best rehab in Mumbai, can assess your needs and help you to get help. They have short term and Long-term rehab program packages that provide the following:
• Group therapy
• Family counseling
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Meditation and mindfulness
• Individual counseling
• Follow-up treatments
Zorbacare , Luxury rehab in india provides a holistic treatment program that takes all the above and adds Regression therapy and Autosuggestion to help the Alcoholic stay sober.