Having an addiction to alcohol can be devastating. Many people are fine with drinking a few glasses of wine, a couple of beers or a cocktail at social events or to wind down for the evening. How do you know if you’ve crossed the line from recreational use to abuse? If you suspect that your substance use is interfering with your life, it may be time for alcohol treatment.
Alcohol Affects Your Physical Health
Alcohol is a depressant, which means that it slows down all of your bodily functions. It also disrupts communication between your brain and your body. That’s why you may experience slurred speech when you have too much to drink.
Over time, the substance damages your central nervous system. You may feel numbness in your hands and feet if you’ve used alcohol for a long time. The chemical also destroys brain cells and damages areas of the brain that are responsible for short-term memory, judgment, and emotional control.
Alcohol causes inflammation throughout the body. Chronic abuse may develop into pancreatitis. Long-term alcohol use can also lead to cirrhosis or liver disease.
Social and Personal Problems
Using alcohol can disturb your social, emotional and financial life. Perhaps you’re choosing situations that involve alcohol instead of giving loved ones the attention they need. Maybe you’re spending money that you don’t have to obtain alcohol.
Has a hangover made you miss work? Are you constantly arguing with your spouse over your alcohol use? Do you find yourself missing appointments or backing out of social activities because you have been drinking? If the common denominator in your personal problems is alcohol, you might be dealing with an addiction.
Alcohol Dependency
Regular drinking can create an alcohol dependency. When you use the substance regularly, it changes your body and brain. You become tolerant, which means you need more to feel the same effects. This is a sign of physical dependence.
You can also become psychologically dependent on alcohol. Maybe you feel like you have no control over your drinking. Perhaps you obsessively think about having your next drink. You could even give up activities that you once enjoyed in order to consume alcohol.
When It’s Time For Alcohol Treatment
If you feel shaky, nauseous or anxious within about six hours of your last drink, you could be experiencing symptoms of withdrawal. Withdrawal occurs when your body starts speeding up after sustained alcohol use.
It can be dangerous to go through alcohol withdrawal alone. You might experience hallucinations, seizures or delirium tremens from the overstimulation that happens when you stop drinking. Spring Gardens Recovery offers alcohol treatment to help you stop drinking in a safe, supportive environment.
It’s hard to make the decision to quit using alcohol. Getting the right medical support as well as taking care of your mind and body during this time is crucial for preventing a relapse.
Detoxing from alcohol isn’t just about lying in bed and enduring the withdrawal symptoms. You can begin to restore your health by taking part in the alcohol treatment therapies that are available at Spring Gardens Recovery, which include:
Don’t let alcohol addiction continue to destroy your relationships, health, and life. Find the serenity that you need in recovery by starting with detox at Spring Gardens Recovery. Call us at (866) 244-9556 to get started on your new, alcohol-free life.
