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Alcohol Addiction

An alcohol addiction can affect anyone, regardless of your age, gender, profession, nationality or upbringing. Alcohol addiction, as with any other addiction is classed as a chronic relapsing brain disease by experts and professionals all around the world.

The Addiction, The Disease

Being addicted to alcohol does not necessarily mean you have a dependency on it, in some cases, an individual can go days, weeks and even months without a drink. However, once they begin, the addiction and the disease kicks back in and the entire destructive cycle begins again. They live to drink and drink to live.

Addiction, Abuse & Alcoholism

Alcohol addiction, abuse and alcoholism are a massive strain on national health services all over the globe. Most deaths that are related to alcohol are generally due to alcohol poisoning, organ failure and in some cases death during acute withdrawal. This is why it is so important to get help if you are trying to stop consuming alcohol.

What is alcohol addiction?

If you suffer from alcoholism and are addicted to alcohol, you have both a mental and physical illness that requires treatment. Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK are addicted to alcohol, so you are not alone. Alcohol addiction can be treated and managed through rehab programmes such as those offered by Step One Recovery. As part of the treatment process, detoxification may be required to remove toxins and alcohol from the body.

A person can also become alcohol dependent without having an addiction. When this happens, the body starts to experience stronger cravings for alcohol, especially when the effects of the previous drink wear off. Withdrawal symptoms may also be experienced, along with the need to drink more because a tolerance has built up.

There are many health consequences as a result of alcohol addiction. Most typically, people who are addicted to alcohol have a poor quality of sleep and feel generally tired. They may also lose weight because their drinking habits suppress their appetite, or gain weight because they are consuming 'empty calories', alongside their food. As a tolerance to alcohol builds up, a strong psychological addiction forms, in which a person thinks more and more about consuming it. This can have detrimental effects on work, everyday life and personal relationships.

Recognising alcohol addiction

An alcohol addiction can be difficult to diagnose, as every person is different. You may notice compulsive behaviour and attitudes, secrecy, or changes in mood in either yourself or someone you love. You may also notice the following:

  • Drinking during unusual hours
  • Losing consciousness as a result of alcohol intake
  • Heavy drinking when socialising
  • Drinking to cope with stress/difficult situations

Sometimes an alcohol addiction can be realised out of the blue, and can be a shock. It can be difficult to determine the exact causes or how the problem developed into something more serious. For some people, the reasons for alcohol addiction can be linked to genetics, as addiction can run in families. Those who are born to alcohol-addicted parents are four times more likely to have an alcohol addiction themselves. One reason for this could be that children born to alcoholics see heavy drinking as a socially acceptable behaviour.

Some people may become addicted to alcohol as a result of turning to drink following a stressful life event in order to help them cope. It is normal for a person to turn to drinking in such situations with the view to it being a temporary fix, which then turns into a long-term addiction.

Those who have a mental illness are also more prone to become addicted to alcohol. This is particularly the case with those suffering from depression, anxiety or psychosis, with alcohol again being used as a coping mechanism.

 

Stages of alcohol addiction

The first stage of alcohol addiction is typically heavy binge drinking. This might mean that a person tried binge drinking for the first time and decided that it was okay and fun, therefore deciding to do it again. Over time, this behaviour increases without consideration for potential alcohol poisoning.

The second stage of alcohol addiction is alcohol abuse. This involves a gradual increase in drinking, with a person drinking more than is recommended by government guidelines. This behaviour is normally associated with those who need to drink more to feel good about themselves or to feel in control of a situation. For example, a person may decide to drink more to relieve symptoms of anxiety or stress. This behaviour is difficult to stop, and a strong psychological and emotional attachment to alcohol is established.

The third stage of alcohol addiction involves heavy drinking becoming an unbreakable habit. At this stage, alcohol consumption takes over a person’s life, including their ability to do their job, their relationships and finances. Delusions and denial are also common psychological behaviours.

Stage four is where drinking involves a physical dependency, causing the addicted person to drink increasing amounts to get the same effect and to feel ‘better’. When the effects of alcohol wear off, the addict may experience withdrawal symptoms such as an increased pulse, sweats, tremors and feeling sick.

Following the physical dependency stage, a person can be classified as having a serious alcohol addiction, as they may typically have a consuming psychological and physical need for alcohol. This desire isn’t a result of pleasure, but is more of a compulsive need. Alcohol at this stage stops a person from enjoying life and takes over their character. At this stage, detoxification through a rehab programme is necessary to prevent further damage to health.

 

The issue of denial

If you suffer with an alcohol addiction or alcoholism, it can be difficult to talk to friends or loved ones and admit that you have a problem. Denial is one of the most common issues associated with alcohol addiction, and can have a detrimental effect on a person’s recovery if it is not addressed. Those in denial of an alcohol addiction continue on the destructive cycle of addiction without facing their issues.

Alcohol Addiction Help & Recovery

At Step One Recovery we can help you face denial and other associated issues in relation to your alcohol addiction. Let us heal your mind, body and soul from the oppression of alcohol addiction, in a beautiful and calming location within a luxury Mediterranean setting or in our residential centres in the UK. Our alcohol addiction treatment solutions are completely bespoke to each individual that stays with us. We recognise the need for discretion and privacy, and no-one will ever know that you are staying with us and undergoing treatment. We do not respond to enquiries about our clients.

Experience the nurturing and loving care that comes with our treatment programmes while recovering in the UK or the warm Spanish sun. Return home with a renewed perspective on life and new skills to help you continue to recover and thrive. Our treatments are evidence-based and supervised by an experienced staff team of nurses, doctors, psychologists and addiction experts. We also have yoga and fitness experts, too.

In order to maintain the abstinence from alcohol and prevent relapse, we here at Step One Recovery can devise a bespoke therapy program which will include aftercare. It is paramount to deal with the psychological issues underpinning the addiction if you intend on staying free of alcohols grip in the long term of it all.

Our UK rehab centres along with the stunning retreat we offer in Costa Blanca, Spain is the perfect way to unwind and heal body and soul in a holistic and sustainable way. Let us heal the whole you so you can return home with a renewed zest for life. At Step One Recovery, we can help you take your first step, to a healthier you. Contact us using the form on this page to learn more about our alcohol addiction recovery programs.

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