Alcohol is a drink that’s commonly consumed by lots of people. There is no doubt that alcohol plays a vital role in making every experience more fun. Some can enjoy a glass of drink without experiencing any problems. But alcohol can affect people in different ways. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those adults of legal drinking age can opt for moderate drinking.
Men can limit intake in a day with two drinks or less. At the same time, women can drink one or less a day. These limit intakes are considered moderate. As mentioned, many people enjoy drinking recreationally. But some may find themselves drinking greater amounts of alcohol than before. Thus, drinking too much and being unable to control its consumption can lead to a greater problem.
Many people may be unaware, but too much fun with alcohol can lead to physical or psychological dependence. As a result, one can develop alcohol abuse or alcoholism. To understand more about it, we will give you a deeper look at what alcohol abuse is and how to recover from it.
Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependence
Many people are still confused and may see both alcohol abuse and dependence as the same. For people experiencing emotional distress or simply having fun, alcohol is the only solution—not knowing that too much can lead to a more serious problem.
Both terms can be used interchangeably, but what is their difference? Alcohol abuse is a term used for people who often drink too much on occasions. People who are experiencing alcohol abuse are not dependent on it. But their abuse of alcohol can lead to drinking habits and risky behavior.
Alcohol dependence or alcoholism, on the other hand, means the regular consumption of alcohol to feel normal. A person can’t control how much they drink. As a result, they can have trouble with emotions when they are not drinking. Some may think that having willpower is the only solution. But everyone should understand that this is more than just wanting to drink.
As mentioned, alcohol affects people differently. Thus, coping with it may also vary depending on the medication and how one overcomes it. Therefore, educating oneself is essential. Read more to know how one can recover from alcohol abuse.
Overcoming Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol abuse can also have a mental and physical health effect on a person. Furthermore, visible effects include trouble in maintaining employment, relationships, and worst, legal issues. Although there is no cure, one must still learn about its treatment and ways to recover from it.
Remember, you must do the necessary action to function and enjoy your daily life. Recovery may be challenging, but let this be a way to embrace change. Furthermore, admitting and recognizing that there is a problem that needs necessary help and attention is also crucial to start the recovery.
Consult a Doctor
See a doctor to seek professional help and understanding. Primary care physicians can conduct an assessment of drinking habits and review one’s medical history. After reviewing, the physician can determine the needed treatment and recovery for you.
When meeting a doctor, you can also use the opportunity to talk about your goals with them. What are your plans? Drink less or completely stop drinking? Thus, providing your doctor with this information can help both of you to start the recovery. Remember that the right thing for you may depend on your situation and set goals. If prescribed with medication, you can browse through BuzzRx for quality and affordable prescription medicines.
Use Self-Directed Approach
As mentioned above, you should set your goals. As learning independently can be challenging, one must show a willingness to learn. Not only that, engaging in the process and evaluating your learnings throughout the process is also crucial. But you don’t have to struggle alone.
These changes you are about to make in your life can be achievable with support. Support from families, friends, support groups, health care providers, and many more is also an important factor. These people are essential in the process to provide you motivation and acceptance. It is much easier to do it with people you love and cherish the most.
Go to Alcohol Detox
Alcohol detoxification is considered the first step of recovery. How does it help? Its goal is to help you stop drinking. The forced period of withdrawal will give your body the time to put out alcohol from your system. Simply put, it is mainly to remove alcohol from your body. It may commonly take you a few days to weeks.
Withdrawal symptoms can make it more challenging. For example, you may experience symptoms like shaking, hallucinations, and seizures. But you don’t have to worry much. These symptoms are an indication that your body is getting rid of the alcohol. In most cases, medical professionals are present to assist and monitor you with these effects.
Psychotherapy
To help you better understand your situation, a trained and licensed therapist will help you. They are present to help you identify the triggers of your alcohol abuse. Commonly, alcohol abuse may come from mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Always remember that self-medication will only make it hard for you.
Through psychotherapy, professionals can provide and teach you techniques and ways to manage alcohol consumption. You can make use of these new learnings for your everyday life. Health care professionals like psychologist, counselors and social workers can help you with the following:
- Build strong support
- Change attitude towards alcohol, stress, and triggers
- Set practical and achievable goals
Final Thoughts
Recovering from alcohol abuse will never be an easy process. Just like what other people say, it will never happen overnight. As mentioned, the recovery plan should be accurate depending on the person’s situation. Thus, believing you can do it and appreciating the people who support you can be a great motivation to fight further. Just stay committed and achieve your goals in no time.