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Alcoholism or drug use is often connected to other mental or emotional problems, and many treatments have similar treatment components. Treatments for a substance use disorder and other mental health disorders are commonly referred to as co-occurring treatments as they treat both problems simultaneously. These astronomical figures have led many health and addiction specialists toward creating programs that address mental health concerns and alcoholism concurrently. Being aware of the physical signs of alcoholism and the symptoms of mental health disorders may help families take preventative measures and intervene sooner. Many substance use and alcohol problems are the result of mental health disorders and self-medicating. One study revealed that nearly 22% of people with anxiety disorder report self-medicating.
By Buddy T
Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. Once you quit drinking, your body can begin to recover from some of the damage or, at the very least, prevent it from getting worse. In addition to managing a successful family medical practice, Dr. Hoffman is board certified in addiction medicine by the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM). Dr. Hoffman has successfully treated hundreds of patients battling addiction.
Seeking Treatment For Alcohol Addiction
In severe cases, a person may
develop delirium tremens, a potentially life-threatening condition that causes hallucinations, confusion, seizures and
psychosis. Not everyone with an alcohol use disorder develops a physical dependence to alcohol, but people may exhibit other physical
symptoms. Because long-term heavy alcohol use can damage almost every organ in the body, a person with an alcohol use
disorder can develop an array of
alcohol-related diseases and disorders that cause many symptoms.
By the time a person is in end-stage alcoholism, there can be no denying that drinking has taken over their life and damaged their health. Recovery will not be easy at this point, but it will be worth the work. Now is the time to line up support from addiction specialists, mental health professionals, friends and family, and others living with an alcohol use disorder. Unlike some substances that can become highly addictive immediately, such as opiates, alcoholism encroaches systematically over time. The fact is, that some individuals can abuse alcohol for many years, as a high functioning alcohol, before the drinking finally crosses the line and becomes a destructive force. Other people can become addicted to alcohol fairly quickly, maybe within a year or two of heavy consumption, and reach that crisis point even as early as one’s mid-twenties.
Dual addictions and dependencies
In this guide, we’ll explore 15 short and long-term signs that you’re drinking too much, including symptoms that don’t necessarily involve a hangover. People with heart disease often lack energy because the heart muscle sober house is under stress. You may experience physical symptoms, such as fatigue, pain, swelling, breathing problems and irregular heart rate. Weight loss and weight gain are indicators that a person’s alcohol use is changing.
There are inpatient and outpatient options, but an addiction specialist should determine the best level of care for you based on your individual needs. Effective addiction treatment providers will have addiction counselors, but they should also have mental health services as many people with alcoholism have co-occurring mental health conditions. People who are addicted to alcohol show certain behaviors while intoxicated. This is important to keep in mind when ruling out other potential causes, like mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder. While drinking alcohol is considered socially acceptable, long-term addiction to alcohol is not. People who are addicted to alcohol behave differently as they start to try to hide their drinking from loved ones.
