Signs of a Drinking Problem
It’s essential to recognize the difference between healthy drinking habits and drinking dependently. Having a drink or two weekly doesn’t make you an alcoholic, but a constant urge to drink may indicate a substance abuse problem.
Not sure if you are suffering from alcoholism? Here are some signs of alcoholism:
- The inability to control how much you drink
- Drinking alcohol instead of seeing friends and family
- Poor performance at school and work
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking
- Spending a lot of time recovering from drinking
- Having a constant urge to drink alcohol
What Causes Alcohol Addiction?
Frequent alcohol consumption significantly impacts your brain – further fueling your addiction.
Many people drink alcohol for leisure, to cope with past trauma, or to ease the symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, the cumulative effects of alcoholism often lead to more detrimental issues, such as liver disease and death. Once addicts reach a certain point in their addiction, they need professional health offered in a substance abuse treatment program.
Alcohol addiction is a disease. Your brain releases the “feel-good” neurotransmitter dopamine when you drink alcohol. Dopamine makes you feel happy, which subsequently leads your brain to view it as something positive. Thus, your brain starts to crave more alcohol to experience the euphoric feelings brought out by dopamine. Unfortunately, this longing for dopamine leads to dependency and addiction.
Once you become dependent on alcohol, curbing your drinking may invoke withdrawal side effects. The most common alcohol withdrawal symptoms include trembling, insomnia, high blood pressure, and confusion (source: WebMD). Getting over the symptoms of withdrawals is one of the most significant hurdles you’ll face on your recovery journey. We highly recommend alcoholics detox under professional supervision in our medical detox center and then enter one of our drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs.
The Dangers of Alcohol Addiction
Chronic alcoholism comes with a long list of risks, with many dangers leading to illness or possible death. Understanding the dangers of alcohol abuse is often an eye-opening experience for many addicts. You or someone you love could face the following consequences of alcohol abuse:
- Alcohol poisoning
- Injuries from impaired judgment (i.e., drinking while intoxicated)
- A weakened immune system
- Increased depression and anxiety
- Various types of cancer, including breast, throat, and mouth
- Digestive problems
- Liver disease
- Memory problems, such as dementia
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The First Step to Recovery: Admitting That You’re an Addict
Admitting that you’re an addict is the first step to recovery (and often one of the most challenging). Even if you recognize you have a problem, you may have reservations about seeking treatment at a luxury drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Many of us at United Recovery Project are recovering addicts, so we know the issues you’re facing like the back of our hands. We’re ready to welcome you to our alcohol rehab with open arms, no matter your background.
Alcohol Addiction Residential Treatment at United Recovery Project
Alcohol addiction residential treatment is one of several programs we offer to help you fight (and win) your battle against alcoholism. Our residential treatment facilities are in South Florida – just minutes away from the picturesque Atlantic Coast. Begin your recovery journey in paradise while you’re surrounded by a dedicated team of professionals that empower you to succeed.
Alcohol Detox Center
Before starting luxury addiction treatment, clients enter our alcohol detox program. The purpose of alcohol detox is to flush toxins from the body. Clients manage their withdrawal symptoms under the supervision of our around-the-clock staff. You’ll work with our licensed professionals to develop a recovery plan.
Residential Addiction Rehab
After completing one of our substance abuse detox programs, clients begin residential addiction rehab. Clients meet with a psychiatrist at the beginning of the program to develop a personalized treatment plan that serves as the foundation for their success story. After establishing a treatment plan, recovering addicts will start to partake in various forms of healing alcohol addiction therapy, including:
- Equine therapy
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Motivational therapy
- Nutrition therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
- Psychotherapy
- Life skills training
Our diverse therapy options enable clients to understand the root causes of their addictions, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and build skills to maintain a substance-free life. Clients attend one-on-one and group therapy sessions as well as local 12 step meetings.
We go above and beyond to ensure that clients prosper in our luxury rehab center. Clients enjoy three gourmet meals daily, attend entertaining weekend activities, and access yoga, acupuncture, and massage therapy. Our goal is to enable clients to have fun while they lay the building blocks to a life of sobriety.
Clients can choose to enter a sober living home after their time in our residential addiction rehab center. Sober living homes are an ideal solution for those who need extra support to transition out of rehab and into a substance-free life. No matter where life takes you, we’re proud to operate on an “open-door” principle. If you ever find yourself struggling to stay sober, you’re welcome to come back to United Recovery Project.
