Am I an alcoholic if I binge-drink? Are there other ways to tell if I have a problem with alcohol? It’s interesting to note that alcohol abuse doesn’t necessarily mean you have an addiction. Then again, it’s always a component of a use disorder.
Am I An Alcoholic if I Abuse Alcohol?
Binge-drinking means having up to five drinks in about two hours. People do it intentionally to get drunk. Sometimes, they just do it to keep up with others who’re also binging. Although some people with an alcohol use disorder binge, it’s typically a sign of alcohol abuse. Abusing alcohol isn’t the same as having an alcohol use disorder. You might do so on a dare or because of a particularly stressful episode in your life. The next day, you nurse the hangover and move on. However, at the substance abuse treatment programs Austin, TX trusts, people with addiction also abused alcohol.
Am I an Alcoholic if I Have Withdrawal Symptoms?
Most people with an alcohol addiction wake up to withdrawal symptoms. They include the shakes, nausea, and severe mood swings. If you have to have a drink to make these symptoms go away, you have an alcohol use disorder. However, it might only be a physical addiction.
Am I an Alcoholic if I Have a Couple of Drinks to Function in Public?
You might have a drinking problem that hints at a psychological dependency. You believe that you need the drug to be around others. Similarly, you don’t think that you can function well without it. Typically, this vicious cycle only gets worse.
Treatment Helps People at Any Stage of an Alcohol Use Disorder
It doesn’t matter if you wake up to the shakes or don’t trust yourself to function at work without alcohol. Rehab offers assistance for a use disorder. Moreover, it can help you whether you had a drinking problem for a month, a year, or a decade. It’s never too late to get help. When you work with therapists, they customize a care protocol for you. Possible treatments include:
- Medication-assisted treatment during detox that curbs cravings and reduces discomfort
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy that emphasizes the development of healthy connections between thoughts, actions, and feelings
- Dual diagnosis treatment for clients with depression and other mental health disorders
- Family therapy as a tool for rebuilding trust, communication skills, and roles
- Dialectical behavior therapy that focuses on learning to manage overwhelming emotions you struggle with a lot
- Mindfulness training augments evidence-based treatments for an alcohol use disorder
Practicing mindfulness helps with stress reduction. Besides that, it teaches you to accept emotions, examine them, and then manage them. For someone who used alcohol to deal with problems, it’s a highly effective program. It gives you the tools you need to disarm triggers before they result in a relapse. Am I an alcoholic if I call a rehab facility for help? You might be an individual with an alcohol use disorder. Most importantly, you’re ready to throw off the shackles of addiction. Call Promises P.A.T.H at 844.875.5609 today to start the process.