Ethanol, the ingredient in alcohol that causes intoxication, is an impurity that is filtered by your liver. Drinking in excess can force your liver to overwork and lead to organ damage. Since signs of alcoholism can develop within weeks of your first drink, symptoms can become severe quickly, making early treatment essential to recovery. A men’s addiction treatment center can help you get started on the path to recovery today.
Alcohol is a common part of plenty of social events, ranging from weddings to professional sports games. Unfortunately, even though alcohol is legal and widely used in the United States, many who consume the substance will eventually develop an alcohol abuse disorder in their lifetime. Alcohol can cause both physical and psychological dependency, as well as medical and mental health problems.
Signs of Alcoholism
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that slows down your breathing and heart rate. Alcohol induces a relaxing, pleasurable, and euphoric effect. However, in more copious amounts, alcohol lowers inhibitions, impairs coordination, and increases anger. While alcohol intoxication may alleviate anxiety, abusing alcohol can create mood changes because alcoholism results in neurotransmitter imbalances. If you struggle with an underlying mental health disorder, abusing alcohol can aggravate your symptoms.
Signs of alcoholism can develop within weeks, months, or years of your first drink. As addiction progresses, it’s common to try to conceal signs of alcoholism, as denial is a common symptom of a drinking problem.
Other signs of alcoholism include:
- Blacking out while drinking
- Sustaining injuries when drinking
- Driving drunk
- Drinking shortly after waking up
- Drinking more than you planned
- Doing or saying things while drunk that you later regret
Alcohol can lead to physical dependency, which can cause you to encounter severe and potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms within hours of your last drink. Cravings intensify during withdrawal, which is why a men’s alcohol addiction treatment center is typically necessary to recover from alcoholism fully.
How Alcoholism is Treated
Because alcoholism is a chronic condition, finding help when you show signs of alcoholism is the best way to achieve lasting sobriety. A men’s alcohol rehab program can offer:
- Medically supervised detox services
- Individual, group, and family counseling
- Relapse prevention education
- Evidence-based treatments
- Holistic therapy
- Sober living options
A men’s rehab center offers both inpatient and outpatient options. Inpatient treatment has an increased level of support and supervision, which is great if you have a severe case of alcoholism or a co-occurring disorder. Most residential programs last for four weeks. Outpatient programs allow you to return home each night, which makes them especially beneficial following inpatient care.
Both inpatient and outpatient programs focus on helping you learn how to cope with triggers and cravings. Since alcoholism is a chronic condition, the treatment ensures you learn how to manage your symptoms and maintain sobriety properly.
Finding Treatment Today
When you are showing signs of alcoholism, alcohol is controlling your life. Struggling with alcohol can make it challenging to live a healthy life and can damage your relationships, health, and career. Reaching out for help is the first step in your recovery journey. To find out more about available programs and how they can help you find sobriety, begin searching for help now.