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What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In Clark

September 24, 2024

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In Clark

Many people indulge in alcoholic beverages every once in a while. But alcohol can be addictive. If you begin to use alcohol to deal with life or cannot manage your drinking, you could have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This disorder can quickly overtake your life and negatively impact all the pursuits you enjoyed before. 
 
But don’t lose hope. If you feel you or someone you love have alcohol use disorder near Clark, support and lasting recovery are within reach. Discover more about AUD and what you should do if you require support immediately. 
 

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol use disorder is an illness where you feel the need to ingest alcohol regardless of the adverse ramifications of overconsumption. Your brain calls for the mind-altering chemicals in alcohol and fails to function properly without them. AUD might be severe, moderate, or mild. At its most extreme, you are at risk of overdosing on alcohol with lethal ramifications. 
 
As part of AUD, you could develop an alcohol addiction and have uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms if you attempt to stop using. Without specialized help, you can’t prevent yourself from drinking alcohol to mitigate the unease your body experiences when you start alcohol detox. If you are able to quit “cold turkey,” you still have to counter the habit of regular drinking. AUD requires specialized treatment to recover from. 
 

Why Do People Develop Alcohol Use Disorder? 

Many residents of Clark drink, but not everyone develops an alcohol use disorder. A variety of factors influence your odds of being impacted by AUD: 

  • Drinking early on in life
  • Underlying mental illness
  • Past trauma 
  • Insufficient coping abilities
  • Genetics
  • Family history of alcohol use disorder 
Many people begin misusing alcohol as a response to major stressors. With a lack of healthy coping skills, it’s easy to erase the uncomfortable feelings that stem from trauma and mental illness with the chemical stimulation of alcohol. When those negative feelings return, you turn to alcohol to block them again. You feel better temporarily under the influence of alcohol. 
 
Unfortunately, alcohol is not a solution. When you drink it regularly, you may become dependent on those chemicals to go about life. Without them, you feel more unpleasant than you did peviously and are urged to drink even more. Over time, drinking alcohol dominates your life and negatively affects your career, relationships, wellness, leisure activities, and finances. When you get trapped in this downward spiral, you can’t cease drinking without skilled guidance. 
 

What Are Alcohol Addiction Symptoms?

Regular drinking doesn’t automatically signify a disorder. Alcohol consumption progresses into a disorder when it starts to disrupt your life. Various negative behaviors linked to drinking can indicate an alcohol use disorder. 
 
You could have AUD if you: 

  • Frequently drink longer or more than you had intended
  • Can’t stop drinking even when you want to
  • Spend a lot of time acquiring and using alcohol, despite the fact it makes you ill or impedes other aspects of life
  • You want to drink so much you can’t direct attention on other tasks
  • Have participated in risky behaviors while drinking alcohol 
  • Must drink more than you used to in order to attain the sought-after feeling 
  • Have forsaken enjoyable activities to make time for drinking 
  • Continual drinking despite its effect on family and friends
  • Experience withdrawal symptoms when you cease drinking alcohol 
 
The more symptoms of AUD you have, the more severe your circumstances are. But any person who’s demonstrating signs of alcohol addiction symptoms near Clark deserves professional treatment and guidance. You shouldn’t have to confront alcohol use disorder on your own. 
 

What To Know About Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

If you have an addiction to alcohol, your system must have it to perform. If you halt usage, you become sick. This is called withdrawal. 
 
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms differ from person to person and reflect how severe your alcohol use is. If you enter withdrawal, you might face any mix of these symptoms: 
 
  • Insomnia
  • Shaky hands
  • Headache 
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sweating 
  • Anxiety
  • Hallucinations 
  • Seizures 
  • Delirium tremens 
  • Delusions 
  • Confusion
  • Heart racing
  • Fever
  • Elevated blood pressure 
 
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are a sure-fire sign that you or someone you love has AUD and should get help. Withdrawal is often agonizing and, in rare cases, even fatal if not managed by medical professionals. If someone close to you| desires to stop using alcohol but experiences withdrawal if they attempt to, contact a Clark substance use treatment facility for support. 
 

Can You “Cure” Alcohol Addiction?

Alcohol use disorder and addiction are deemed chronic conditions. Technically speaking, there is no cure. But, there is a chance for lasting recovery. With the right combination of mental health and medical support, you can find how to manage the urge to drink and reach your goal of sobriety. It’s an arduous pursuit, but countless individuals eventually recover from alcohol use disorder in Clark  and take back control of their lives. 
 

Getting Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment In Clark

No person can attain sobriety by themselves–and you shouldn’t have to! Finding alcohol use disorder treatment near Clark might feel intimidating, but you deserve skilled care to help get your life back. 
 
Alcohol use recovery can feel less overwhelming when you perceive it as several steps. There isn’t a single pathway to a sober lifestyle. Many people relapse and repeat certain steps multiple times. But it’s important to note, you can get assistance from loved ones and qualified professionals during your journey. 
 
Alcohol detox: Your preliminary step is to detox from alcohol. When your body removes the toxins, you need medical guidance to maintain your safety and comfort. If you’re prepared to quit alcohol, enter a residential detox center near Clark. You’ll benefit from 24/7 care for a week or two as you go through withdrawal. 
 
Alcohol rehab: After detoxing, your mind and body will still crave alcohol. You need to proceed to residential alcohol rehab where medical professionals can aid you in handling post-acute withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol rehab focuses on restoring your brain from the impact of alcohol usage. You’ll attend therapy daily to treat the mental aspects of AUD. You’ll stay in rehab for whatever length of time is right for you. 
 
Outpatient addiction support: Rehab will stabilize you enough to go back home, but you will still require constant support to keep on a path of sobriety. Don’t leave rehab without entering an outpatient addiction program that provides therapy and medically guided treatment. You are able to stay at home or in a sober living residence, but you still need to engage counselors and a doctor during the week. 
 
Sober living: n time, your need for addiction services will taper off. Even so, recovery is a life-long undertaking. Rely on the network of addiction experts, loved ones, and new mentors you have put together to continue living a healthy way of life. Steer clear of situations that compel you to use. Seek support whenever you need it. Long-term recovery is possible!  
 

Get Help Today For Alcohol Use Disorder Near Clark

You don’t need to fight alcohol addiction alone. Turn to The Counseling Center at Clark to get understanding, specialized alcohol use disorder treatment near Clark. You can contact us at 732-605-6029 or by filling out the form on this page. One of our representatives will respond right away, no matter the day or time. Every call is free and confidential. We’ll help you get the treatment you need now.