People call alcohol addiction by many names — alcoholism, alcohol dependency, and alcohol use disorder are all terms used to describe the same underlying condition. Today, medical and mental health professionals most commonly use the term alcohol use disorder. Someone with an alcohol use disorder will continue to seek and use alcohol despite knowing the harmful consequences of ongoing abuse on their life.
Alcohol use disorder can lead to lost relationships, job loss, significant physical difficulties, and new or worsening mental health symptoms. Without the support and guidance of a professional addiction treatment center, this disease will inevitably worsen over time.
What Causes Alcoholism?
Despite decades of research, the exact cause of alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder, remains unknown. However, several known risk factors can increase your likelihood of developing it, including:
- Having a parent with a diagnosed alcohol use disorder
- Binge drinking (more than five drinks per day) at least once per week
- Drinking more than 12 drinks per week for women, or 15 drinks per week for men
- Having a diagnosed mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety
Beyond these known risk factors, several other factors may also raise your risk, including elevated ongoing stress levels, low self-esteem, having a close relative with an alcohol use disorder, cultural expectations surrounding drinking, or increased peer pressure among young adults.
What Are the Signs of Alcoholism?
The warning signs of alcoholism often show up as physical symptoms and behavioral changes. Some common examples include:
- Using alcohol as a coping mechanism to relieve stress or other physical symptoms
- Being unable to limit your alcohol consumption
- Drinking alone or making excuses to drink
- New or worsening difficulties at home, work, or within your social circles
- Becoming angry, violent, or aggressive when asked about your drinking or drinking habits
- Needing more and more alcohol to feel the effects a single drink once provided (tolerance)
- Neglecting personal hygiene or appearance
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, or shaking, when you don’t drink
- Giving up or avoiding social or family obligations in favor of drinking, or to hide your drinking
There are, of course, many other warning signs of alcoholism. Most importantly, when getting and consuming alcohol starts taking precedence over everything else in your life, it’s vital to seek treatment in a safe, supportive environment.
Does Craving Alcohol Mean You Have an Alcohol Use Disorder?
The word craving describes a wide range of thoughts, emotions, and feelings. People crave alcohol for many reasons, including stress, social activities, and happy occasions like an anniversary dinner. Not all alcohol cravings signal an alcohol use disorder — but if cravings become so overwhelming that they start interfering with your day-to-day life, it may be time to consider seeking treatment.
How to Get Help With a Drinking Problem
The first step toward sobriety and recovery from an alcohol use disorder is acknowledging you have a drinking problem. The next step is contacting a treatment center, where you can receive the support you need — including medically assisted detox — to overcome alcohol addiction. While it’s possible to get sober “cold turkey,” we strongly recommend seeking help from a facility that can monitor the detox process instead.
Alcohol detox can produce intense, sometimes life-threatening symptoms, which makes it difficult to go through the process alone. Unfortunately, many who try it on their own eventually relapse. Addiction treatment programs, by contrast, provide essential medical support during the earliest and most vulnerable stages of recovery.
If you or a loved one is ready to overcome alcohol addiction, contact our admissions team today to learn more about our alcohol addiction treatment programs.
