Most people are no strangers to alcohol – whether they drink on the weekends socially or enjoy a glass of wine at night with dinner. Society focuses a lot on social drinking, which can become a problem for some.
Alcohol dependence is a real problem for people who become addicted to different types of alcohol, which eventually leads to trouble in their personal and work lives. Alcohol problems don't happen overnight, and you may not realize you're falling into alcoholism.
It's sometimes tricky to spot alcohol dependence, but certain signs can warn you that you may have a problem. Dr. Lori Scott is an experienced addiction specialist. She and her team provide counseling and medications to help you deal with alcohol dependence along with education to ensure that you recognize when you need help.
Alcohol use disorder, alcohol dependence, and alcohol addiction are all similar conditions where someone misuses alcohol to achieve a good feeling but can't stop drinking, no matter how hard they try.
Think of alcohol as a type of drug. When you start drinking, your brain gets sensations of euphoria and relaxation, and you feel good. Your brain then wants that feeling more and more, which causes you to pick up a drink more often.
Before you know it, you're spinning out of control, drinking before, after, and even during work and more on the weekends to achieve that euphoria. You now have a dependence issue or an alcohol addiction.
People living with an alcohol addiction rely on drinking to get them through every day, even when it causes issues in various aspects of their lives. It may be impossible to stop drinking on your own, and alcohol dependence often involves rehab and other treatments.
Enjoying a few drinks with friends or having a drink with dinner aren't automatically signs of alcohol abuse. Problems arise when you can't control drinking or you feel as though you need it to get through the day.
It's hard to conclude that you have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Still, doing so is the first step toward a healthier life. If you or someone you love notices any of the following signs, it could signal alcohol dependence:
Many problems stem from excessive drinking, including issues at work, school, and home. You may notice that you have problems with friends and family over alcohol, that your work is slipping, or that you're having trouble staying afloat in many aspects of your life.
Withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit or cut back on alcohol intake are telltale signs of a problem. These symptoms vary from person to person but may include nausea, shaking, sweating, or seizures. The symptoms occur as soon as you miss a day of drinking or cut back significantly, and they may require medical care.
As your body becomes dependent on alcohol, you might notice that you need one more drink than you had the week before to achieve the good feeling you enjoy. After a while, that one drink turns to two, then three, and so on until you require multiple drinks to feel the desired results.
When drinking is all you can think about, you may have alcohol dependence. Your brain attributes alcohol to pleasure and euphoria, which drives you to pick up a drink. As you drink more, your brain continues to desire alcohol, which occupies all of your thoughts.
The inability to cut back on alcohol intake despite trying is another strong sign of alcohol dependence. You may be unable to stop drinking due to withdrawal symptoms or because you can't stop thinking about that drink you want so badly.
Recognizing that you have a problem is the first step. If you've tried to cut back without success or without going through withdrawal symptoms, it's time to seek professional treatment.
At your initial appointment, Dr. Scott discusses alcohol use and the symptoms you've been experiencing. She evaluates your health and talks to you about how to successfully detox from alcohol.
Dr. Scott uses the Sinclair method, a highly successful approach that helps you detox from alcohol. The technique involves taking a medication called Naltrexone, which essentially takes away the good feeling you get from drinking.
You take Naltrexone about an hour before you drink and continue about your day. Over time, the drug stops the pleasure signals that drinking sends to the brain, allowing you to cut back and quit altogether.
If you think you have an alcohol problem, please get help. Contact Lori Scott Family Care at our Kinston, North Carolina, office today to schedule a consultation for alcohol dependence. Dr. Scott also offers secure video visits for your convenience.
