Alcohol addiction is a serious condition that could result in numerous ramifications, both pertaining to your health and the law. It’s not uncommon for alcoholics to have the occasional run-in with the law, especially if they’re regulars at the local dive bar. One drink too many and a single argument could result in you having to call a bail bond agent to get let out of the slammer.
That isn’t to say that every person suffering from alcoholism will partake in illegal behaviors. In many cases, alcoholics will more likely have trouble at home compared to trouble in public places. Here’s why alcohol dependency should be dealt with sooner than later:
The issues with alcoholism
It’s important to note that not every person who visits their local beer store will become glued to the bottle. As long as folks are drinking in moderation and finding other coping mechanisms for stress, many people are able to indulge in a drink or two without setting off alarm bells. When drinking responsibly, a few drinks can make a fun night even better. You can’t imagine fun bachelor parties without the presence of champagne bottles to celebrate the soon-to-be groom. In many cultures and religions, alcohol plays a big role in tradition.
It’s when alcohol becomes a necessity that it turns into a problem for some people. Many people are predisposed toward alcoholism, such as those who have relatives that are struggling to put addiction recovery tips into practice. But just about anyone can take on alcoholic tendencies because of stress, depression, anxiety, and more. Alcoholism can also take hold of people suffering from PTSD because of rough home lives, abuse, or serving in the military. Many college students will also struggle with alcoholism because of the sudden independence and availability of alcohol. It just goes to show that people from every walk of life, young or old, rich or poor, can suffer from the adverse effects of alcohol.
Alcoholism has been known to deteriorate family relationships from the strain of the condition. No family member wants to see their loved one struggle with dependency issues that affect their health. On top of that, alcoholism is known to cause arguments and drive wedges between family members because of the impaired judgments of the person drinking. According to the American Addiction Centers, as many as 70% of married couples that get into physical altercations are influenced by alcohol abuse. Alcoholics may also neglect their children, lose their job, and struggle to pay the bills because of their desire to drink. Sometimes, the person has to hit rock-bottom before they start taking addiction recovery tips more seriously.
Rock bottom might also include some serious health issues. It’s common knowledge that excessive drinking and alcoholism can cause your liver to fail. However, there are a number of other health effects that alcoholism can cause including:
- Cardiovascular illnesses
- Pancreatitis
- Worsening mental health conditions, like depression
- Some cancers
There are many people that are struggling with alcohol dependency and a growing number of people have begun seeking alcohol addiction treatment at the first sign of a problem. After all, alcohol is an addictive substance. If you’re recovering from alcoholism or worried that you’re might become alcohol-dependent, rely on these addiction recovery tips to keep your health on track.
Seek out counseling as soon as you can
Investing in addiction counseling is one of the best things you can do for yourself. These medical professionals are adept at identifying the signs of alcohol addiction and offering the best addiction recovery tips for the varying stages of alcoholism. Even if you are not yet addicted to alcohol, but find yourself relying on it more and more, talking to an experienced counselor is a great way to stop this problem from getting worse.
These counselors can also help you identify the problems in your life that might make you reach for the bottle. Through therapy, you can better address the ways that alcohol has damaged your life and the ways that your life has led you to drink more alcohol. For example, your counselor might be able to offer tips pertaining to your relationships, explain different coping mechanisms that you can try, and prescribe medications to treat underlying illnesses, like anxiety or PTSD.
Addiction counselors might recommend that you invest in the 12-step program or alcoholics anonymous, but this isn’t always the case. After all, AA is rooted in religion and some people might not get on board with this philosophy to truly change their lives. Talking to a counselor, on the other hand, can help you learn addiction recovery tips that work better with your beliefs, lifestyle, and personal situations.
Some addiction counselors can even help you get into contact with a criminal defense attorney to discuss any legal issues you’re currently facing. Again, not all alcoholics are going to get into trouble with the law. But it helps to know that counselors have resources available to you when you need it. Drinking and driving, for example, can be a huge issue among those struggling with alcoholism. Other folks who are strapped for cash might steal from their workplace to fuel their addiction, leading to criminal charges against them. While crime and alcoholism aren’t two sides of the same coin, getting trouble with the law can become more common among those with impaired judgments because of alcohol use.
Here are some of the basic functions your counselor will serve when you meet with them regularly:
- They will help you create goals and offer treatment plans, including addiction recovery tips
- They will evaluate your health and your progress with your substance abuse problem
- They will teach you coping mechanisms, including problems pertaining to underlying health issues and steering clear of alcohol
- They will help you find a job, like nearby plumbers looking for a trainee, or they will look for ways to help you stay grounded in your career
- They will provide progress updates to courts and other legal entities should you be facing any criminal charges or probation hearings. They might also be able to contact a bail bond agency in the event that you are incarcerated
- They will refer you to support groups and offer other resources that might benefit your health
- They will offer support to your family members when needed
If you’re worried that your counselor is only there to yell at you for drinking, this couldn’t be further from the truth. From addiction recovery tips to providing a slew of resources, relying on a professional is one of the best ways to get — and stay — clean.
Go to an alcohol addiction recovery center
For some people, simply talking to a great counselor isn’t enough. The temptations of the real world might be overwhelming and you might need a more complete form of treatment in order to get back on your feet. In this case, you will want to think about alcohol addiction recovery centers.
These facilities are staffed with trained professionals, including counselors, therapists, and medical practitioners. Inpatient treatment centers are typically organized so you always have structure throughout your day. You’ll often start with a healthy breakfast and some morning meetings to remind yourself why you’re here and what you’re doing to better your health. In some cases, activities are also used, like yoga or meditation before moving into group sessions.
You will also have one on one therapy sessions each day or at a cadence prescribed by the treatment center. These can range from specialized sessions for stress management to group therapy sessions to family therapy appointments. If you’re interested in art therapy or music therapy, you can usually find a rehab facility with resources to these practitioners.
Rehab facilities are key in helping an individual break old habits and develop new ones. That’s why each day is structured with activities and therapy sessions designed to develop healthy habits. In some cases, you may even find that you have ditched cigarettes for the popular vaping products that have taken the world by storm. While more studies need to be done regarding the health benefits of vaping, these are still commonly seen as a tool to stop smoking harmful tobacco.
Of course, rehab facilities don’t work unless the person is truly willing to make the change, just like therapy options. There are strict bedtimes and wakeup calls designed to help you get the most out of your experience. If you’re not willing to adhere to the rules, it’s likely that you will need to find an alternative form of treatment until you’re willing to accept the benefits of a rehab facility. Of course, the same can be said for any person struggling from alcoholism: if they aren’t willing to get the help that they need, no amount of addiction recovery tips or therapy will help.
The best advice is to look into counseling options near you that better suit your lifestyle. Reach out to alcoholism resources, like the SAMHSA (which stands for substance abuse and mental health services administration) National Helpline for free help. Their number is 1-800-662-4357 and they’re open around the clock. It’s private, confidential, and anonymous.
Lean on friends and family for support
Being a friend or family member to someone suffering from alcoholism isn’t always easy. As mentioned above, alcoholics might neglect their loved ones, their jobs, and their financial responsibilities. They might let their health fall to the wayside, along with the quality of their home. It can be hard to ask for your friends to support you when you haven’t always treated them with the love and kindness they deserve. But leaning on your loved ones is exactly what you need to do when you’re trying to recover from and cope with addiction.
This is because a solid support system can make all the difference in an alcoholic successfully recovering. A crew of supportive friends and family will also help guarantee sobriety in the long-term. After all, it’s thanks to friends and families that makes life worth living; when someone is faced with the ups and downs of sobriety, friends and family can be a grounding force that reminds them to stay sober.
Your friends and family will also play large factors in encouraging the alcoholic to get treatment, remind them to go to appointments, and remind them that they aren’t alone in this battle.
It might be hard to let others in, especially when you’re struggling. But facing alcoholism is not a task that you can tackle alone. Whether you lean on friends, family, a counselor, or a support group, there are plenty of people out there who want to see you successfully recover from addiction.
These are just some of the first addiction recovery tips that you should consider when you decide to get sober. Rely on these resources when you’re ready to start moving in the right direction.