Inpatient programs are often well-suited for people with severe alcohol addiction, complicated medical histories, multiple mental health conditions, or little support at home. After a person is stabilized in an inpatient rehab program, it is often beneficial to transition to an outpatient program for continued recovery. Once a formal program at any level is completed, involvement in an aftercare program or support services is highly recommended. People who drink too much alcohol are at risk of developing a host of health conditions and disorders including certain types of cancer, liver disease, and heart disease.

What to Do If Your Loved One Relapses

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to stopping alcohol use and treating alcohol misuse, but no matter how severe the issue may seem, recovery is possible for every person. Lastly, whether enrolled in a formal treatment program or you’re still contemplating https://ecosoberhouse.com/ sobriety, you may benefit from mutual support groups as a part of your lifelong recovery process. Support groups can include 12-step meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or non-12-step groups like SMART Recovery, which has a more secular approach.

Identifying Relapse Triggers

The more symptoms you have, the more urgent the need for change. A health care provider can look at the number, pattern, and severity of symptoms to see whether AUD is present and help you decide the best course of action. Treatment for alcohol use disorder can vary, depending on your needs. Treatment may involve a brief intervention, individual or group counseling, an outpatient program, or a residential inpatient stay.

Starting with a Primary Care Provider

Drinking alcohol can create problems in every area of life, including your physical health, mental health, social life, work-life, and overall wellbeing. Make a list of the ways drinking has negatively impacted your life. You may want to reflect on this list when you feel cravings to drink. For many people, alcohol seems inextricably linked with a social life.

Well, alcohol stimulates the production of certain chemicals in the brain, and these make us feel good. We drink a bit more and it eventually produces a sedative-like effect. Celebrate if a friend or loved one with an addiction takes a step toward rehabilitation … but don’t be surprised by a stumble. Relapse rates are common among those who seek treatment can alcoholism be cured for an addiction. Getting plenty of sleep, eating properly, participating in regular exercise, meditating, even positive self-talk are healthier alternatives to drinking and can help your loved one prevent relapse. During the conversation, people may want to explain the effects that the person’s drinking behavior is having on themselves and others.

When alcohol is suddenly removed or reduced, the body must adjust again to its absence, which can result in withdrawal symptoms that may be experienced during detox. Similarly, alcoholism can be managed through treatment and recovery with diligence and commitment. If you’re having the thought that you want to get sober and want to know how to get clean, there’s probably already an underlying motivation.

Professionally led treatments include behavioral treatments and medications. There is no set amount of time for a person to stick with an aftercare program. Drugs used for other conditions — like smoking, pain, or epilepsy — also may help with alcohol use disorder. Talk to your doctor to see of one of those might be right for you. Alcohol use disorder is what doctors call it when you can’t control how much you drink and have trouble with your emotions when you’re not drinking.

• If this conversation does not work, it may be necessary to stage an intervention with the support of a professional or others.
• We usually experience setbacks along the way, learn from them, and then keep going.
• Others may have increased marital or relationship problems that are heading toward divorce or breakups.
• Studies show most people with this condition recover, meaning they reduce how much they drink, or stop drinking altogether.
• This is a residence where individuals can stay if they live in an environment where alcohol is commonplace.

These will determine if the alcoholism has caused any long-term effects. Once all the information is considered, the doctor can decide on the best course of treatment for the individual’s needs. Your provider may also be able to suggest an online self-guided program. Such e-health tools have been shown to help people overcome alcohol problems.

Is there a cure for alcohol use disorder?

The problems relating to alcohol dependence are extensive, and its effects can be physical, psychological, and social. Excessive or inappropriate consumption of alcohol is not necessarily the same as alcohol dependence. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, we are here to help. Give us a call or send us a message and one of our admissions counselors will do their best to get you the help you need.