Social gatherings and parties have become a thing of the present. Take colleges, universities, work or even family functions; many people prefer meeting over a drink or two to unwind and relax and catch up with their friends. Meeting over drinks, social gatherings involving drinks and alcohol has become a very common thing, but the consequences are rarely looked upon. Alcohol addiction is a real danger that many people face daily. Alcohol addiction may not be realized till a long time. Programs like alcohol addiction treatment are considered only when a person faces dire challenges towards the very end of the addiction spectrum. This could be quite dangerous for the patient and also the family members.
Causes of Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction can be caused by the simplest of triggers. Some important points that can cause alcohol addiction are mentioned below:
1. Social Influence
Most people develop alcohol addiction by being in the wrong set of friends or under a bad influence. Underage drinking in colleges and universities are always labelled to be common and mandatory by many college-goers. But this can easily become an addiction many times as they develop to have a severe dependency on alcohol later in life.
2. Parental Influence
Many households with parents who have drinking problems or a culture of drinking openly in front of their kids often will only lead to a disaster where their kids become addicted to alcohol later on in their life. Alcohol becomes a part of their life, and it seems very harmless to them from the beginning and therefore, the dependency on having alcohol increases once they get used to it later on in life.
3. Depression
Many young adults and middle-aged people could be facing depression due to situations either with work, family or relationships and tend to develop alcohol addiction as they seek help in blurring out their feelings by drinking themselves blind. Many alcohol addicts are truly disturbed or pressurized by some or the other cause, which leads them to alcohol addiction.
Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction
Symptoms of alcohol addiction are quite difficult to understand as they are very similar to any other addiction. Some of the common symptoms to look out for are mentioned below:
1. Strong Desire to Binge Drink
A strong urge to binge drink every day or every other day may be a major sign of alcohol addiction. Those who are addicted to alcohol can rarely go without drinking for a few days or even hours in the worst case. A strong urge to drink every now and then is a major symptom.
2. Uneasiness, Anxiousness and Instability
When a person cannot get their hands on alcohol for a long time, they may develop restlessness, anxiety and extreme instability. They may lose focus, act irrationally and be very confused when they go for a long time without alcohol. This is another warning sign of addiction.
3. Mood Swings and Abusive Behavior
Those who have an addiction, in general, have severe mood swings, especially if they are cut off from drinking or using for a long time. The mood swings can develop into abusive behavior as well with friends and family if they are restricted from accessing alcohol. This is another warning sign of addiction.
4. Over Indulgence
Indulging in too much quantity of alcohol on a regular basis is another symptom of alcohol addiction. Some people in colder countries consume wine and hard liquor daily to keep themselves warm, but the need to over drink and blur out intentionally on a regular basis is a sign of addiction.
5. Denial
Another classic symptom is denial. Those who are addicted mostly would assume that they are not ‘addicted’ and can stop anytime they want. Withdrawal is a very hard phase for them, so they would rather jump back to the habit than quit. But addicts have a hard time confronting themselves or with others when they are asked to quit or if they are tagged as being addicts. This may cause them to become more addicted and behave more irrationally in many patients.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment Centers
Alcohol Addiction can be treated by enrolling the patient in an Alcohol Addiction Treatment Center or a rehabilitation center. These places offer a safe environment for alcohol addicts to confess and confide in their addiction and to slowly withdraw in a safe and supervised environment. Many addiction centers have expert medical care, therapies, meditation and exercises, counselling and rehabilitation services that help an addict to withdraw at a slow and steady pace and regain their life.