Understanding Alcohol Addiction

Archaeologists have found evidence that alcoholic beverages emerged during early agricultural societies, with some of the earliest drinks developed in present-day China over 8000 years ago. However, scientists only began studying the physical, social, and psychological problems associated with excessive drinking in the early 1900s.

Much research is still needed to understand the root causes of alcohol abuse and dependence. That said, many studies demonstrate that those who seek treatment for their alcohol addiction achieve a better long-term recovery than those who do not seek treatment.  

Let's go over how Alcohol addiction can affect the individual and what we can do to help.

Factors That Contribute to Alcohol Addiction

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) combines the previous definitions of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence into one diagnosis, alcohol use disorder, with three sub-classifications of mild, moderate, or severe. This chronic medical condition causes physiological changes to the brain and can be treated through medical and psychological interventions. Like any other substance abuse disorder, many factors can contribute to an individual developing alcohol addiction. 

Genetics

If alcoholism is prevalent in your family history, chances are you have genetic variations that can influence your alcoholic metabolism and the amount of Alcohol you can comfortably drink. If you review your family history and find many relatives that drank heavily or died of alcohol-related diseases, this may be cause for concern. Your genetics may increase your risk of developing an alcohol use disorder.

Social and Cultural Environment

Many interactions between an individual's social and cultural environment can influence their level of alcohol consumption. Alcohol is a widely accepted drug to consume in a social setting. Almost every uni party has copious amounts of alcohol present, and it's a significant component of practically every adult social scene, such as clubs, restaurants, and bars. Additionally, work environments encourage drinking together as a form of social bonding. 

The people you surround yourself with in your free time and the media you consume can heavily influence your desire to drink Alcohol. Movies, TV shows, and social media are heavily saturated with content showing the normalcy of excessive drinking. Many families and friends drink Alcohol during most of their get-togethers. All of this can contribute to someone feeling compelled to drink and that they may not have a drinking problem.

Psychological Factors

Many people develop a dependence on Alcohol as a means to cope with stressors and traumatic events. For example, someone may drink Alcohol to help them sleep after the death of a loved one to try to avoid feelings of loneliness and grief. Socially anxious people may use drinking to build up the courage to go out and speak with others. Others may use Alcohol as a way to escape and take a break from reality. 

Some people with mental health disorders try to self-medicate with Alcohol. At first, it may seem to be working. However, excessive use of Alcohol can also severely worsen their symptoms and cause a spiral into dependence. 

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the following, call us at ASV:

• Drinking increasing amounts of Alcohol or for more extended periods
• Spending excessive amounts of time and money obtaining, using, and recovering from binge drinking
• Craving Alcohol during times of not drinking
• Alcohol usage is severely impeding work and life priorities
• Alcohol usage is negatively impacting familial and social relationships
• Can't stop drinking despite knowing or feeling adverse health effects
• Have the desire to stop drinking but cannot successfully do so
• Drink Alcohol to avoid withdrawal effects

Alcoholics May Experience

Many people who have gone through alcohol treatment in Melbourne report they were deluding themselves into thinking they didn't have a drinking problem. It's also not uncommon for many people to feel disappointed in themselves for letting Alcohol take over their lives. This attitude can stand in your way of getting help.

It's important to remember that seeking rehab for alcoholics is nothing to be ashamed of. Some people are more prone to addiction than others. Long-term excessive drinking causes changes in the body and brain that can wreak havoc on one's mental and physical health. There are places you can go for help; don't hesitate to take advantage of those opportunities.

Possible Health Consequences of Alcohol Addiction

The adverse mental and physical effects of alcohol use disorder are numerous and staggering. 

If left untreated, alcoholism can result in the following:

• Increased risk of suicide
• Worsened experience of depression, anxiety, and stress
• Liver disease, cancer, or cirrhosis
• Stomach damage
• Heart disease
• Damage to the brain and central nervous system
• Increased risk of cancer
• Bone loss
• Death from alcohol poisoning or reckless behaviours (i.e. driving under the influence)

Nearly everyone who has consumed much Alcohol in one sitting has experienced the phenomenon of a hangover. Vomiting, headaches, and dehydration are common side effects after an episode of binge drinking, usually remedied after a day of fluids, food, and proper rest. 

However, when the body becomes dependent on Alcohol, the only thing that seems to make a hangover go away is to continue drinking. When you have been drinking heavily over an extended period, hangovers become withdrawal, and the effects can be severe. 

Some effects of withdrawal include:

• Tremors
• Fatigue
• Excessive sweating
• Loss of appetite and ability to keep food down
• Fever
• Hallucinations
• Rapid heart rate
• Seizures

Withdrawal effects can last several days or weeks in extreme cases. If you wish to do an alcohol detox in Melbourne, you should have a trained medical professional from an alcoholics rehab program assist you. 

Benefits of Rehab for Alcoholics

Rehab for alcoholics offers tremendous benefits for those wanting to release themselves from the bottle's clutches and reverse the effects of long-term alcohol dependency. You can find support through professional services and like-minded people that help you find the right road to recovery. A great alcoholics rehab program will help you learn healthier coping mechanisms while improving your overall quality of life. Many also offer medical supplements for alcohol treatment in Melbourne to help reduce cravings. However, rehab for alcoholics in Melbourne can often be expensive or inaccessible to large portions of the population that needs it. We offer an excellent, comprehensive at-home rehab program at ASV. 

Our program provides personalised, effective treatment through online services that include various evidence-based methods right in the comfort of your home. Our goal is to cultivate opportunities for positive internal and external changes that lead you into sustainable lifelong recovery. What sets us apart is our emphasis on family involvement to promote a healthy and supportive environment for healing while establishing achievable goals to gain independence from alcohol addiction. We also ensure our program is affordable, as we want everyone to have the opportunity to access treatment when required. For many people, gathering the emotional strength to seek recovery is difficult enough. Because of that, we prefer to make our program as comfortable and easily accessible as possible.

Each of our highly-trained and passionate staff has overcome addiction and created a better life for themselves. Through years of personal and professional experience at other programs, we have developed a unique and affordable at-home rehab for alcoholics in Melbourne. Reach out to us to learn more about how we can help you begin your journey to a higher quality of life without alcohol addiction. 

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"Having completed the ASV 28-day rehab at-home program, I'm optimistic about my alcohol-free future and look forward to all the beautiful things that sobriety offers. Thanks to ASV, I am now confident that I am on the road to recovery." - Program Graduate 2023 - ASV Rehabilitation of Alcohol Program.