Clinically Reviewed on 04/12/2023 10:00 am by Dr. Olalekan Otulana (Advanced Practitioner) All information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.
The line between binge drinking and alcohol dependency can become very blurred. Alcohol is perceived as a harmless substance that can be regularly consumed due to its normalisation. Although an everyday substance, alcohol is however highly addictive, in fact, the catalyst of many addiction diagnoses.
Alcoholism is a type of compulsive and recurring brain disease. It is a serious and challenging condition to live with, turning normal consumption into an essential, habit-like routine.
As alcoholism can be difficult to recognise, due to such a blurred line, many people will unknowingly be living with some degree of alcohol use disorder. Yet over time, without a diagnosis, without treatment and without management, heavy drinking can turn someone into a high-functioning alcoholic.
Are you asking yourself ‘am I an alcoholic?’, or maybe you are concerned about your drinking habits. If so, here’s some further insight into the disease of alcoholism, its cause and how to overcome it.
An alcoholic is someone who cannot control their drinking habits, usually paired with consistent and/or strong consumption levels. Individuals who are diagnosed as an alcoholic will be encountering the signs and symptoms of alcoholism, a physical and psychological compulsive disease.
If you are wondering ‘am I an alcoholic?’, there are a number of warning signs to consider and to keep in mind. Alcoholism can be caused by a multitude of stimuli and does impact more people than expected. Whilst some alcoholics will be susceptible to addictive and compulsive behaviours, alcoholism is an uncontrollable brain disease.
Warning signs and symptoms of an alcoholic include:
There are many different factors that can influence an alcohol use disorder. Exact causation is yet to be found, as alcoholism is an unpredictable condition that transpires differently for every person. Commonalities may be present, yet everything from high stress to genetic vulnerabilities are influential.
Common causes of alcoholism include toxic environments, abusive and pressurising relationships and social settings, trauma and pain, pre-existing mental health issues, money worries, sleep problems, chronic stress, and taught behaviours. Causes are categorised under environmental, social, mental, and physical stimuli.
For an alcoholic, alcohol consumption will also offer pleasure and reward, as it taps into the reward circuit and relaxes the body. Such benefits are recognised as addictive, releasing happy chemicals in the brain. This association can also cause the ongoing churn of alcohol consumption, difficult to break once the body and brain become accustomed.
As causes can vary across a wide scale, if you are worried about your heavy drinking, or believe that a loved one may be an alcoholic, a clinical assessment will be recommended.
Casual drinking is part and parcel of life for most people. It reflects the celebratory drinks, the few glasses of wine with dinner, and those beers to end off the week. With casual in mind, it is a choice rather than a necessity.
Alcohol abuse, also known as alcoholism, is where such choice has now varnished, instead of being controlled by intense cravings and compulsive feelings. Alcoholism is where consumption becomes a habit, where a cycle is formed and continues to follow a pattern, and where alcohol consumption sustains even through consequence.
The greatest difference is the level of control that’s found. For an alcoholic, control is minimal, instead driven by the physical and psychological associations that have been made through the cycle. With a lack of control, cutting off exposure or stopping drinking altogether can be testing.
Alcoholism is a highly impactful disease. It can impact every aspect of life for an alcoholic and their loved ones. Common impacts of alcohol abuse and alcoholism include:
Through treatment, rehabilitation and an interventive effort, some of the impacts of alcoholism can be worked through and reversed. Yet in some instances, some health and wellbeing impacts can be difficult to revert, due to the toxicity and damaging makeup of alcohol.
Without treatment, an alcoholic will unfortunately continue to lead a life controlled and engulfed by alcohol, its effects, and the disease of alcoholism. With treatment, alcoholism can however be worked through and managed for the future.
Alcohol addiction treatments will focus on eliminating alcohol as a physical influence, whilst devaluing its psychological association. Alcohol detox will be necessary, best completed through a medically assisted process.
Therapy will also be recommended, available in numerous forms to restore the mind and to promote healthy coping strategies. The likes of cognitive behavioural therapy and dialectical behavioural therapy will underpin our sessions.
Alcoholism can be treated with withdrawal medications, some of which support the detox phase and others that support long-term recovery and relapse prevention. Yet at Asana Lodge, we opt for holistic therapies and harmless techniques which will improve health and wellbeing. The likes of art workshops and satori chair therapy will be incorporated.
For an alcoholic to remain clean, relapse prevention planning and aftercare will also work to treat alcoholism. Recovery is a form of management, by managing personal triggers, relapse risks and alcohol exposure. A range of tools and techniques will be communicated to avoid future binge drinking or any form of alcohol consumption. Alcoholics Anonymous and 12-step programmes will be accessible and encouraged for uptake.
Get In Touch
Asana Lodge is a leading UK based expert in Private Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Treatment. Find out how we can help by getting in touch with our friendly team today.
If you are still asking yourself ‘am I an alcoholic?’ or believe that you may be struggling with an alcohol dependency, at Asana Lodge, we can help you. Offering residential rehab programmes, we deliver leading treatments, therapies, and recovery programmes, tailored to treat alcoholism.
Following a holistic approach, we can help you through alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation, whilst supporting you through sobriety.
If you are worried about your drinking, you can reach out for a free and confidential chat here at Asana Lodge. Our admissions team is equipped to offer guidance, listen to your needs, and also assess your relationship with alcohol.
It can be difficult to recognise alcoholism, especially in oneself. We’re here to help you understand your position with alcohol and whether you’ll benefit from treatment.
Our rehab clinic can help you by offering a range of treatments, therapies, and supportive resources which motivate recovery. Available to complete on an inpatient basis, you can check into our rehab facility for a private recovery process.
Treatments will help you withdraw from alcohol, restore, and rebuild from its impacts, learn to live without it, and set a foundation for sobriety. Alcohol rehabilitation is a comprehensive process, offering the necessary steps to recover.
Whilst choosing an inpatient rehab clinic, you should always prioritise your needs. Be aware of your budget, your availability, and your recovery goals. Consider your location, your wellbeing and whether you require additional support for your health.
By prioritising your needs, you’ll be equipped to find a suitable and reputable rehab clinic. Doing your research will be imperative, possible by reaching out and gauging whether your needs can be accommodated.
We can provide further information on our rehab offering here at Asana Lodge to help you with your selection.
Dr. Olalekan Otulana (Advanced Practitioner) - Clinical Reviewer - Last Reviewed: 04/12/2023 10:00 am
Dr. Otulana is a highly skilled General Practitioner and Addiction Specialist. He possesses extensive expertise in the field of Substance Misuse Management and boasts a diverse background in evaluating, overseeing (including detox procedures), and overseeing the residential recovery of individuals grappling with various drug and substance addiction issues. His primary goal is to conduct thorough assessments of patients dealing with addiction issues and determine their medical detoxification and psychological treatment requirements. Dr. Otulana is well-versed in caring for patients who need dual drug and alcohol detoxification therapies.
In addition to his medical qualifications, Dr. Otulana is a proficient healthcare professional who holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree from the prestigious Cambridge University Judge Business School.
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