04 Sep What Is Chronic Alcoholism And Can You Cure It?
If you believe you or a loved one may have a drinking problem, you may be trying to figure out how severe the problem is to determine what kind of help is needed. How do you tell if someone has chronic alcoholism? Can you cure it? Keep reading to learn more.
Table of Contents:
Understanding chronic alcoholism
Alcohol use disorder is a condition that’s typically broken down into 5 stages. Chronic alcoholism occurs at the fourth and fifth stages of alcohol use disorder.
The first stage
The first stage is occasional abuse of alcohol, known as binge drinking. Binge drinking is drinking excessive amounts of alcohol at once on occasion. This is dangerous not only due to the effects on the body, but the risky behavior people often engage in when intoxicated.
Second and third stages
Second and third stages of alcohol use disorder occur when binge drinking is left untreated. These stages see an individual using alcohol to cope with stress or sadness, or even drinking to the point that it causes problems in the person’s daily life.
The fourth stage
The fourth stage is the point at which someone has developed alcohol dependence – their day to day routine centers around alcohol, and while they are cognizant of the negative effects on your life, they are no longer able to control their drinking. At this stage, your body’s brain chemistry has changed due to the constant supply of alcohol, resulting in your body becoming dependent on the alcohol. While you may still drink for pleasure, your tolerance to alcohol has increased, forcing you to drink more to feel alcohol’s pleasurable effects.
Stage five
Stage five of alcohol use disorder occurs when an individual becomes addicted to alcohol. Instead of drinking just for pleasure, they drink because they have strong physical and emotional cravings for alcohol. Addictions to other substances in addition to alcohol are not uncommon.
Can you cure chronic alcoholism?
Treating alcoholism is a process because addiction is a chronic disease. As a result, there is no “cure” that guarantees someone will never drink again. When someone with chronic alcoholism stops drinking, they will experience uncomfortable or possibly dangerous symptoms as their body and brain chemistry adjust to no longer having alcohol.
People with chronic alcoholism are at high risk of experiencing Delirium Tremens (DTs), severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms that can be fatal if left untreated. DT symptoms include extreme sweating, hallucinations, and seizures. Fortunately, alcoholism can be managed with medical supervision and behavioral counseling that identifies triggers and teaches individuals healthier coping techniques. The first step of this process is detox. People with chronic alcoholism are at high risk of experiencing Delirium Tremens (DTs), severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms that can be fatal if left untreated.
DT symptoms include extreme sweating, hallucinations, and seizures.
Fortunately, alcoholism can be managed with medical supervision and behavioral counseling that identifies triggers and teaches individuals healthier coping techniques. The first step of this process is detox.
How can alcohol detox help?
The process of the body adjusting one someone stops drinking is commonly known as detox. The safest way to undergo detox is with the guidance of a healthcare expert specializing in addiction. They can evaluate a chronic alcoholic’s overall health and determine a detox plan that will keep them as safe and comfortable as possible during the detox process. This process often involves medication to prevent seizures and tremors, as well as relieving some of the uncomfortable symptoms resulting from detox.
After detox comes the recovery process, which usually involves some sort of therapy to help a chronic alcoholic learn how to deal with triggers without drinking. It’s important to view sobriety not as an achievement, but an ongoing journey of consistent healthy decisions.
It’s possible that someone can overall manage their alcohol use disorder long-term without a relapse. For others – especially those in high-stress situations – relapses may happen.
What detox and recovery options are there for chronic alcoholism?
When most people think of detox and rehabilitation, they typically think of traditional 30-day programs offered by clinics.
These inpatient or outpatient programs utilize a combination of individual and group therapy to help people learn how to cope without alcohol.
While these programs are effective for many, others have more difficulty. It’s often difficult for people to explain a 30 day absence without disclosing the reason; people often worry about the stigma of addiction and how it affects their employment and social relationships. Others have difficulty applying what they’ve learned in a clinical setting to real life situations. For people with these and other concerns, in-home addiction healthcare may be a better option.
Elite Home Detox Can Help You Break Free Of Chronic Alcoholism
If you or a loved one is struggling with chronic alcoholism, Elite Home Detox can help. Our Intervention Specialists can help you and the rest of a chronic alcoholic’s support network better understand what your loved one is facing, and how you can best motivate them to accept help.
Our addiction-focused medical team meets with patients in the comfort of your home to evaluate your health and create a detox plan that keeps you as safe and comfortable as possible. During detox, one of our experts will remain onsite with you to ensure your safety, help relieve unpleasant symptoms, and monitor your progress.
Once detox is done, our Dedicated Care Coordinators can help arrange recovery services, as well as offer addiction-focused healthcare as your body recovers from the impacts of alcohol. We’re ready and waiting to help – reach out to us for a consultation today!
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