Our dedicated team is ready to guide you on your journey to recovery. With virtual access to treatments like alcohol rehab, you can get the help you need right from home. Individuals with why is alcoholism considered a chronic disease alcohol dependency may face discrimination in various aspects of life, including employment and healthcare. This discrimination can further isolate them and discourage them from seeking treatment and support. While alcohol addiction has the potential to destroy your life and affect your relationships, finances, employment and health, it is possible to recover from this disease.
Lack of Control
- In the early stages of alcoholism, one or two drinks may be all it takes to get the “song” to stop.
- Drinking alcohol is considered a bad habit, but more than that, it is a chronic disease that affects millions of people around the world.
- Xenia Ellenbogen (she/they) is a journalist specializing in health, mental health, and wellness.
- This is an example of a mental obsession – a thought process over which you have no control.
Gender shapes how depression shows up, from irritability and risk-taking to sadness and fatigue, revealing patterns that help families offer timely, compassionate support. Tim enjoys writing about addiction and recovery, this topic has personally https://ecosoberhouse.com/ affected him, fuelling his desire to help others. The sooner you get help the better, but many people recover after years or even decades of alcoholism. If you were exposed to alcohol use from a young age and grew up in an environment where drinking heavily was normalised or even encouraged, you are more likely to mimic these behaviours as a teenager or adult. More research is needed to determine exactly why this is, but it is thought that certain genes are passed down through generations which can make you more susceptible to developing an addiction. Childhood trauma can also physically change the brain, making you more likely to become addicted to alcohol.
Step Into Sobriety: The First 24 Hours To A Full Sober Year
That’s because members (or patients) are taught that they cannot succeed on their own. The reason is because they suffer from a chronic disease that can’t be cured. The second idea is that drinking necessarily becomes uncontrollable once it has begun. In doing so they report that many alcoholics return to controlled drinking without problems.6 Since then, the number of such studies has more than doubled.
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Day: Why It Matters More Than Ever
Drinking more than planned, blackouts, hiding use, strong cravings, and failed attempts to cut down are early warnings. Whether you’ve tried to stop many times or this is your first call for help, we will meet you with respect and a plan. If you’ve read this far and see yourself—or someone you love—there is a way forward. Alcoholism is a disease, but it responds to thoughtful, consistent care. Progress isn’t the same for everyone, but many follow a pattern from risk to dependency to loss of control.
Biological factors, such as changes in brain chemistry and genetic predispositions, contribute to the vulnerability to alcohol dependence. Psychological factors, including stress, trauma, and mental health disorders, can also influence the chronicity of alcoholism. Additionally, social factors, such as peer pressure and environmental triggers, can perpetuate the cycle of addiction.
- The progression of alcoholism is often marked by a bio-psycho-social spiral of decline, where each aspect of a person’s life feeds into and exacerbates the other.
- This perspective helps individuals stay committed to their recovery journey, even in the face of challenges and setbacks.
- Therefore, it is not entirely clear if the positive effects in these studies are due primarily to the longer duration of the treatment or to the specific components of the extended interventions.
- Many individuals struggling with alcoholism face significant barriers when considering treatment.
Withdrawal and Relapse
Alcoholism should be addressed like mental health concerns because it takes compassion, understanding, and professional attention to stop alcohol addiction successfully. Those struggling with chronic alcohol dependency endure substantial consequences on physical health, relationships, and overall well-being. It’s essential to seek professional assistance and support to address this condition and improve quality of life effectively. Alcohol dependency or alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious medical problem where individuals struggle to control their drinking despite its harmful effects on their lives. Imagine feeling unable to say ‘no’ to alcohol, even when it jeopardizes your health, job, or relationships.
Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors for Alcohol Addiction
Individuals who suffer from alcohol addiction find it hard to manage their drinking. Alcoholism can be in mild to severe stages and the difficulties of treating it relate to the severity. Most of these medications are used primarily during the earlier stages of treatment (i.e., for 8–12 weeks). A few studies, however, also have evaluated the effects of extended treatment with naltrexone and acamprosate, with mixed results. One study compared Alcohol Use Disorder the outcomes of severely alcohol-dependent patients who received placebo or naltrexone for 3 or 12 months (Krystal et al. 2001).
Don’t Let Addiction Control You
That is, long-term sobriety doesn’t make the addiction go away—it’s only in remission. It’s a form of disease management meant to minimize symptoms and improve one’s health and long-term prognosis. Alcoholism can be medically managed with medication, lifestyle changes, and various therapies, just like other chronic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes. The negative impact of alcohol use disorder on health and functioning is another critical factor that meets the criteria for a disease. Untreated alcoholism can lead to serious health problems such as liver disease, pancreatitis, and an increased risk of certain cancers.