Alcoholism or Alcohol use disorder is a tendency of drinking that includes issues with self-control, obsession with alcohol, or using alcohol even when it creates issues. Other signs of this illness include needing more alcohol to achieve the same impact or experiencing withdrawal when drinking is abruptly reduced or stopped. A level of drinking that is frequently referred to as alcoholism is a component of alcohol use disorder.

Any alcohol usage that threatens your health or safety or results in other alcohol-related issues is considered unhealthy. It also covers binge drinking, which is the pattern of drinking when a man consumes five drinks or more in two hours, or where a woman consumes at least four drinks in two hours. Significant threats to one's health and safety result from binge drinking.

Any alcohol usage that threatens your health or safety or results in other alcohol-related issues is considered unhealthy. It also covers binge drinking, which is the pattern of drinking when a man consumes five drinks or more in two hours, or where a woman consumes at least four drinks in two hours. Significant threats to one's health and safety result from binge drinking.

Signs and symptoms of alcohol addiction

• People are unable to control how much alcohol they consume

• want to reduce spending on your drinking or making unsuccessful attempts to accomplish it

• Consuming alcohol frequently, obtaining alcohol, or quitting alcohol usage

• Experiencing a strong desire or urge to consume alcohol

• Consistent alcohol consumption leads to failure to fulfill important duties at work, school, or home.

• Using alcohol despite being aware that it is harming your health, relationships, society, job, or finances

• Reducing or discontinuing social activities, hobbies,

• Lowering or giving up alcohol use while engaging in hobbies, social activities, and employment 

• Drinking alcohol when doing anything risky, like driving a car or swimming

• Alcohol tolerance, which results in diminished or no effects from the same amount of alcohol or requires more of it to feel its effects.

• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you don't drink or drinking to prevent these symptoms, such as nausea, shaking, and sweating.

Alcohol addiction counseling

Depending on your needs, there are various types of alcohol use disorder treatment. A quick intervention, individual or group therapy or counseling, an outpatient program, or a residential hospital stay are some of the possible treatment options. The major therapeutic objective is to try to stop drinking in order to enhance the quality of life.

Alcohol disorder treatment options include:

• Withdrawal and detox.

As the first step in treatment, a detoxification program or medically supervised withdrawal may be used. Detoxification is another name for this process, which usually lasts 2 to 7 days. Sedative medications may be necessary to stop withdrawal symptoms. Detoxification is usually carried out at hospitals or inpatient treatment facilities. 

• Acquiring new abilities and creating a treatment strategy. 

Usually, experts in alcohol therapy are involved in this process. Setting goals, using behavior modification techniques, reading self-help books, going to therapy, and receiving follow-up care at a treatment center may all be a part of it.

• Psychological guidance and Online Counselling by Best Clinical Psychologists. 

You can better understand your alcohol use disorder with the help of the Best Online Counselor who help you with Online Counseling and Online Therapy for both groups and individuals, which also supports healing from the psychological effects of drinking consumption. Couples or family therapy may be helpful to you because family support can be important to the healing process.

• Oral medications. 

Disulfiram is a medication that can help you stop drinking, but it won't treat alcohol use disorder or stop the impulse to drink. Disulfiram causes a bodily reaction if alcohol is consumed while you're taking it, including burning, vomiting, nausea, and headaches. The self-mediation should not be done; it is suggested to search “Best Psychiatrist near me,” to seek Online psychiatric consultation with by simply booking an Online Counseling.

• Treatment for mental health issues. 

Other mental health issues frequently co-occur with alcohol consumption disorder. You may require talk therapy (psychotherapy), medication, or other treatments if you have depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, or other mental health problem.

• Workplace  & work-life balance

The inability to control excessive use of alcohol alone or in the company of colleagues along with others smoking weed or drugs thereby hampering their productivity and well-being. The corporate well-being program or Employees Assistance Programme(EAP) is designed to assist employees’ health and wellness.   

Some behavioral therapies used are:

• Cognitive behavior therapy

A treatment known as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) assists patients in recognizing and altering negative attitudes and behaviors that contributed to the emergence of compulsive alcohol consumption. In an individualized therapy session, you'll work with a therapist who is specialized in treating alcohol addiction to identify the thoughts and circumstances that make you crave drinks and potentially trigger a relapse. You learn to create more beneficial methods to deal with stress and other factors that cause you to drink, as well as healthier mental habits.

• Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Motivational Enhancement (MET) 

Because they both aim to strengthen your motivation to change, motivational interviewing (MI) and motivational enhancement (MET) are two therapies that are comparable. For both types of treatment, you collaborate one-on-one with a therapist. While MET is particular and focused on individualized assessment, feedback, and improvement goals, MI comprises a more general therapy approach. Both are intended to assist you in weighing the benefits and drawbacks of seeking treatment, putting together a strategy to alter your drinking habits, boosting your confidence, and acquiring the skills you need to remain with it.