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What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In Toms River

September 24, 2024

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In Toms River

An abundance of people enjoy alcoholic drinks now and then. But alcohol can be addictive. If you start using alcohol to deal with life or cannot manage your drinking, you may have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This condition can rapidly take over your life and severely affect all the pursuits you once enjoyed. 
 
But you shouldn’t lose hope. If you think you or a loved one have alcohol use disorder near Toms River, treatment and long-term recovery are within reach. Discover more about AUD and what you should do if you require support immediately. 
 

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol use disorder is an illness where you feel the urge to use alcohol despite the detrimental consequences of having too much. Your brain calls for alcohol’s mind-altering effects and fails to perform reliably without them. AUD might be mild, moderate, or severe. At its most extreme, you are in danger of overdosing on alcohol with potentially deadly ramifications. 
 
When going through AUD, you could develop an alcohol addiction and experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you attempt to stop partaking. Without expert support, you can’t keep yourself from consuming alcohol to mitigate the discomfort your body experiences when you try to detox from alcohol. If you are able to quit “cold turkey,” you still must combat the practice of regular drinking. AUD must have skilled treatment to recover completely. 
 

Why Do Individuals Develop Alcohol Use Disorder? 

Many people in Toms River drink, but not all of them develop an alcohol use disorder. A variety of factors influence your risk of being impacted by AUD: 

  • Drinking from a young age
  • Underlying mental health conditions
  • Past trauma 
  • Insufficient coping mechanisms
  • Genetics
  • Family history of addiction 
Numerous people begin binging on alcohol in response to major stressors. With a lack of healthy coping skills, it’s easy to combat the uncomfortable feelings that stem from trauma and mental illness with the mind-altering effects of alcohol. Whenever those negative feelings come back, you turn to alcohol to block them again. You feel temporarily better under the influence of alcohol. 
 
Unfortunately, alcohol is not ever a solution. When you drink it habitually, you can become reliant on those chemicals to live your daily life. When you go without them, you feel more uncomfortable than you did prior and want to drink more. Soon, drinking consumes your life and negatively affects your career, relationships, well-being, pastimes, and finances. When you become ensnared in this downward spiral, you aren’t able to stop drinking without skilled guidance. 
 

What Are Some Alcohol Addiction Symptoms?

Regular drinking doesn’t automatically mean you have a disorder. Alcohol use becomes a disorder when it starts to disrupt your life. Many negative behaviors connected with drinking can indicate an alcohol use disorder. 
 
You could have AUD if you: 

  • Frequently drink longer or more than you were expecting
  • Can’t stop drinking even if you want to
  • Spend a good deal of time obtaining and using alcohol, despite the fact it makes you sick or interferes with other parts of life
  • Compulsions are so strong you can’t concentrate on other obligations
  • Have taken part in unsafe behaviors while under the influence of alcohol 
  • Have to drink more than you used to in order to get the desired result 
  • Have abandoned activities you used to enjoy to make more time for drinking 
  • Persistent drinking despite its influence on loved ones
  • Suffer withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking alcohol 
 
The more symptoms of AUD you have, the more severe your case is. But any person who’s demonstrating indicators of alcohol addiction symptoms near Toms River is entitled to professional therapy and support. You don’t have to take on alcohol use disorder by yourself. 
 

What You Need To Know About Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

If you have an addiction to alcohol, your body requires it to perform. If you halt usage, you become sick. This is known as withdrawal. 
 
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms differ from person to person and depend on your level of alcohol use. If you go into withdrawal, you may experience any combination of these symptoms: 
 
  • Insomnia
  • Shaky hands
  • Headache 
  • Vomiting or nausea
  • Sweating 
  • Anxiety
  • Hallucinations 
  • Seizures 
  • Delirium tremens 
  • Delusions 
  • Confusion
  • Racing heart
  • Fever
  • Elevated blood pressure 
 
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are a tell-tale sign that you or someone you love has AUD and needs help. Withdrawal may be distressing and, in severe cases, even lethal if not managed by medical providers. If someone you care about| wishes to stop using alcohol but faces withdrawal when they try, contact a Toms River substance use treatment facility for support. 
 

Can You “Cure” Alcohol Addiction?

Alcohol use disorder and addiction are considered chronic diseases. Technically, there isn’t a cure. However, a lasting recovery is a real possibility. With a customized combination of mental health and medical support, you can discover how to manage the impulse to drink and achieve a sober life. It’s an arduous undertaking, but many individuals recover from alcohol use disorder in Toms River  and take back control of their lives. 
 

Getting Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment In Toms River

No one can accomplish sobriety by themselves–and there’s no reason to do so! Finding alcohol use disorder treatment near Toms River might feel daunting, but you are entitled to professional care to help get your life back together. 
 
Alcohol use recovery may feel less overwhelming when you look at it as a progression of steps. There isn’t a single road to sobriety. Numerous people relapse and undertake certain steps several times. But rest assured, you can get help from family members and accredited practitioners throughout your journey to recovery. 
 
Alcohol detox: The preliminary step is to detox from alcohol. When your body eliminates the alcohol, you need medical supervision that keeps you comfortable and safe. Whenever you’re prepared to stop your alcohol use, request admittance to a residential detox center near Toms River. They will provide 24-hour care for 7 days or more as you overcome withdrawal. 
 
Alcohol rehab: Following detox, your mind and body will still want alcohol. You will need to transfer to residential rehab care where medical staff can help you control post-acute withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol rehab emphasizes mending your brain from the impact of alcohol addiction. You’ll go to therapy daily to treat the mental aspects of AUD. You’ll remain in rehab as long as necessary. 
 
Outpatient addiction support: Rehab will get you stable enough to go back home, but you’ll still need constant support to remain sober. Don’t exit rehab without entering an outpatient addiction program that offers therapy and medication-assisted treatment. You may reside at home or in a sober living residence, but you still must visit psychotherapists and a doctor over the course of the week. 
 
Sober living: Eventually, your need for addiction services will taper off. Even so, recovery is an ongoing process. Rely on the network of addiction specialists, family, and new confidants you have built to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Steer clear of people or activities that compel you to use. Get help if you ever need it. Enduring recovery is possible!  
 

Find Help Today For Alcohol Use Disorder Near Toms River

You don’t have to fight alcohol addiction alone. Talk to The Counseling Center At Toms River, NJ to find compassionate, professional alcohol use disorder treatment near Toms River. You may request help at 732-605-6364 or by completing the form below. One of our representatives will answer you immediately, regardless of the day or time. Every call is free and confidential. We’ll help you get the support you require at once.