Alcohol Rehab Center in Gilbert, Arizona

The causes of alcoholism are still not known, although it is suspected to result from a blend of genetic, social, psychological and environmental factors. There have even been some more specific risk factors identified that may leave someone more prone to developing alcoholism. These include being around a parent or other close family member who has alcoholism or living in a culture where alcohol use is encouraged. Even without these environmental conditions, people with self-esteem issues, with a mental health problem like depression, with high amounts of stress, or even anyone exposed to situations with peer pressure are at a higher risk of developing alcoholism.

Alcohol addiction is spoken about as being treated but never cured. Because it is tied to both physiological and emotional dependence—two factors that heavily play off of each other—it can be triggered. Aside from acutely "breaking the habit," a strong alcoholism recovery program works to develop the types of coping mechanisms that will help an individual to resist future triggers.

Alcohol treatment begins with alcohol detox, where the individual is no longer given access to alcohol. This is particularly difficult for anyone undergoing withdrawal symptoms, which range from nausea and tremors to anxiety and seizures. Once symptoms become manageable, alcohol counseling begins in parallel with alcohol rehab. Alcohol counseling focuses more on identifying the underlying issues behind alcoholism, while alcohol rehab seeks to build the coping mechanisms needed to avoid future relapses. Together, counseling and rehab seek to empower individuals to avoid future relapse.

A combination approach to alcoholism recovery is best. Recovery centers are designed to identify patient needs and administer combination treatment. Some of the treatment methods include motivational interviewing, medications like acamprosate or naltrexone, and a wide assortment of cognitive-behavioral therapy options that can be tailored to the individual patient's specific needs. The way in which treatment is administered is just as important as the treatment itself. Maximum empathy and minimal judgment must be applied, and the ability for the individual to make decisions and have agency in their own lives must be reinforced.

Treatment on average lasts anywhere from thirty to ninety days, customized to each person's needs, goals, and budget. Approaches like intensive one-on-one treatment and family counseling may require more time for scheduling, while treatment plans can even be developed that have different paces and focus on different treatments at various points along the recovery journey.

Alcoholism is a progressive, chronic, and incurable illness afflicting 17 million adults and nearly 1 million adolescents between the ages of 12-17. If left untreated, alcohol use disorder can cause severe and negative consequences in the lives of addicts and their families. In some cases, alcohol abuse can even be fatal.

Not all alcoholics are the same. There are often misconceptions and stereotypes of an alcoholic. The term also carries a stigma; after all, who wants to be labeled as an alcoholic? While there are some chronic alcoholics who drink day and night, often descending into institutions and homelessness, most alcoholics are functioning in society, holding jobs, going to school, and raising families.

The following are major signs of alcohol use disorder:

• An obsession, preoccupation, or anticipation with opportunities to drink (i.e. Looking forward to 5 o’clock, or to the weekend to drink)
• Inability to control drinking. (i.e. Loss of control over how much alcohol one drinks, or lack of control/predictability regarding how long one can remain abstinent)
• Attempts to control drinking (i.e. Trying to limit one’s number of drinks, swearing off alcohol, only drinking at certain times, and switching from liquor to beer or wine)
• Repeated unsuccessful attempts to quit
• Continued use, despite negative consequences (i.e. Legal, financial, marriage/family, occupational, health, etc.)
• Others in your life (family, friends, co-workers) have commented on their alcohol use
• Health/medical issues related to alcohol use (i.e. Brain damage, liver disease, gastrointestinal problems, etc.)
• Experiencing blackouts, or memory loss, due to drinking
• Drinking and driving, or having a designated driver
• Higher tolerance (i.e. More alcohol is required to achieve the same effect)
• Withdrawal symptoms from alcohol (i.e. shaking, sweating, hallucinating, etc.)
• There are many varying types and patterns of alcohol use. Some experiment, or may drink recreationally or socially. Others become dependent or addicted.

Alcohol is one of the addictive substances known to man. As with other substances, alcohol use affects the areas of the brain associated with dopamine, a neurotransmitter controlling the brain’s reward and pleasure centers.

Those suffering from alcohol use disorder experience a defect in this system of the brain, causing cravings and compulsions to drink, which often override one’s sense of values, reason, and judgment. This is one reason some continue to drink, despite having suffered consequences related to the behavior. There are neurobiological forces in play, which diminish the ability to sufficiently access and affect memory in the parts of the brain which govern choice.  For some, this phenomenon of craving can be overwhelming. It results in behavior which can be immoral, or even illegal; but fundamentally, the cause of alcohol use is more about biology than morality.

There are also aspects of emotional and psychological dependence related to alcohol use.  For many, it becomes a coping mechanism. It can start as an unhealthy solution to life’s challenges; a solution that, for some, becomes a serious problem.  For reasons beyond physiology, some become dependent upon alcohol to cope, manage, and survive. Even though alcohol use has caused negative consequences, the relief received from drinking can also create cravings and compulsions to drink. Others struggle with depression, anxiety, or other co-occurring issues.  For those with dual diagnosis challenges, alcohol becomes a form of self-medication; even though it typically worsens the condition.

• Loss of control: This is the marker for when someone has crossed the line. Some can’t control how much they drink, once they start. Others can quit drinking for periods of time (whether for days, months or sometimes even years), but they invariably return to drinking; often in the most casual of ways.    And then there are those who just can’t quit drinking...period.
• Cross addiction: It is not uncommon for cross-addiction to occur during periods of abstinence from alcohol. This involves substituting other substances or addictive behaviors (gambling, overeating, workaholism, etc.) for alcohol use.
• The ”Dry Drunk”: This is a term used to explain the condition alcohol users experience when not drinking. Oftentimes, during periods of abstinence, the person may continue to struggle mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and functionally.  “Dry Drunk” describes the condition of struggling with the underlying causes of alcoholism without getting the relief from the substance. This is often characterized by anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, agitation, stress, irritability, etc.