Alcoholism is an intensely frustrating disease. It is common for those affected by it to try to dissect addiction logically and to look for a cause in order to find a cure. It can be useful to know the root causes and the nature of alcoholism in order to know how to help oneself or a loved one struggling with it, but the concept of placing blame can be counter-productive.

The Roots of Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a disease in which the body and mind of a person craves alcohol and cannot function properly without it. Some people are born with a biological propensity toward addiction, and others are at increased risk due to exposure to addiction through environment. Regardless of these risk factors alcoholism doesn’t truly begin until a person chooses to drink. For many people moderate drinking, defined as no more than two drinks per day, will not lead to an addiction problem. Regular heavy drinking or periodic binge drinking greatly increases the speed and intensity of dependency, and those predisposed to addiction can develop alcoholism while drinking moderately.

Many will point out social and media glamorization of alcohol as a cause of alcoholism. Others will make much of biological or developmental factors. These are important facts and worth serious consideration as we determine our own relationship to alcohol, but it is also true that each person chooses whether to drink or not. However once addiction occurs, use is no longer a choice. The disease of alcoholism should be approached in the same way as other diseases. Professional medical and psychological attention is needed for recovery.

How Physical Alcohol Addiction Develops

The body develops a tolerance to alcohol, meaning it will take larger quantities to produce the desired effect over time. The intoxication brought on by excessive drinking causes spikes in certain brain chemicals. This disrupts the natural chemistry of the brain, suppressing the body’s manufacturing of substances that manage mood, anxiety and relaxation. The person then becomes dependent on a regular supply of alcohol in order to feel normal. This is the physical aspect of alcohol addiction, and it is just the beginning.

The Nature of Psychological Alcohol Addiction

The euphoric high brought on by excessive alcohol consumption stimulates the pleasure center of the brain. It blocks any feelings of anxiety, stress or emotional distress. On a deep psychological level the brain will crave that sensation and will enforce behavior patterns that ensure a constant supply of alcohol. Psychological cravings are stronger than rational thoughts. This is why an alcoholic cannot stop drinking without help. Their own mind works against them. In order for the effects of psychological addiction to be reversed a recovering alcoholic must receive intensive rehab. This happens through a combination of the following treatment resources:

• Individual and group counseling
• 12-step programs or other support group options
• Education about the effects of addiction
• Introduction of healthy new diversions and relaxation techniques

While physical withdrawal symptoms usually subside in a matter of days, the effects of psychological addiction will last for months, years or even a lifetime. Though the path of recovery is established in rehab, it continues indefinitely through ongoing counseling, support groups and cultivation of personal discipline and success.

Get Help for Alcohol Addiction Today

If you are concerned about your alcohol use or the use of alcohol by a loved one, please call our toll-free helpline. We are available any time of day or night, and we are eager to help you find the support you need. The one to blame for alcohol addiction is the one who refuses to get help that is so easily available. Don’t let alcohol control your life. Call today, and let us help you find the path to freedom from alcoholism.

The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates that over 17 million Americans are alcoholics or abuse alcohol, but it is not just alcoholics who suffer memory loss. In a 2002 study Duke University Medical Center researchers found that 40 percent of those surveyed had experienced a blackout in the prior year. Alcohol harms the brain and affects memory well before addiction takes hold. A person doesn’t have to hit rock bottom to experience serious alcohol-induced memory loss with dire consequences.

Types of Memory Loss Related to Alcohol

Three types of memory loss that alcohol abuse can cause include the following:

• Brownout – Also known as fragmentary memory loss, a brownout occurs when heavy drinking leads to fuzzy images and the need for clues and prompts to recall events. This is the most common type of alcohol-related memory loss.
• Blackout – Also known as en bloc memory loss, a blackout occurs when intoxication leads to a total loss of memory. A person in blackout can generally continue a conversation and recall events in the last two minutes but remembers little beyond that.
• Alcohol dementia – Also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, alcohol dementia occurs when heavy drinking damages the part of the nervous system that affects memory, problem-solving skills and learning abilities. This disorder is primarily linked to alcoholism.

Signs of an Alcohol Problem

Just because you don’t drink every day doesn’t mean that a problem isn’t developing. Binge drinking on weekends can harm the frontal lobes which are the part of the brain responsible for functions like judgment, decision-making and executing intent. This damage can make individuals less able to resist the urge to drink more which in turn makes a person more susceptible to alcoholism. Some examples of how memory loss can foretell a serious alcohol problem include the following:

• Friends often have to “fill in the blanks” of what happened during a drinking night
• You don’t remember how you got home
• There are numbers in your cell phone of people you don’t recall meeting
• You don’t recall arguments or fights you caused with friends
• You wake up with unknown people next to you in bed

Alcohol Abuse Recovery

Alcohol addiction damages the brain and promises tough withdrawal symptoms for those who quit, but professional treatment offers hope and strength for recovery. The brain will begin to heal itself during sobriety, and other areas of the brain can develop to take over for those damaged by alcohol use. For this reason medically supervised detox is designed to minimize withdrawal symptoms and maximize a healthy recovery. Proper treatment also includes developing new life skills to combat temptation, prevent relapse and feel empowered in life. There are many behavioral therapies that a facility can apply, and each one will give you optimism, promise and a good chance at an alcohol-free life you can remember.

Getting Help for Alcohol Abuse

You don’t have to be an alcoholic to need help. If you are experiencing blackouts, brownouts or other memory problems related to alcohol use, call our toll-free helpline. We are here 24 hours a day to any question, determine if you have a problem or find appropriate treatment and check if your insurance covers rehab options. Alcohol use has serious consequences that we can help you avoid. Call today, and let us help.

Maybe no one knows about your addiction. Maybe that is what you desire. The truth is that hidden addictions are far worse than coming clean. Hiding your addiction can lead to not only fatal health risks, but everything else in your life. A few of the consequences from hiding alcohol addiction include damage the following areas of your life:

• Career. Although no one knows about you addiction right now, it will eventually become impossible to hide. Alcoholism will become evident in your career and could potentially cause costly mistakes at work. You may not get fired directly because of your alcohol addiction but rather because of what it has caused at work. Employers will often understand if you tell them the truth. If you need to seek addiction treatment and need time off work because of it, they are more likely to understand.
• Family. Hiding an alcohol addiction requires deceit and lies. This is not a good foundation to any marriage or family. Alcohol also costs quite a bit of money to feed the addiction. Addiction can also cause a change of personality and has led to psychological and physical abuse in many families. This is all a recipe for disaster. Alcohol addiction has destroyed many families, and has caused reversible damage in the lives involved. Sharing your addiction with your spouse and loved ones will at least let them know what you are going through. They will more than likely understand and can even help you walk through treatment. 
• Health. Alcohol has both short and long-term effects on your body. It will affect almost every organ in your body. Some of the most common side effects of alcohol abuse can include the following problems:
  • Liver damage
  • Hemorrhaging
  • Stomach ulcers
  • Diabetes
  • Heart conditions
  • Infertility in both men and women

These are just a few of the health risks involved with alcohol addiction. Alcohol can indirectly affect your health if you choose to drive or operate heavy machinery while intoxicated. Also, once your tolerance level builds you will begin to drink toxic levels on a daily basis. This could lead to alcohol poisoning and could be deadly.

• Spiritual life. Regardless of what your beliefs are, it has been proven that alcohol users tend to care less about things that they used to care about as addiction takes hold. You will soon find that you will lose your faith. You will stop attending religious services, stop praying and stop reading. For many people, faith is the foundation of their lives. Faith is what they depend on in tough situations. Without faith, many people feel lost. This is the last thing you need while struggling with an addiction. Talking to your local spiritual leader can help you find the strength you need to get help and restore your faith and beliefs.

Need Help Talking about Your Alcohol Addiction?

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction and are afraid to talk to others about it then give us a call. We are here to listen to you without judgment. All calls are toll free, and our trained counselors are available 24 hours a day. We can help you make the right decision without pressure. We can even help you determine if your insurance will cover rehab. Be prepared and don’t do this alone. Call us today.

Addiction to alcohol is more than just a precursor to cocaine addiction, heroin addiction and prescription drug addiction; it is a serious illness that requires medical treatment at an alcohol rehab facility. Early intervention and treatment is the most effective way to handle alcohol addiction.

Are you looking for an alcohol rehab in California? We can help. Whether you need an alcohol detox, alcohol addiction counseling, alcohol rehab, extended California alcohol addiction treatment and aftercare services like sober living, we can assist you. Call now.

Addiction to Alcohol: Recognizing the Signs

Recognizing the signs of addiction to alcohol is the first step to getting help for yourself or your loved one. It’s hardest to recognize the signs of alcohol addiction when you are drinking. Most often, it will take a few harsh wake-up calls and the intervention of family and friends before you recognize that you have a problem that requires treatment.

For those who have loved ones who drink to excess on a regular basis, there are a few signs that can help you define just how serious the issue has become. For example, does your loved one get violent when he or she drinks? Does he or she promise repeatedly to quit drinking but just can’t seem to make it stick for more than a few days? Does your loved one hide alcohol around the house or in the car? Does he or she disappear for hours at a time and come home drunk? Are there legal, health or financial issues directly related to your loved one’s drinking? If so, an alcohol intervention that offers the opportunity of alcohol addiction treatment is in order.

Addiction to Alcohol: Alcohol Intervention

An alcohol intervention can be a great way to approach the alcoholic in your life with the notion of alcohol rehab in a safe and nonjudgmental way. Helping them to recognize that their health issues, their financial problems and the problems in their relationships won’t change until they get help for their drinking problem is the best way to assist them in their recovery.

Addiction to Alcohol: Get Treatment Now

Addiction to alcohol is a treatable issue. It is not a problem with willpower or character. Rather, it is a medical disease that requires medical treatment. Whether you live near Los Angeles, outside Sacramento, in the San Francisco Bay Area or northern California, you can find an alcohol rehab that can help you or your loved one. Call us at 1-888-371-5720 today.