The first stage of someone quitting alcohol is detox and it’s important to make sure that people who drink heavilydon’t detox alone. The seizures that can occur during withdrawal can be severe enough to be fatal without medical supervision. If someone you know meets at least two of the following criteria, they may have an alcohol use disorder and need help. Treating alcohol use disorder requires managing a few different things, including detox, treating the underlying addiction and also offering aftercare and support for continued sober living.

From people in active recovery to advocates who have lost loved ones to the devastating disease of addiction, our community understands the struggle and provides guidance born of personal experience. The transition back to life outside of rehab is fraught with the potential for relapse. Aftercare resources such as 12-step groups, sober living homes and support for family and friends promote a life rich with rewarding relationships and meaning. Additionally, according to Healthline, alcoholism can increase the risk of viral and bacterial infections, heart disease, and hardening of the liver, also known as cirrhosis. While there is no direct relationship between alcohol and hair loss, heavy drinking may lead to other issues that thin out your locks.

What does it mean to drink in moderation?

In addition to getting professional treatment and support, there are things that you can do to help feel better and improve your chances of recovery. In the DSM-5, alcohol use disorder is further classified into categories of mild, moderate, and severe. Withdrawals primarily affect the central and autonomic nervous systems and can be separated into three categories, or “stages,” according to onset and severity. Stage 1 withdrawals start relatively early and are typically mild. From there, the physical effects get progressively worse with Stage 2 and Stage 3 symptoms. Alcoholism was identified in 1956 as an illness by the American Medical Association .

In severe cases, a person may develop delirium tremens, a potentially life-threatening condition that causes hallucinations, confusion, seizures and psychosis. For many people, alcohol has a strong effect but when consumed in a moderate amount, it is not unhealthy or dangerous. Over time though, excessive drinking can develop into alcohol use disorder , or more commonly known as alcoholism.

Effects of Alcohol Abuse on the Brain & Body

Professional staff will work with their clients to ensure comfort from the initial arrival until the completion of care. When you’re struggling with an alcohol use disorder, it impacts every aspect of your life as well as the lives of those you care about.

• Alcohol use has toxic effects on the entire body, and some health issues reach a point where the damage is no longer reversible.
• As a result, you may find yourself catching colds and infections more often.
• With long-term abuse, alcoholism can result in brain damage and/or liver failure.
• Call us today to speak with an experienced addiction specialist.
• The body systems are an intricate network, so the breakdown of one or more systems has detrimental effects on the others.

Dehydration-related effects, like nausea, headache, and dizziness, might not appear for a few hours, and they can also depend on what you drink, how much you drink, and if you also drink water. The mission of Northeast Addictions Treatment Center is to provide the best continuum of care for not only adult men and women struggling with addiction, but also their families.

Warning Signs from Commonly Misused Drugs

Obviously, no one intends to become dependent on alcohol when they start drinking. Generally, they are just drinking for fun or as a way to cope with the everyday stress of life. But it doesn’t take long for recreational drinking to progress to misuse, abuse, and eventually psychological and physical addiction. Alcoholism may regularly be undermined by addictions that seem more “serious,” but the reality physical signs of alcoholism is that all addictions are serious. An individual will constantly crave alcohol and feel as though they need to drink incessantly. It is also common for an alcoholic to alter their drink of choice to something stronger in order to consume a higher concentration of alcohol in a shorter period of time. Someone with an alcohol use disorder can exhibit both psychological/behavioral and physical symptoms.

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Psychological effects

Effective addiction treatment providers will have addiction counselors, but they should also have mental health services as many people with alcoholism have co-occurring mental health conditions. The most destructive form of alcoholism is chronic alcoholism, an emotionally, socially and physically devastating disease. Alcoholism emerges from alcohol abuse, when there’s a pattern of drinking despite negative consequences. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are both categorized as alcohol use disorders—affecting people of all ages and stages of life. The severity of the disorder lies on a spectrum, ranging from mild to severe dependence, also known as chronic alcoholism . After detox, it’s highly recommended to seek treatment for alcohol addiction.

• Over time, heavy drinking can cause irreversible destruction and scarring of liver tissue .
• If left untreated, alcohol addiction destroys someone’s entire life, and while quitting is never easy, with the help of Delphi Behavioral Health Group, it is possible.
• People with severe liver disease have a yellowish color to their skin and eyes.
• It is important to remember that there is still hope for most people struggling with an alcohol addiction.
• However, giving up alcohol right away isn’t sustainable or desirable for most people.
• Eventually, the person may stop breathing, which may lead to death.