Alcohol Dependency
Alcohol dependency is typically used interchangeably with alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Alcohol dependency is established when a person suffers withdrawal symptoms when he or she quits drinking. Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe depending upon the stage of dependency a person has reached. The difference between alcohol dependency and alcoholism is whether an individual is not just dependent but addicted to alcohol. Alcohol addiction or alcoholism is a marked behavioral problem characterized by long and excessive harmful use in spite of continued negative consequences.
Symptoms of Alcohol Dependency
Everyone who has had more than their fair share of alcohol experiences withdrawal symptoms, although the more familiar term is “hang-over.” Symptoms can range from a dull or pounding headache, nausea, feeling shaky, irritable or anxious. As people become more dependent on alcohol, there are various stages that result in more severe withdrawal symptoms. These can be so painful that a person will resort to having an “eye-opener” the next day to ease them. More severe symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, night sweats, night terrors, tremors, hallucinations (auditory or visual) and delirium tremens (DTs). A person experiencing these symptoms has crossed the line into alcoholism.
Alcohol dependency is different for everyone. There is an invisible line that is crossed between alcohol dependency and alcohol addiction (alcoholism). There are people who are high-functioning and manage to maintain a job and household while drinking on a daily or nightly basis. Others may binge-drink for days on end and steel themselves through the severe hang-over symptoms during the week only to overdo it again the following weekend.
The question that always needs to be asked is whether your drinking is harmful – to your relationships, your work or school attendance and performance, and to your health. If you are struggling with alcohol dependency, every one of these areas will be affected on some level – probably all. If anyone has ever approached you about your drinking, if you’ve ever missed school or work because of your drinking or you have withdrawal symptoms when you quit drinking, it’s likely you have crossed the line from alcohol dependency to alcoholism. If you continue to drink in spite of negative consequences and can’t stop or don’t want to, you need professional help to quit.
Treatment for Alcohol Dependency
SouthCoast Recovery offers alcohol treatment for 30, 60, 90 days and 6 month residential living in the harbor town of Dana Point, California. Our program offers state-licensed, medical detox for a safe and comfortable withdrawal from alcohol dependency. Alcohol detox is one of the most dangerous forms of detox as it acts on the central nervous system and can result in severe convulsions. Please consult one of our intake coordinators before you try to end your alcohol dependency cold turkey. We can help. Our alcohol treatment program combines the finest medical and clinical therapy with innovative workshops and holistic therapies for mind, body and spirit well-being to help you overcome the debilitating effects of alcohol dependency and alcoholism. We not only show you how to live life without alcohol, we show you how to live the life you’ve always wanted. Call today!
