The more common signs of alcohol dependence, addiction and abuse in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer and other parts of Alberta by Options Okanagan Treatment Center in Kelowna, British Columbia treating alcohol addiction and recovery.
What Are Some Of The More Common Signs Of Alcohol Dependence Or Abuse?
Certain types of behavior might indicate that you have a problem with alcohol. They include the following:
Drinking alone or in the morning, or being drunk for extended periods of time.
Changing the type of alcohol you drink, like switching to wine from beer because you think that will help prevent you from becoming drunk or help you to drink less.
After drinking you feel guilty.
Making excuses for yourself when you drink or doing things to try to hide your drinking, like purchasing alcohol at more than one store.
Experiencing blackouts where you don’t remember what you did when you were drinking.
Worrying that you won’t be able to get enough alcohol for the weekend or an evening.
How Alcohol Problems Are Diagnosed
An alcohol problem might be diagnosed when seeing your doctor for a different problem or on a routine visit to the doctor. If a friend or partner thinks you might have a problem with alcohol, she or he might encourage you to visit your doctor.
When you visit your doctor, he or she can ask you questions about your past health and symptoms, and then conduct a physical exam. In addition, a mental health assessment may be performed at times. A mental health assessment is so the doctor can see whether or not you have depression or some other kind of mental health problem.
Your doctor might also perform tests or ask questions to look into health issues like cirrhosis that are linked with alcohol.
Treating Alcohol Problems
The specific treatment used will depend on how serious your problem with alcohol is. Some individuals can cut back on their drinking to a moderate level with assistance from a counselor. Individuals with alcohol addictions might need to have medical treatment and stay at a treatment center or hospital.
Your doctor might decide that detoxification is what you need prior to undergoing treatment. If you have a physical addiction to alcohol, you will need to have a detox. When going through detox, you might need to have medicine that helps with withdrawal symptoms.
Once your detox is complete, you concentrate on staying sober or alcohol-free. A majority of individuals go to group counseling or receive some other kind of therapy. To help stay sober, you might need medicine as well.
You have taken the first step towards recovering from alcohol, when you are able to stay sober. To achieve full recovery, you will have to take additional steps that improve other aspects of your life, like learning how to better deal with family and work. Doing this will help make staying sober easier.
When you are in recovery and trying to stay sober, you will probably need to have support. This may include support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and counseling. Recovery isn’t something that can be achieved in a couple of weeks. It is a long-term process.
Treatment doesn’t just just on alcohol use. Other aspects of your life are also addressed, including your living situation, medical problems, work and relationships. Recovery and treatment help to support you so that you can make positive changes so that you are able to live without needing alcohol.
What Steps Can You Take If You Or Someone You Know Has An Alcohol Problem?
If you think you might have a problem with alcohol, seek help. Even when you are quite successful with other aspect of your life, you should join a self-help group or visit your doctor. The sooner you are able to get help, the easier it becomes to quit or cut back.
It can be hard to help somebody that has a problem with alcohol. Stop if you are covering for the individual. For example, don’t make any excuses if she or he misses work.
One thing that you can do that might be helpful is to talk to the individual about what their drinking does to others around them, including yourself. Speak privately with this person when the individual isn’t using alcohol or drugs, and both of you are clam. Call to set up an appointment as soon as possible, if the individual agrees to get help for their problem. Don’t wait.
Options Okanagan Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.
Our unique and distinctive Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.
Numerous clients come to us from Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, meth drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.
Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Alcohol Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331