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Many people who suffer from alcoholism don’t even realize it right away. In many cases, they just think they are building up a higher tolerance which in some circles can be viewed as a good thing because it means they myths about alcoholism can enjoy more drinks without getting drunk. Brittany has been working in behavioral health since 2012 and is the Assistant Clinical Director at our facility. She is an LCSW and holds a master’s degree in social work.
Deanna Crosby is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience working with clients in recovery. There is a wide range of alcohol treatment programs available to people struggling with addiction. If you are addicted to alcohol, you may be tempted to quit on your own, but this can be dangerous. Detoxing from alcohol without the proper medical support can be fatal.
Drinking makes you more social.
Not everyone who starts drinking at a young age will necessarily develop the condition. You may have heard myths about alcohol and alcohol use disorder presented as facts. While some myths might be more harmful than others, it’s essential to understand the realities of alcohol and alcohol use disorder. But there’s still a lot of misinformation about alcohol and alcohol use disorder. A person does not have to drink in excess every day and all day to be an alcoholic. There are alcoholics who can go without having a drink for days or weeks at a time.
People believe that there’s no coming back from intense alcoholism, and if you’re an alcoholic you’ve somehow hit “rock bottom”, meaning that life simply cannot get any worse. If you think you may have alcohol use disorder or a related problem, such as binge drinking, you’re not alone. People who binge drink may only occasionally drink in excess.
Alcoholics Have Blackouts
Other people may drink frequently and heavily without becoming alcoholic. At 1st Step Behavioral Health, we strive to make your addiction treatment experience as comfortable as possible. Everybody drinks and drinking everyday is perfectly fine. Individuals in a medically monitored detox receive 24-hour supervision with clinicians available to give medications if necessary. The main goal of detox is to stabilize the patient and prepare them for a formal treatment program. The risk of having an alcohol use disorder decreases as you get older.
There are also plenty of heavy drinkers who have not crossed the line into alcoholism. The individual who has become an alcoholic has developed a physical or psychological dependence on alcohol. This means that they have increased tolerance for the substance and they experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit or significantly reduce their intake. For some people who drink, it takes quite a few drinks to „get a buzz“ or feel relaxed, and they may be less likely to show signs of intoxication compared to others.