A long weekend of binge drinking may cause someone to wonder, “Am I an alcoholic?” While a few drinks regularly with a friend does not always mean that someone suffers from alcohol abuse, it is a warning sign. Drinking too much or more than intended are indications that social drinking has become a problem. Alcohol use disorder is the inability to regulate your drinking. This means individuals are unable to control the amount of alcohol they consume. Whether you are a binge-drinker, causal drinker, or regular long-time drinker, you may be suffering from alcohol use disorder. Alcohol abuse can lead to dependency, that is, addiction. But help is available. Once you learn the signs of alcohol use disorder, then you can find proper treatment with Serenity House Detox & Recovery.
Am I an Alcoholic?
The fact that an individual asks, “Am I an alcoholic?” is a definite sign that there may be a problem. Often, substance abuse develops gradually. A dependency on alcohol comes from your body developing a tolerance to it. As it does, you require either more alcohol or need to drink more frequently to stave off withdrawal symptoms like tremors, excessive sweating, and nausea. At some point, the individual may realize that they are drinking more often and in higher amounts than they did previously. Usually, if they are asking the question, they already know the answer.
Signs of Alcoholism
There are signs that alcohol abuse is becoming a problem. Individuals may feel like they need to drink to relax or feel better. They may also hide their drinking from people around them. Others signs that alcohol is becoming an issue include symptoms such as:
- Trying to quit drinking without success
- Blacking out or having memory gaps
- Being unable to stop or control drinking
- Hiding drinking from loved ones
- Engaging in risky behavior or drinking in dangerous situations
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms
- Neglecting normal school, family or work responsibilities
While someone could drink rarely and still suffer from alcoholism, individuals who consume more alcohol are at a higher risk of having alcoholism. Women are at risk if they drink more than seven drinks a week or three drinks a day. Men have an increased risk if they consume more than 4 drinks a day or more than 14 in a week.
Addiction Help Is Available
Most likely, someone who needs to know, “Am I an alcoholic?” suffers from alcohol abuse. Individuals can get help for an alcohol addiction starting at Serenity House Detox & Recovery in Houston. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe, so it is important to go through detox under medical supervision. At the detox center, medical staff members are on hand to supervise and treat severe withdrawal symptoms.
At a professional treatment center, patients can get help through various programs, including:
- Individualized care options
- Women’s detox program
- Evidence-based therapy
- Medical and emotional stabilization
- Medical support for detox
- A positive support system for recovery
An addiction is difficult to live with, but help is available. Through a professional detox center, patients can lay the foundation for long-term sobriety. To find out how detox can get you started on your recovery, call Serenity House Detox & Recovery today at 866.516.8356.