After a hard day at work or a bad breakup, you may drown your sorrows in a beer or a glass of wine. Many people turn to alcohol to help them cope with the stress of life. In moderation, a cocktail can help you relax or forget about your troubles for a bit, but it will not help you deal with the situation. Do you find that you are self-medicating with alcohol rather than finding healthy ways to deal with your problems? If so, you may want to consider getting help from an alcohol detox program.
At Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston, we understand that life can be stressful and feel nearly impossible to manage at times. Alcohol abuse will only compound the problem, and we are here to help you get sober and manage your stress more healthily. Our alcohol detox program combines medication-assisted treatment with individual therapy so you can heal more thoroughly. Call us today at 866.516.8356 to learn more about dual diagnosis treatment at our outpatient and residential alcohol detox programs.
What Is Self-Medicating With Alcohol?
When a doctor prescribes a medication for you, you’re using the medicine to improve how you feel, whether for pain or a mental health disorder. On the other hand, self-medication is done without the guidance of a doctor and can result in dependence or addiction. Self-medicating is the use of a substance, mainly drugs or alcohol, to cope with undesirable feelings or conditions such as:
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fear
- Grief
- Insomnia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Social phobias
- Stress
Without proper treatment from a doctor or a therapist, many people choose to use alcohol to manage their symptoms. The problem is that this can lead to alcohol abuse which can interfere with your quality of life more than the issues that initially led you to self-medicating with alcohol.
What Are the Risks of Self-Medicating With Alcohol?
You or someone you know has likely used alcohol at some point to help numb the pain of a stressful situation. While this is certainly not the best way to deal with stress, it is not necessarily harmful if it is temporary. The person eventually gets the right help through medical treatment from a doctor or therapy sessions. Sadly, many people end up slipping into full-blown alcohol abuse and find it hard to climb their way out. Some of the risks of self-medicating with alcohol include:
- Developing alcohol addiction
- Exacerbating mental health conditions
- Worsening of physical health
- Damaging relationships with significant other, family, friends, and coworkers
- Interfering with their performance at work or school
- Causing financial problems
If you’re using alcohol to cope with a mental health condition, it may be time to find a medical detox program.
How Do You Know If You Are Suffering from Alcohol Abuse?
Because alcohol use is so prevalent today, you may not know when you have reached the point of alcohol abuse. Knowing the signs of alcohol abuse can help you realize when it is time to get the help of an alcohol detox program. Here are some signs to look for:
- You reach for alcohol whenever you experience uncomfortable emotions like stress or anxiety.
- You feel the need for a drink at the end of each day, especially after work.
- You’ve found that you need larger amounts of alcohol to get the same relief.
- You’re starting to develop health problems related to alcohol, such as low energy, frequent illness, and insomnia.
- You are starting to miss days from work or school due to excessive drinking and hangovers.
If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction, then the experts at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston can help.
Stop Self-Medicating With Alcohol at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston
At Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston, we understand how hard life can feel at times. We can help you stop self-medicating with alcohol and get you the therapy you need to deal with life’s problems in a healthy way. We offer a range of therapeutic services to assist in the detox process, including:
Take back control of your life by giving us a call at 866.516.8356 to get enrolled in our alcohol detox program today.
