Nearly twenty million Americans are addicted to alcohol. This addiction disrupts lives, including those suffering from addiction and their families and other loved ones. If left untreated, alcoholism impedes daily functioning, affects long-term health, compromises relationships, and can negatively impact employment and finances. If you are struggling with alcohol use disorder, professional rehab is your best option. How do you know if you need an alcohol addiction treatment center program?
If you are even asking yourself if you have an alcohol addiction, there is a good chance you need alcohol addiction treatment. The question itself indicates that you have, consciously or unconsciously, already moved closer to an understanding that you have a problem. Below are some concrete guidelines to help you take stock of your alcohol use.
You can contact us at TruHealing Centers by calling [Direct] or completing our online form. We can walk you through some questions to guide you about whether our alcohol addiction treatment center program is right for you.
5 Signs You Need an Alcohol Rehab Center
1. DSM Criteria
The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as a “chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug (or alcohol) seeking and use despite adverse consequences.” The checklist below, from the DSM-5, summarizes eleven signs of addiction. If you check off three, you have a moderate substance use disorder. Six or more indicates a serious disorder, meaning you should seek alcohol rehab.
- Insatiable cravings
- Giving up hobbies
- Health issues
- Significant time spent using
- Repeated failed attempts to stop
- Increased use over time
- Withdrawal symptoms upon cessation
- Neglecting responsibilities
- Interpersonal and social problems
- Endangering yourself and others
2. Lying About Alcohol Use
If you drink alone before going out with friends, avoid social occasions so that you can drink more, suspecting your consumption may raise eyebrows, falsely report when asked about your drinking habits, or hide bottles and cans to discard them in secret, your deception is a form of denial. Avoiding the truth with others indicates you are hiding the truth from yourself and is a warning sign that you need alcohol addiction treatment.
3. Frequent or Chronic Health Issues
Alcohol abuse is hard on the physical systems and can have serious short- and long-term effects on your health. Cardiac issues, liver damage and disease, hypertension and stroke, digestive problems, and some cancers are all long-term health risks of alcohol abuse. More immediate and short-term effects include appetite loss, insomnia, excessive sweating, memory issues, and headaches. If you are starting to see any of these consequences, your alcohol use is likely excessive. Seek information about an alcohol addiction treatment center.
4. Alcohol Consumption Is Your Main Priority
You may not recognize this for what it is at first. No one wakes up each day and makes a mental list of to-do items with “drink alcohol” at the top. When you are in the grip of an addiction, you won’t easily recognize your motivations. You probably believe you are in control. If you are at the stage of asking yourself, “Do I need an alcohol rehab center?” you may be ready to take a step back and assess your behavior and intentions. If you spend a lot of time thinking about the next time you’ll be able to have a drink, are neglecting work and school responsibilities, are avoiding social encounters in favor of staying home to drink, your wellbeing is at risk. Drinking has seized control.
5. The Concern of People Who Care
If your family, friends, and coworkers—the people who know you well and care about your welfare—have been expressing concern about your drinking, overtly or otherwise, listen to them. Think about it. Would you ever bring up someone’s drinking habits with them unless you were truly concerned? Of course not. Neither would your friends and family. It is hard not to feel judged or harassed when someone brings up your drinking but hear what they have to say. Do they offer specific examples of how you’ve changed and the behaviors that concern them? Let them help you. They obviously care about you.
Embrace Alcohol Addiction Treatment at TruHealing Centers
After reviewing the list above, if you think you need an alcohol rehab center, let TruHealing Centers help. All of our centers in Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Texas, New Hampshire, and Ohio offer evidence-based treatment for alcohol use disorders provided by compassionate professionals. We are standing by to help you with the first steps toward a healthy life of recovery. Call [Direct] or use our online form to reach out and begin the conversation.
