Alcohol is one of the most addictive substances. Alcohol addiction is a medical illness that can result in long term medical conditions and negatively impact one’s well-being, social life, and mental state. Addiction of Alcohol affects the way the brain functions and requires continuous medical, behavioural, and physical therapies to come out clean and sober from it. Often de-addiction treatment programs can help in treating alcohol abuse.
What is Alcohol Addiction?
A continuous or habitual pattern of drinking alcohol is known as alcoholism or alcohol addiction, which can vary in severity. With time it can affect the way your brain functions and result in uncontrollable alcohol dependency.
Side Effects of Alcohol Addiction
With time the effects of alcohol addiction can hurt the body and overall health of the individual. Sometimes it can be difficult to come back from it but with the right treatment one can come out decent.
1. Psychological Effects
Long term alcohol addiction can result in impairment in the brain and it can affect:
- Memory and attentiveness
- Compulsion
- Emotions, temper, and personality
Habitual drinking can result in problems with overall mental illness, and well-being. It can also worsen problems like depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders.
2. Alcohol-Induced Mental Disorders
Alcohol abuse can result in mental disorders and conditions like:
- Bipolar disorders
- Psychotic disorders
- Sleep illnesses
- Depression
- Anxiety
With this over alcohol, the above-given disorders can even worsen.
3. Dependence
Most people who drink regularly often develop tolerance to alcohol. Therefore, they need to drink more eventually to get the same effect. That is why, drinking alcohol regularly can result in dependency, which means your brain and body has gotten used to the effects of alcohol.
And in case you quit drinking, you may come across withdrawal symptoms like physical illness, emotional distress, and mental disorders.
4. Weak Immune System
Alcohol abuse can weaken your immune system. A weak immune system finds it difficult to fight viruses, germs, and bacterias. People who drink a lot may find themselves falling ill
quite often. Drinking alcohol can also result in problems like pneumonia, and can also result in a risk of developing certain kinds of cancer, and also liver-related diseases.
5. Long Term Effects
Alcohol can also result in long term illnesses and effects like:
- Persistent mood changes, like feeling anxious and easily
- Sleep disorders like
- Weak immune system
- Changes in weight
- Difficult in concentrating
Alcohol Addiction: Treatments
Treating addiction alcohol involves enrolling in a rehab centre. Often, these rehabilitation programs include a combination of treatments that can help individuals quit alcohol and come out clean.
Behavioural Therapy: Counselling or talking to medical professionals or counsellors can result in treating the illness. The psychologist can help in treating behavioural changes, and mood swings.
Medications: Some medications can help in coping up with of alcoholic . The U.S. FDA has approved naltrexone and acamprosate. These medications can lower the craving or compulsion to consume alcohol.
Rehabilitation Centre: Addressing alcohol abuse with a qualified treatment centre and medical professional not just help with de-addiction but also address the underlying causes of alcohol. The treatment centres can also help individuals find effective ways to cope up with withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and avoid relapses.