Many people don’t think about the legal, social, and health problems that alcohol brings until it’s too late. Alcohol can cause a number of negative effects on your body and mind. Alcoholism alone can cost you your family and livelihood. Over time, the effects of alcoholism only continue to worsen.
But, thankfully, individuals who are struggling with alcoholism can work to overcome this issue. Professional help is sometimes necessary to help people achieve long-term sobriety and recover from this crippling condition. Through alcohol addiction rehab, individuals can find their way to true freedom.
Occasional drinking is quite common in many cultures. Social events, parties, and special occasions typically involve drinking. However, if a person begins drinking in excess (and begins to binge drink), there may be a bigger issue. Alcoholism is more severe than simply drinking here and there. It’s about the amount of alcohol a person drinks and how often they do so.
Excessive and frequent drinking can affect a person’s entire life negatively. Not only does it affect a person’s body and mind but it also affects the person’s relationships, school, and work. Problems most often begin to manifest in the form of family arguments at home. Problems then start to cross into their jobs, which could result in job losses or the inability to find work. Some individuals have difficulty arriving on time or simply showing up.
There are some short-term effects of constant drinking and there are long-term more severe consequences. When alcohol interferes with day-to-day responsibilities, a person is abusing alcohol. While the person may not be an alcoholic yet, the progressive nature of the disease means that the person is following a well-laid path toward alcoholism. It is best to begin seeking addiction treatment before severe alcohol addiction sets in.
There are a number of negative consequences of alcohol addiction and excessive drinking. One may notice several negative effects and changes in a person’s behavior. It is important to look out for these signs so you can act fast and get help. The more you wait, the more you are opening up the door for worse outcomes.
Some of the warning signs of alcohol addiction are the following:
They may feel guilty about their drinking habits to the point where they may want to stop. Unfortunately, as much as they try they are unable to break free. If this is the case, then a professional treatment provider like Free by the Sea can help you.
There are many short and long-term effects of alcoholism. These symptoms are usually uncomfortable and include some kind of impairment. These can lead to unpredictable and dangerous circumstances like injury or death. Some of the short-term effects of alcohol misuse include the following:
While these may be temporary they can still cause a number of problems down the line. Some of these can also appear if a person has become dependent on alcohol to function.
The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can begin to appear over time. When an individual begins working to stop drinking alcohol, he or she may begin experiencing the following withdrawal symptoms:
Individuals who are trying to give up a drinking problem may also experience more severe symptoms of withdrawal. They may have hallucinations or show signs of intense confusion. Some people also deal with nightmares, tremors, fever, or even seizures when withdrawing from alcohol use.
These symptoms are why detox is often the first part of the recovery process. Individuals can receive medical professional treatment advice and guidance to work through these uncomfortable symptoms. This can help to prevent relapse from happening. Many treatment centers offer medical detox to patients who are beginning the treatment process. As a certified addiction treatment provider in Washington State, Free by the Sea works to put our patients in contact with detox centers that can help them get through the initial withdrawal phase.
As a person’s uncontrolled drinking continues so does their chance of contracting diseases and other severe health complications. Over time a person will develop a number of possibly life-threatening conditions. As a person’s tolerance goes up the more they may begin to drink. This is why it is so important to get help and begin fighting alcoholism before things become dire.
Long-term health effects of alcoholism include:
It is imperative to get help from a treatment facility for alcohol before it’s too late. Death and alcohol poisoning are just two of the most severe consequences of untreated alcoholism. This is why it is so important to get help from a facility that offers alcohol use disorder treatment.
Alcoholism continues to be an alarming problem in countries across the globe. Millions of people are struggling with a drinking problem and this problem only continues to rise. Battling alcoholism is not easy but when looking at the numbers, it is necessary. The following stats are from The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA):
Reaching out to substance abuse treatment providers can be challenging. Many people do not get the help they need because of the fear that often accompanies asking for help. But alcohol rehab centers like ours here at Free by the Sea specialize in treating alcoholism. We exist to make treatment options available to those who need them. And we are here to make recovery a reality for our patients.
At our treatment facility, you will not be met with judgment. You will find a kind and compassionate staff that is ready to help you overcome addiction. Going through alcohol rehab is far from easy. It comes with its challenges and difficulties. But our mission is to help you overcome every obstacle in your way. As a trustworthy treatment provider, our substance use disorder treatment center is here for you!
Sometimes, help from rehab centers like Free by the Sea is necessary to reach effective recovery. Alcohol rehab at Free by the Sea is a powerful, evidence-proven method of cutting the ties of alcoholism. During alcohol treatment, the underlying causes of substance abuse are brought to the surface and directly addressed through treatment. Problems with alcohol use disorder (AUD) can be both physical and psychological.
Our alcohol treatment program aims to overcome those issues in three phases: alcohol detox, counseling, and aftercare. Alcohol detox may come in the form of medication-assisted treatment using alcohol treatment medications to help with alcohol withdrawal. The medical detox process confronts the physical aspects of the addiction while counseling addresses the psychological components and aftercare assists in correcting the social perspective and maintaining sobriety.
PLEASE NOTE: Free by the Sea DOES NOT provide medical detox services. We recommend outside detox services and provide recovery after the detox is complete.
Since the American Medical Association classified alcoholism as a chronic and progressive disease in the 1960s, treatment approaches have changed significantly. Alcoholism can lead to high blood pressure, gastrointestinal disorders, cirrhosis of the liver, insufficient blood cell production, and cardiac disease when it is not treated.
The disease and the issues associated with it do not simply disappear — rehabilitation is necessary. At Free by the Sea, we assist people who are having trouble with alcoholism in a caring, non-judgmental, and professional manner. The facility provides a place for struggling individuals to heal, recover, and defeat the disease so they can re-establish themselves.
Alcohol rehab is beneficial for all individuals who struggle with alcohol misuse. This includes:
Here at Free by the Sea, we offer a rehab program that can help any adult who is struggling to overcome substance abuse. We can help men and women work through lingering withdrawal symptoms and assist them in the recovery process.
In many cases, people who suffer from addiction also struggle with the effects of mental health disorders. For instance, some individuals who suffer from alcohol use disorders may also have eating disorders or clinical depression. When it comes to recovery efforts and treatment options, it is absolutely necessary to find help through a dual diagnosis program.
Dual diagnosis treatment programs address addiction and mental disorders simultaneously. Instead of focusing on only one of the co-occurring disorders, these treatment programs help individuals deal with both disorders.
This simultaneous treatment is important because it prevents people from continuing to suffer from one issue while working to overcome another. After all, alcohol addiction can intensify pre-existing mental disorders. Dual diagnosis programs offer mental health treatment along with drug and alcohol rehab.
So, individuals who are in need of an alcohol rehab program and mental health services can find hope. Addiction treatment programs that include mental health services provide hope and healing to those with co-existing disorders.
At Free by the Sea, we offer comprehensive treatment programs for alcohol dependence and addiction. There are many different ways to treat alcoholism with the use of detox, psychotherapy, and outpatient treatment. We offer up to 77 treatment beds and a professional well-trained staff that’ll be by your side every step of the way.
Let’s take a look at some of the common ways alcoholism is treated at Free by the Sea. While some of these may work better than others, it’s important to get help regardless of preference. Some alcohol rehab programs may include the following:
These treatment options are typically accompanied by therapeutic approaches. Common types of psychotherapy include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Therapy can come in various forms and take place in many different settings. Individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and other methods are available for those in need of support and guidance.
Battling alcoholism is not easy but doing nothing can be extremely dangerous. At Free by the Sea, our treatment facility offers a wide variety of great treatment methods for you. Not only do we help to better your physical health through alcohol addiction treatment, but we also focus on improving your mental health. We understand the negative impact addiction has on one’s emotional, physical, and mental health. So, allow us to walk with you during your recovery process.
Our alcohol rehab program can help you address the underlying causes of addiction in your life. It can also help you to discover more about triggers and what may lead to relapse. This will help you to learn how to avoid these triggers or address them in a healthy way. Alcohol rehab offers you a chance — a chance to live a life beyond addiction.
You don’t have to continue fighting alcohol or drug abuse alone. Our drug and alcohol rehab programs can help you find the freedom you so truly deserve. Let us help you towards a better life. Contact us today to learn more about alcoholism treatment and other addiction resources.
Dr. Richard Crabbe joined our team in 2019 as our psychiatrist and medical director. He attended the University of Ghana Medical School where he became a Medical Doctor in 1977. From 1978 through 1984, he was a medical officer in the Ghana Navy and provided a variety of services from general medicine to surgeries. He received his Certificate in General Psychology from the American Board of Psychology and Neurology in 2002.