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What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In New Jersey

September 23, 2024

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? Your Guide To Alcohol Addiction In New Jersey

An abundance of people indulge in alcoholic drinks on occasion. But alcohol can become addictive. If you use alcohol to cope with life or find you’re not able to limit your drinking, you could have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This disorder can swifty overtake your life and severely influence all the activities you previously enjoyed. 
 
But there is hope. If you think you or someone you love have alcohol use disorder in New Jersey, treatment and long-term recovery are within reach. Discover more about AUD and what to do if you require help immediately. 
 

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol use disorder is an illness where you feel compelled to ingest alcohol despite the detrimental repercussions of having too much. Your brain seeks alcohol’s mind-altering effects and fails to perform reliably without them. AUD can be anywhere from mild to severe. At its severest, you are in danger of an overdose with lethal repercussions. 
 
As a consequence of AUD, you could become addicted to alcohol and suffer unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you cease using. Without expert help, you cannot prevent yourself from drinking alcohol to ease the difficulty your body experiences when you start alcohol detox. If you can quit “cold turkey,” you still must counter the routine of frequent drinking. AUD must have skilled treatment to recover completely. 
 

Why Do People Develop Alcohol Use Disorder? 

Lots of people in New Jersey drink, but not all of them develop an alcohol use disorder. Various factors contribute to your risk of developing AUD: 

  • Drinking as a child or teen
  • Existing mental health disorders
  • Background of trauma 
  • Inadequate coping abilities
  • Genetics
  • Family history of addiction 
Countless individuals begin misusing alcohol as a response to stressful events. With a lack of healthy coping strategies, it’s easy to counteract the uneasy feelings that stem from mental illness and trauma with the mind-altering effects of alcohol. When those negative feelings come back, you reach for alcohol to block them again. You feel better for a bit when drinking alcohol. 
 
Regrettably, alcohol is not an answer. When you use it consistently, you may become dependent on those chemicals to function. When you don’t have them, you feel worse than you did peviously and are urged to drink more. Over time, drinking alcohol dominates your life and negatively infuences your relationships, employment, finances, wellnes, and hobbies. Once you’re ensnared in this downward spiral, you cannot quit drinking without expert guidance. 
 

What Are Common Alcohol Addiction Symptoms?

Frequent drinking doesn’t necessarily indicate a disorder. Alcohol use progresses into a disorder when it starts to disrupt your life. Many negative behaviors linked to drinking can signal an alcohol use disorder. 
 
You might have AUD if you: 

  • Regularly drink more or longer than you planned
  • Can’t cease drinking even when you want to
  • Spend a good deal of time seeking and drinking alcohol, even when it makes you sick or disrupts other parts of life
  • Compulsions are so intense you are unable to direct attention on other things
  • Have engaged in dangerous behaviors while consuming alcohol 
  • Have to drink more than you did previously in order to achieve the sought-after result 
  • Have abandoned enjoyable activities to make more time for drinking 
  • Continual drinking despite its influence on friends and family
  • Have withdrawal symptoms when you cease drinking alcohol 
 
The gravity of your AUD generally relates to the number of symptoms you have. But any person who’s displaying signs of alcohol addiction symptoms in New Jersey has a right to expert therapy and support. You don’t have to take on alcohol use disorder by yourself. 
 

What To Know About Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

If you have an alcohol addiction, your body needs it to operate. If you stop drinking, you become sick. This is referred to as withdrawal. 
 
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms differ for each individual and reflect how severe your alcohol usage is. If you enter withdrawal, you could endure any of these symptoms: 
 
  • Insomnia
  • Shaky hands
  • Headache 
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sweating 
  • Anxiety
  • Hallucinations 
  • Seizures 
  • Delirium tremens 
  • Delusions 
  • Confusion
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Fever
  • High blood pressure 
 
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are a sure-fire indication that you or a person you care about has AUD and should get help. Withdrawal may be painful and, in extreme cases, even deadly if not addressed by medical providers. If an individual you know| wishes to give up alcohol but faces withdrawal whenever they try, turn to a New Jersey substance use treatment provider for help. 
 

Can You “Cure” Alcohol Addiction?

Alcohol use disorder and addiction are deemed chronic conditions. With that in mind, there is no cure. But, a long-term recovery is a real possibility. With the proper combination of mental health and medical treatment, you can discover how to control the impulse to drink and attain a sober lifestyle. It’s a challenging pursuit, but numerous people recover from alcohol use disorder in New Jersey  and take back control of their lives. 
 

Getting Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment In New Jersey

No one can accomplish sobriety by themselves–and you don’t have to! Seeking alcohol use disorder treatment in New Jersey might feel intimidating, but you have a right to expert treatment to help get your life back together. 
 
Alcohol use recovery can feel more achievable when you perceive it as a series of steps steps. You won’t find single pathway to a sober life. Countless individuals endure relapses and undertake some of these steps several times. But you should know, you can get assistance from family and accredited providers during your journey. 
 
Alcohol detox: Your preliminary step is to detox from alcohol. While your system flushes out those chemicals, you require medical supervision that keeps you safe and relaxed. When you’re ready to quit alcohol, enter a residential detox center in New Jersey. You will get 24/7 care for a week or two as you overcome withdrawal. 
 
Alcohol rehab: Following detox, your body and mind will still want alcohol. You need to move forward to residential alcohol rehab where medical staff can assist you in handling post-acute withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol rehab centers upon restoring your brain from the impact of alcohol usage. You’ll participate in a few hours of therapy daily to treat the mental facets of AUD. You’ll remain in rehab as long as you need. 
 
Outpatient addiction treatment: Rehab will get you balanced enough to go home, but you will still want continued support to keep on a path of sobriety. Don’t depart rehab without starting an outpatient addiction program that supplies therapy and medically guided treatment. You may stay at home or in a sober living residence, but you still need to see therapists and a doctor over the course of the week. 
 
Sober living: Over time, your need for treatment will subside. But, recovery is a life-long undertaking. Rely on the network of addiction professionals, family members, and new confidants you have built to maintain a healthy way of life. Abstain from people or activities that trigger you to drink. Get help whenever you need it. Enduring recovery is possible!  
 

Get The Help You Need Now For Alcohol Use Disorder In New Jersey

You don’t have to battle alcohol addiction on your own. Turn to Evolve Recovery Center to find understanding, professional alcohol use disorder treatment in New Jersey. You can reach us at 908-824-6433 or by completing the form below. One of our representatives will answer you promptly, no matter the hour or day. Every call is free and private. We’ll help you get the support you require now.