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Some people tend to think that since alcohol is legal and other drugs are not, that alcohol itself is not so bad. Following this logic, people tend to think that those who suffer from alcoholism are not as severely affected as people who suffer from other addictions. In fact, alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs to which you can have an addiction.
People with long-term (chronic) pain sometimes use alcohol to help manage pain. Problem drinking is not about what you drink, but how it affects your life. For example, if you can answer «yes» to any two of the following statements, drinking may be causing you problems. However, even if you didn’t drink a lot when you were young, you may still have problems with drinking as you get older. Alcohol causes your judgment to be impaired, which increases the likelihood that you will make poor decisions that will be regretted in future.
Myth 2: I can’t get addicted to my prescription drugs.
Many people also believe that alcohol addicts drink every single day. While those who drink every single day are likely considered to be addicted or dependent on alcohol, you don’t have to consume alcohol every day to be considered an addict. Those who require alcohol when they go out or require alcohol to engage in social events or destress, relax, or fall asleep, may also be considered addicts. A person does not have to drink every single day to have an alcohol problem. A person can suffer from alcoholism if they drink up to 14 drinks a week (14 for men, seven for women) or three to four drinks a day. Heavy drinking and alcoholism are characterized by how much a person drinks not when they drink.
Critical decision-making abilities are already diminished long before a person shows physical signs of intoxication. If it were a behavior problem, many very strong-willed alcoholic people I know would have stopped drinking long ago. Yes, not drinking alcohol was the outcome I desired, but today I don’t drink because of a spiritual awakening, NOT because I choose not to drink. The most miserable I have ever been is just not drinking without a suitable substitute.
Myth 2: You can consume alcohol and still be in control
Some believe that people could stop drinking if they had better willpower to do so. Alcoholism is an intense condition that is not healed by simply wanting to stop drinking. Along with the physical effects, alcohol has on the body, a person’s mental state can also be affected. Those who suffer from alcoholism do hold a level of willpower; many may be able to hold down jobs or get through their day. There is much more to overcoming alcoholism than simply wishing to stop drinking so much.
In most of the United States, your blood alcohol content (BAC) must be under 0.08% for you to legally drive. All of the causes of alcoholism are not yet known, but researchers do know that only people who are predisposed for alcoholism become addicted. Other people may drink https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/five-myths-about-alcoholism-you-probably-didnt-know/ frequently and heavily without becoming alcoholic. Many people combine sleep aids (and other sedative and anxiety medications) with alcohol to conk out. The problem is that their impact on your system is then multiplied, making each drug stronger than it would be on its own.
Recovery Success
Anyone has the potential to develop an addiction, and once a person is dependent on alcohol, it is very difficult to quit. An alcoholic will likely suffer from symptoms for the remainder of his or her life. Fortunately, with proper treatment and intervention, it is possible to get sober and learn how to cope with alcoholism.
While many people who are addicted to alcohol lose a lot of important things in their lives, like families, friends, jobs, homes, and more, calling this “rock bottom” can be damaging. On top of that, not all addicts hit “rock bottom” and many realize they need treatment before their life gets bad. It takes about 2 hours for the adult body to eliminate the alcohol content of a single drink, depending on your weight. Nothing can speed up this process—not even coffee or cold showers. If you think you may have alcohol use disorder or a related problem, such as binge drinking, you’re not alone.