For decades, women in the U.S. have been consuming alcohol in heavier and heavier amounts. Today women in some age groups actually drink excessively more often than men. These facts help explain the extent of alcoholism in women. They also help explain why mothers and other women often need alcoholism treatment. Are you affected by serious alcohol problems? The help you need to recover can be found at an alcohol and addiction treatment center.
Potential Alcoholism Signs
How can you tell if you’re affected by alcoholism? You need to be screened by your doctor or an addiction specialist to find out for sure. Still, certain things indicate that you or someone you love may have a drinking problem. Potential alcoholism signs include:
- Drinking when you first get up in the morning
- Hiding the extent of your alcohol use from other people
- Regularly drinking alcohol in heavy amounts
- Taking part in binge drinking
- An unexplained drop in normal hygiene
- Unusual mood swings or irritable outbursts
- Blacking out when you drink
You may also experience short-term memory loss in the aftermath of drinking episodes.
Diagnosable Alcoholism Symptoms
When checking for alcoholism, doctors and addiction specialists don’t just look for warning signs. They follow set criteria to diagnose potential AUD or alcohol use disorder.
Alcoholism is not the only form of AUD. The disorder also includes diagnosable cases of dysfunctional, non-addicted alcohol abuse. Still, alcoholism symptoms make up the bulk of the AUD criteria. In any given person, these symptoms may include:
- Losing control of the rate or frequency of your drinking
- Developing increasing tolerance to the intoxicating effects of alcohol
- Trying to quit drinking more than once without being able to
- Spending much of your time drinking or recovering from drinking
- Continuing a level of alcohol use that causes you obvious harm
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms if you lower your alcohol use or quit
- Having strong urges for more alcohol when you’re not currently drinking
The AUD diagnosis treats dysfunctional alcohol abuse just as seriously as alcoholism. You are affected if you have at least two symptoms of either problem or both of them.
The Myth of Functional Alcoholism
Most people with AUD show obvious signs of alcohol problems. However, some do not. People in this second category have what is sometimes called functional alcoholism. If you belong to that category, you may appear capable and well at first glance. But hidden beneath the surface is a diagnosable case of alcohol use disorder.
Alcoholism Treatment Options
Whether or not they know it, millions of Americans need some form of alcoholism treatment. Recovery from alcoholism typically involves both medication and psychotherapy. Medication may first be used to help you detox from alcohol. It’s also used to help prevent a relapse once you reach a state of sobriety.
Psychotherapy in an alcohol and addiction treatment center gets at the deeper roots of alcoholism. It also helps you recognize and change habitual thoughts and behaviors that tend to trigger problem drinking. Women often need specific kinds of therapy to help support an effective recovery.
Seek Help From Women’s Recovery’s Alcohol and Addiction Treatment Center
If you’re affected by alcoholism, Women’s Recovery can help. We specialize in the intensive outpatient treatment of alcohol problems. This approach allows you to live at home while still getting the help you need to recover. Your treatment options include medication and therapy. In all cases, we focus on the everyday needs of women with alcoholism. We also focus on your unique needs as an individual. Call us today at 833.754.0554 for more information on getting started. You can also reach us through our online form.
