It’s surprisingly easy to fall into alcohol addiction. The human body naturally adapts to the amount of alcohol it ingests, causing your tolerance to increase over time. You believe that since you do not feel drunk, then you can’t be an alcoholic. However, consistently increased intake will make your body physically dependent on alcohol. You will begin to need to drink to feel normal. At this stage, what was once a harmless habit has become an alcohol use disorder.
At Ashwood Recovery, we offer a wide variety of personalized alcohol rehab programs to treat alcohol addiction. Our partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, or outpatient programs cater to each patient’s individual needs in terms of time, budget, and intensity. If you believe you are ready to take the first step towards recovery, please contact us at 888.341.3607 today.
What Is the First Step in an Alcoholic’s Recovery?
It is very easy to believe that a drinking habit is not a full-blown dependency. Many people, especially those who are high-functioning, do not identify themselves as an addict. However, there are a few tell-tale signs of alcoholism:
- Having to drink more and more alcohol to get the desired effect
- Spending a lot of time drinking, being drunk, being sick, or being hungover
- Drinking more or for longer than you had initially intended
- Failing to cut back or stop drinking despite wanting to
- Craving alcohol to the detriment of other areas in your life
- Blacking out or memory loss
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, nausea, sweating, or feeling your heart race once the effects of alcohol wear off
If you have experienced a few of these, it is time to take the first step in addiction recovery—acceptance. To address alcohol abuse, you have to accept that it is an addiction that would need detox and rehab in order to recover. While it would not be impossible to go through this on your own, it is far safer and usually more successful to treat with the help of a support system.
What Are the Benefits of Recovery?
Though the effects of alcohol dependency on the body may be severe, quitting alcohol will significantly improve your health and quality of life. Once you have fully detoxed and recovered, you can expect the following positive changes to your body:
- Better looking skin – Heavy alcohol consumption leads to dry skin and inflammation.
- Improved sleep – Alcohol disrupts the sleep-wake cycle, making it harder to fall and stay asleep.
- Stronger immune system – Alcohol intake weakens the immune system.
- Healthier future – Getting sober leads to a decreased risk of certain cancers and a reduced risk of heart disease.
- Improved memory and brain function – Alcohol abuse has been linked to brain shrinkage.
- Improved body composition – Quitting alcohol abuse can lead to a healthier weight and better digestion.
- Improved mental health – Quitting drinking has been seen to improve your mood and general well-being.
Take Your Next Step with Ashwood Recovery
Once you have accepted that you have an alcohol addiction, it is far safer and more effective to seek help. Our friendly staff at Ashwood Recovery in Boise, Idaho will help you find the right treatment program to fit your individual needs and will ensure a safe path to long-term sobriety.
Our addiction rehab programs focus on holistic treatment using various therapies to help patients stay sober for longer. A combination of group therapy, one-on-one counseling, psychiatric care, educational classes, and workshops will help you get a sober mindset that will equip you with the right tools to prevent relapse and maintain your sobriety. We also provide excellent after-care support in order to help you adjust to your new sober lifestyle.
Take your next step towards recovery by contacting us at 888.341.3607 today.