4 Ways to Manage PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects people from all walks of life who’ve been through trauma. Learn lifestyle strategies you can use to stay on top of your PTSD symptoms.
Do I Have an Alcohol Addiction?
Roughly 25% of adult Americans have experienced at least one heavy drinking day in a year. Heavy drinking involves consuming five or more drinks a day for men and four or more drinks a day for women.
Heavy drinking can be a warning sign of alcohol addiction. If you’re struggling to stop using alcohol, our addiction specialist, Richard E. Repass, MD, can help.
At Revolution Psychiatric and Addiction Treatment, we offer personalized treatment plans to help you beat alcohol addiction for good using BR+NAD™ for detox and medication-assisted therapies.
Understanding alcohol abuse and addiction
Historically, we have defined two categories of alcohol misuse: alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction: However, let us be clear: at Revolution, we know alcohol abuses you. The nomenclature is reflective of our overvaluing of this toxin, a historic practice of hundreds, even thousands of years. As you are reading these terms, consider that these are ways in which the toxin alcohol injures you.
Alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse involves patterns of excessive drinking or drinking inappropriately. These actions can negatively affect your life and increase your risk for legal troubles, relationship conflicts, and difficulty keeping up with your responsibilities.
Alcohol addiction
Alcohol addiction is very similar to abuse, but the major difference is the inability to stop drinking. Addiction to alcohol is a chronic disease that involves a psychological and physical dependence on alcohol.
If addicted, you need to drink increasingly larger amounts of alcohol over time to achieve the same effect. If you try to stop drinking, you may suffer serious withdrawal effects like nausea, headaches, and tremors.
Addicts are also prone to seizures, hallucinations, chronic heart disease, and cancer, and may develop liver damage that leads to liver failure and premature death.
Recognizing alcohol addiction warning signs
In addition to the need to increase the amount of alcohol you drink, there are other warning signs of alcohol addiction.
Symptoms can include:
- Strong cravings to drink
- Inability to control cravings
- Lying about drinking
- Engaging in reckless behavior to get alcohol
You may also be involved in more accidents, falls, and fights without regard for your personal safety or the safety of others.
In some cases, the struggle to live with an alcohol addiction can increase the risk for drug abuse, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts.
Getting help for alcohol addiction
Our philosophy at Revolution Psychiatric and Addiction Treatment is that alcohol is poison and in reality, there is no safe amount.
Alcohol exposure runs on a continuum — a little harm to a lot of harm. Any amount of alcohol use can lead to abuse and dependence patterns. Recognizing addiction in yourself can be more difficult than recognizing it in others.
If you want to stop drinking, but can’t do it on your own, we can help. Dr. Repass specializes in both detox and recovery services to help you break free from your dependence on alcohol.
Detox program
To prevent severe withdrawal symptoms, we can use medications that support a more comfortable detox. Because fear of withdrawal symptoms can stop you from seeking help, medication-assisted therapies can increase your chances for a successful recovery.
BR+NAD infusion therapy
After your detox, we use infusions of BR+NAD to boost your energy levels, control your cravings, and enhance your mood and cognitive function. Alcohol addiction reduces levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a substance found naturally in your body. By replenishing your levels, you can beat alcohol addiction for good.
Psychotherapy
To support your detox and recovery, we also offer psychiatric services like psychotherapy (talk therapy), which helps you recognize your triggers for drinking. Therapy also gives you the tools to better cope with life stressors that may have led you to alcohol in the first place.
You don’t have to live a life addicted to alcohol. Get the help you need to beat alcohol addiction by contacting us today at our office in Mercer Island, Washington.
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