Meeting co-workers for happy hour, celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and more…these are just a few occasions where alcohol is often accepted, even expected. This is our society’s legal, social drug—one that often brings embarrassment or even shame to those who want to quit drinking.
This is a reality of our culture, but if you or someone close to you is drinking too much, too often or too fast most of the time, the consequences far outweigh the temporary “fun” associated with drinking.
Alcohol is a drug that, when used heavily over years, can have serious effects on your body and mind. Constant alcohol use can affect your ability to learn, think and remember people, places and things. Alcohol can eventually disrupt your body’s ability to regulate its temperature, throw off your motor skills, wear your heart out and cause fatty tissue to build up in your liver to the point that it stops functioning. Alcohol use disorder takes a toll on every part of your body.
If problem drinking has become severe for you or someone you love…if you cannot stop drinking after you start—even if it has caused life-altering problems at home, in your relationships or career—you may have an alcohol use disorder (AUD).
What Are Some Signs of Alcohol Use Disorder?
When consuming alcohol becomes the priority above everything else in your life, it turns into a serious problem. However, it’s possible to experience some of the symptoms of AUD without a complete dependence on alcohol. Some of the signs of AUD include:
- Being unable to limit how much alcohol you drink
- Drinking by yourself or in secret
- Blacking out or inability to remember large blocks of time
- Craving alcohol or feeling an urge to drink
- Losing interest in friends, activities or hobbies
- Hiding alcohol
- Drinking quickly or gulping alcohol to feel good or better
- Experiencing strained relationships at home or work
- Getting into trouble with finances or the law
- Needing more alcohol to feel its effect
- Experiencing sweating, nausea or shaking when not drinking
You Deserve Individualized Treatment for AUD
The first step of treating your AUD is recognizing that alcohol is a problem in your life. Many of our staff members have walked the path you’re walking now. We know how difficult it can be to accept that alcohol is in complete control, but acknowledging this is the key to your recovery.
Your personalized, mind-body-spirit treatment plan at Pavillon will involve working through the 12 Steps and include individual and group therapy, family counseling if appropriate, health and wellness counseling and more.
You will be supported by a comprehensive team consisting of:
- Physician/addictionologist
- Clinical psychologists
- Registered nurses
- Licensed substance use disorder counselors
- Health and wellness counselor
- Continuing care case managers
- Spiritual care coordinator