For those addicted to alcohol, quitting on their own is very difficult. Alcohol affects how the brain perceives pleasure and learns new things. When you become addicted to alcohol, your brain does too. How hard is it to quit drinking? It’s much more challenging if you try to do it independently. Luckily, Santé Center for Healing has detox, treatment, and recovery plans to help you get and stay sober. Contact 866.238.3154 for alcohol detox near me.
How Hard Is It To Quit Drinking?
If you drink daily, you should ask for help to break the cycle. Remember that you can put your health in danger if you quit cold turkey. A supervised alcohol detox program in Argyle, Texas, gives you access to a staff of nurses, doctors, psychiatrists, and addiction specialists.
In our detox program, you receive medication that reduces the effects of withdrawal symptoms. How hard is it to quit drinking? Without a controlled detox process, you put yourself at risk for gastric bleeding and seizures. These are life-threatening conditions. Therefore, we strongly recommend participating in a safe, supervised detox program like the one at Santé Center for Healing.
Long-term Health Risks of Alcohol Abuse
Risks to your health associated with continuing to abuse alcohol include:
- Increased risk of cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Stomach issues
- Heart problems
- Problems with digestion
- Anxiety or depression
- Risk of stroke
- Risk of dementia
Protect your mental and physical well-being by participating in one of our addiction treatment services.
Processes Behind Drinking
Alcohol addiction is a chronic disease. A person can become physically and psychologically dependent on it. This dependence means that the body and brain adapt to the alcohol, causing cravings and withdrawal symptoms when you don’t drink.
Pleasure Principle
How hard is it to quit drinking? Or, how hard is it for an alcoholic to quit drinking? How long you drink, how much you drink, and what kind of alcoholic beverages you consume impact your ability to stop. Your brain registers pleasure through the same processes, whether you achieve it through drugs and alcohol, sex, or a great meal. It expresses pleasure with dopamine release in a cluster of nerve cells under the cerebral cortex. Thus, this is the pleasure center of the brain.
Brain’s Reward Center
Addictive drugs such as alcohol create a shortcut to the reward center in the brain. When dopamine floods through the brain’s pleasure center, the hippocampus creates memories tied to this sense of satisfaction. Finally, the amygdala develops a conditioned response to alcohol or drugs, and you begin to crave them more often. This is what makes it hard to break your addiction.
Typically, reward comes with effort and after a period of time. Addictive alcohol, drugs, and behaviors increase the production of dopamine and other neurotransmitters. The brain doesn’t have a defense mechanism against this onslaught. Eventually, the brain begins to respond to dopamine less effectively.
As a result, you have to drink more to get the same effect, resulting in a tolerance for the substance.
Compulsion Takes Over
Cravings contribute to addiction as compulsion takes over. Cravings can also lead to relapse even after you complete a recovery program. How hard is it to quit drinking? For example, you might see a bottle of whiskey, and the conditioned learning in your brain could cause you to relapse after years of sobriety.
Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
Treatment for AUD includes counseling, medication, and lifestyle changes. It’s essential to choose the right treatment for your individual needs.
Some modalities that can aid in your recovery from AUD include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to change behavior related to drinking
- Motivational interviewing helps you find the motivation and courage to make positive changes
- Contingency management, which helps you to create rewards and incentives for making healthier choices
- Family therapy, which helps families learn how to better support a loved one in recovery
The team at Santé Center for Healing will help you determine the best treatment plan for your needs.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Argyle, Texas
At Santé Center, you can benefit from effective alcohol addiction treatment programs.
We offer addiction detox services that include:
- Relapse prevention for continued sobriety
- Dual diagnosis treatment program for those also suffering from a mental disorder
- Customized treatment plans for each client
- Medical detox program to safely achieve abstinence
Santé Center involves your family and friends in your recovery. Through educational sessions, those closest to you can learn how to support your continued sobriety. Call us at 866.238.3154 to learn more about alcohol abuse disorder rehab in Argyle, Texas.
