Alcohol addiction is one of America’s most common types of substance misuse. It is a daunting battle to overcome, but with the proper support, it is possible to beat addiction and regain control of your life. Anyone is capable of overcoming alcohol addiction and getting back to a whole, healthy life.
Oceanfront Recovery offers alcohol addiction treatment in CA to help individuals struggling with addiction. Contact us at 877.279.1777 today to learn about our serene location, just blocks away from the calming waters of the Pacific Ocean.
What Is Alcohol Addiction?
Although drinking is incredibly common, many people don’t fully understand alcohol addiction. For someone to qualify as being addicted to alcohol, the following factors must be present:
- Compulsive drinking behavior
- Lack of control over how much someone drinks
- A negative emotional state when alcohol is absent
Alcohol addiction is when someone cannot control their drinking behavior even after facing physical, societal, or psychological consequences. It’s also important to know that alcohol addiction is a spectrum disorder. This means it can be anywhere from mild to severe.
Alcohol addiction occurs as a cycle that begins with drinking to the point of intoxication regularly. Afterward, someone experiences withdrawal and the adverse effects associated with it. That leads them back to craving alcohol and acting impulsively to get it. This cycle will continue and reinforce itself unless it is interrupted.
3 Strategies for Overcoming Alcohol Addiction
Overcoming alcohol addiction is a process and not just a singular decision at a specific moment in time. Perhaps the best strategy for overcoming alcohol addiction is to seek professional help through a treatment provider like Oceanfront Recovery. In addition to formal alcohol addiction treatment, there are several strategies you can put in place now to help yourself loosen the grip alcohol addiction has on your life.
Weigh Benefits Against Costs
Alcohol addiction can feel overwhelming and block out the rest of your life. It can even come to seem like a positive thing as if your life would be less without the presence of alcohol. That’s why it is so important to weigh the benefits of alcohol against the costs. Chances are you may not have considered just how damaging the presence of alcohol addiction is.
The reason for creating a pros and cons list is to clarify what your motivations can be for quitting. For instance, a few reasons to quit could include the following:
- Save money
- Improve job performance
- Repair broken relationships with family or friends
- Lose weight or feel physically better in general
When you look at alcohol addiction from both sides of the equation, it can help to bring things into perspective and provide clarity as to why quitting is essential.
Set Goals
Depending on the severity of your alcohol addiction, quitting cold turkey may or may not be realistic. No matter where you are, something you can do is set goals pertaining to your drinking behavior. Maybe your goal is to limit yourself to one drink when you’re out to dinner with friends instead of having more. You could also communicate your goal with a friend so they can hold you accountable for sticking to it.
Embrace Healthy Habits
Cutting back on alcohol or cutting it out completely is a significant shift. It can often lead to a feeling of absence, particularly among people who use alcohol primarily in social situations. While cutting out alcohol is a positive step, it’s important to consider what can take its place.
One of the best things to do when trying to address alcohol addiction is to lean into healthy habits and activities that support better mental and emotional health. Exercise, eating healthy meals, getting adequate sleep, and spending time outdoors are all vital for feeling good, both physically and mentally. Quitting alcohol is also the perfect time to invest in a hobby that brings you joy.
Access Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Oceanfront Recovery
Do you need alcohol addiction treatment? There’s no shame in seeking professional help. The compassionate, expert clinicians at Oceanfront Recovery are here to support you in overcoming alcohol addiction. Contact us at 877.279.1777 to learn more about how we approach alcohol addiction treatment.
