About Alcoholism 5 Common Myths Choices Recovery

There are 11 criteria for an alcohol use disorder; if a person meets just two criteria, they can be diagnosed with a mild disorder. In some cases, alcohol withdrawal can lead to serious and potentially fatal complications, such as seizures or delirium tremens. People often must complete a medical detox program to keep them safe as they manage withdrawal symptoms. That’s why, at Lifetime Recovery, we create a custom treatment plan tailor-made for each person that comes to see us and their needs.

• By Buddy T

  Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism.

• And when your ability to make decisions is impaired, you’re no longer in control.
• Most people who struggle with alcoholism didn’t start drinking because their lives were perfect.

Although this may seem harmless, it can have dramatic health impacts even if done rarely. Your liver can only metabolize around one standard drink per hour. So while cold showers, hot coffee, and fresh air might feel a little refreshing to someone who has been drinking all night, none will make you sober. Higher tolerance can lead to higher levels of drinking, which can have negative health effects. Since alcohol affects multiple major organ systems, drinking in excess increases the possibility of health problems in all parts of the body.

Myth 7

While everyone has their own pace, it’s important to be realistic and not wait too long for things to get worse. There are purported benefits, as well as pitfalls, to consuming alcohol. Once it enters your system, it triggers immediate physiological changes in the brain, heart, and liver, among other organs.

There is a misconception that those who have alcohol problems are uneducated or poor; this is a prime alcohol myth. There are many well-educated and successful people who also struggle with alcoholism. Addiction doesn’t discriminate between class, age, gender, sexuality, or creed. Some may even be able to function while under the influence of alcohol; however, this is usually not the case. It takes about 2 hours for the adult body to eliminate the alcohol content of a single drink, depending on your weight.

The 10 Most Damaging Myths About Alcoholism

We often toast to special occasions, and that glass of red wine may even have health benefits. If you’re aware of the risks, you’re generally fine to drink alcohol in moderation. If you or someone you love is drinking daily for pain relief, you’ll also likely build up a tolerance, needing more to achieve the same pain-relieving effects. In addition, mixing alcohol and painkillers is downright dangerous, with possibly fatal consequences.

It’s important to cut through the AUD myths and learn the facts. You do not need to drink every day to have a problem with alcohol. Heavy drinking is defined by how much alcohol you have in a day or in a week. It affects more than 14 million adults in the U.S — about 1 out of every 18 people in this age group. By Buddy T

Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website.

Busting Common Myths About Alcohol

Always consult with your doctor before drinking alcohol as a means to cope with chronic pain. While a few drinks on occasion is okay, https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/five-myths-about-alcoholism-you-probably-didnt-know/ alcohol should never be a treatment method for chronic pain. It can also be dangerous to combine stimulants with depressants.

Decreased blood sugar levels result in hangover symptoms like a headache and feeling light-headed. While that sentiment might work for most people, for those suffering from alcoholism, it’s not that easy. This is one of the most common ways that people suffering from alcohol abuse or alcoholism end up relapsing. In modern rehab centers, medication-assisted treatment is a common practice. To some, using prescription medication during addiction treatment might seem counterintuitive. But there are marked differences between the prescription medicine in rehab and the drugs a person may be addicted to.

Now is the time to discover or regain beloved hobbies and restore meaningful relationships. Most people who are seeking sobriety report that they have renewed appreciation for life and making the most of their time. Most people who struggle with alcoholism didn’t start drinking because their lives were perfect. More likely, it began as a reaction to a painful or traumatic situation. If you never deal with trauma in a direct and healthy way, its effects will still be waiting after you stop drinking. Early sobriety can be tough because all those emotions you tried to avoid by drinking can come back to the surface.