Healing From Alcohol Addiction: Why It Happens and How Recovery Works

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol use disorder, or AUD, is an ongoing medical condition characterized by an inability to control or stop alcohol use, regardless of negative consequences to your work, family, health, and social life.[1] It exists on a spectrum based on level of severity and can be diagnosed as mild, moderate, or severe, depending upon how many criteria you meet.[2] Anyone can be affected by AUD, regardless of their age, background, or how they appear to be functioning on the outside.

The substance responsible for AUD is ethanol, a central nervous system depressant that affects nearly every system in our bodies.[3] The ethanol in alcohol slows brain activity, alters the function of neurotransmitters like dopamine and GABA, and, with time, its constant presence changes the way the brain’s reward, motivation, and stress systems function.[4] With regular heavy use, the brain adapts to the alcohol, which is what produces tolerance (needing more to feel the same effect), dependence (needing alcohol just to feel normal), and withdrawal symptoms when drinking stops.

Alcohol use disorder is treated as a medical condition because that’s what it is; it is recognized as a chronic medical condition that affects brain function and behavior.[5] It is not a matter of willpower, character, or personal weakness, and it responds to clinical treatment just like other chronic conditions do.

 

Risk Factors for Alcohol Addiction and Abuse

There are many reasons why people become alcoholics, and usually it’s not any single issue.

Genetics plays a role; having a parent or sibling with AUD will significantly increase someone’s risk.[6] So will having a mental health condition, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or trauma, due to so many people self-medicating with alcohol for its numbing and sedating effects.[7] 

There are numerous social and environmental risk factors, such as the role alcohol plays in the environment one grows up in, the culture they are raised in, life circumstances, and availability.

Repeated alcohol exposure alters the brain’s reward, stress, and inhibitory control systems over time. As tolerance develops, individuals often consume larger amounts of alcohol more frequently, while withdrawal symptoms and cravings make stopping increasingly difficult. These neurological and behavioral changes are part of what makes alcohol use disorder a chronic medical condition rather than simply a pattern of unhealthy drinking.

 

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder

The first step in finding help is understanding the symptoms. Some patterns of alcohol use are apparent, while others may develop gradually and be harder to identify.

Below are some common signs to look for: 

• Behavioral signs: Secretive or isolated drinking, drinking early in the day, lying about how much is being consumed, neglecting responsibilities, declining performance in work or school, financial issues associated with alcohol, legal problems like DUIs, public intoxication charges, or disorderly conduct.
• Physical signs: Flushed-looking skin, weight loss or gain, broken capillaries, gastrointestinal issues, unusual or unexplained injuries, hand tremors in the morning, sweating, sleep disturbances, withdrawal symptoms even after short periods without a drink.
• Psychological signs: Anxiety or depression that worsens after drinking but feels unmanaged without it, irritability when unable to access alcohol, defensiveness when discussing alcohol consumption, and denial about total consumption.
• Functional signs: Escalating negative consequences at home, work, or with family and friends, isolating from family and friends, hiding or making excuses for drinking, drinking to cope with negative emotions, feeling like life cannot be lived without alcohol.

If you recognize any of these signs and symptoms in yourself or in someone you love, it may be beneficial to seek help from a qualified clinical team. AUD is an incredibly treatable condition, and early intervention usually leads to better outcomes.

Alcohol Withdrawal and the Need for Medical Detox

Alcohol withdrawal can be medically dangerous, and severe enough cases can lead to death.[8]

 Common symptoms and signs of alcohol withdrawal include: 

• Anxiety
• Sleeplessness
• Sweating
• Shaking
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Irritability 

Symptoms typically begin to present within a six-to-twelve-hour window following a person’s last alcoholic drink. In more severe cases, withdrawal symptoms can include hallucinations, seizures, and delirium tremens (DTs) — a significant and life-threatening condition without appropriate care.[9]

Because of the possibility of dangerous medical complications when withdrawing from alcohol, it is critical to seek medical detox as the first step if you’re already physically dependent.[10] This will provide a safe and controlled environment, monitoring for complications and withdrawal symptoms, and around-the-clock medical care and supervision. 

While Forward Motion is not a detox facility, as part of our continuum of care, our admissions team works with accredited detox partners across the state to coordinate placements. If residential treatment is the next step for you after stabilization, we can coordinate a seamless transition into our residential program.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment Options

Alcohol addiction treatment typically includes a coordinated approach tailored to each person and their needs. Treatment begins with an evaluation to determine the severity of the alcohol use disorder, to identify any potential co-occurring mental health issues, and to evaluate the patient’s home situation and social support system.

From there, the appropriate level of care for your needs is determined. Forward Motion Health can connect you with medical detox placement at a medically supervised facility for those with significant physical dependence. Medically supervised detox is the safest and most effective first step in a treatment plan for AUD. 

 

Following detox, treatment will generally include residential treatment. These programs will incorporate evidence-based and holistic individual and group therapy options to help you not only overcome alcohol addiction but also learn to recognize triggers, employ coping mechanisms, and more. When clinically necessary, FDA-approved medications such as naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram can be used together with therapy to reduce cravings and encourage recovery.