Drinking alcohol is widely socially acceptable. Despite its relatively harmless image it is highly addictive, both mentally and physically. This makes it even more challenging to stop drinking on your own, once you are struggling with a drinking problem; before you even realise, you are suffering from an alcohol addiction.
Alcohol addiction
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Am I an alcoholic?
It can sometimes be difficult to tell whether you have a drinking problem. The extent to which you are addicted to alcohol depends on how often and how much you drink and what consequences you are experiencing. Alcohol abuse can best be defined as a pattern of excessive drinking during a certain period of time, making it hard to quit without support. This constantly leads to repetitive behaviour.
Many different signs of alcohol abuse
In alcohol addiction, ‘enjoying your drink’ has changed into an urge. Alcoholism can show itself in different ways, such as:
- Problem drinking – drinking alcohol comes with a variety of physical, mental and social problems.
- Binge drinking – a large amount of alcohol is drunk in a relatively short period of time. This causes the blood alcohol concentration to rise to 0.8 permille. For a man, this averages at least 6 drinks and for a woman at least 4 drinks.
- Obsessive drinking – this often implies you can no longer feel happy or content without the substance. You also often drink to change your mood, forget about problems and/or escape reality.
- Psychological addiction and physical addiction to alcohol. These two often go together. When a person is physically addicted, they experience withdrawal symptoms. Especially if they quit alcohol 'cold turkey', trembling, sweating, poor sleep, anxiety and severe mood swings are common symptoms.
Why choose Connection SGGZ addiction care?
- Our treatments are reimbursed by your health insurer
- Short waiting list
- Personalised and specialised treatment
- Working with recovery mentors
- Evidence based treatment
- Custom aftercare programme
- Excellent family programme
- Rehab centres in the Netherlands and South Africa
Do you need help?
How we treat alcohol use disorder
Do you sometimes ask yourself: when am I an alcoholic? The answer depends on the frequency and reason you are drinking. If you structurally drink a lot of alcohol over a longer period of time, chances are you will become psychologically, and possibly physically, addicted to it. Alcohol abuse can result in serious emotional and physical issues and even death. At Connection SGGZ, we offer professional help through detox, for example through treatment in our South Africa detox clinic or in Meerlo. We support you in a medically responsible and committed way to quit alcohol. Our personal approach allows you to get back to a full and healthy life after treatment.
Signs of alcohol alcoholism:
- 1 or 2 drinks are no longer enough
- loss of control
- poor concentration and impairing memory
- many promises and attempts to quit
- using tricks to cover up drinking
- always finding a reason to drink
- isolation: diminishing contact with friends and family
- increasing psychological and physical complaints
- hiding the fact that you are drinking
- craving alcohol at unusual times
- financial problems
- absenteeism at work
Symptoms of alcoholism
- feelings of depression and gloom
- sleep problems
- memory problems, such as blackouts
- mood swings
- stomach and intestinal problems
- trembling and sweating
- nervousness, anxiety and panic
- mental confusion
- loss of appetite
- psychotic features
- withdrawal symptoms
Risks of alcoholism:
- social problems
- financial issues
- loss of memory
- committing criminal offenses
- job loss
- cardiovascular diseases
- vitamin B deficiency (depression)
- infections and damage to various organs
- cirrhosis of the liver (scarring of the liver)
- Korsakoff syndrome
- various types of cancer
- feelings of sadness, anger and helplessness
- death
Underlying causes in alcohol addiction
There is no such thing as a typical alcoholic. This often causes this addiction to be invisible and therefore elusive. You could ask yourself, for example, why you drink, apart from the fact that you like alcohol. What is the reason that you are longing for alcohol? If this is to numb and avoid facing underlying causes, you are at risk of developing an addiction. With our team of professionals and recovery mentors, we will guide you towards a life without addiction. This way, you regain control of your life and learn to cope with what triggered you to start drinking in the first place.
Why timely intervention is important
Alcohol use disorder is often denied and hidden for a long time. Alcohol addiction in women, for example, is more common than you think. It is important to intervene in time. In the first place because of the impact on your health of course. Your family, friends and colleagues, however, can also suffer from your addiction. If you are addicted, you tend to neglect your relationships and no longer take responsibility for obligations at work. Moreover, drinking can cause immediate danger if you combine it with drug use or when you are driving under the influence of alcohol.
How to take the first step
If you sign up with us to stop drinking, you have taken the most important step, since we can support you. Having extensive experience in treating addictions, we always proceed respectfully and without prejudice.
Through our treatment programme at the Connection SGGZ rehab centre, recovery from an alcohol addiction is indeed possible. Do you have any questions or do you seek help? Then please call us on working days at +31 40 303 5023 or leave your details below.
I would like advice
“We are also available for questions and advice. Contact us without any obligations.”
"I developed two faces: a happy Edwin and a sometimes sad Edwin. I showed my sad and negative side to almost no one."