How hard is it to quit drinking? Unless you’ve struggled with alcohol use disorder yourself, you may never understand exactly how difficult it is to quit drinking. People drink for different reasons, such as to socialize, to forget, or to feel better. But long-term use of this drug causes chemical changes to take place inside the brain. This is why abstaining from alcohol is so hard for those who’ve been using it for years. With the right alcohol addiction treatment program, however, most can recover from alcohol use disorder. Five Palms is that facility.
How Hard Is It to Quit Drinking?
If you’ve ever tried to overcome an obsession yourself, you may have a better understanding of how hard it is to quit drinking. Alcohol makes most people feel good. It takes away worry and stress, releases inhibitions, and leaves you feeling warm and happy. Alcohol may make it easier to talk to people and may make you feel as though you’re a better conversationalist. It eases shyness and may even help you make friends.
These benefits are hard to give up, especially if you’re someone who normally worries a lot or feels awkward in social situations. After all, everyone wants to feel good, and alcohol fulfills that role. This makes it a habit that’s very difficult to break.
For some people, alcohol becomes a problem because they can’t control how much they drink. They may drink more than they intended to or more often than they wanted to. They may feel like they need to drink in order to relax or have fun. Drinking may cause problems at home, work, or school. It may make you feel anxious, depressed, or irritable. You may have trouble sleeping or eating. You may even start to feel like you’re not in control of your own life.
If you’re drinking more than you want to or if drinking is causing problems in your life, you may be wondering how hard it is to quit. The truth is that it’s not easy. But it is possible. There are many people who have successfully overcome their drinking problem and gone on to lead happy, healthy, and productive lives.
The Physical Part of Alcohol Addiction
Maybe even more addictive than the good feeling alcohol provides is the physical dependence it causes. It’s important to realize that alcohol works on the reward center of your brain. Consequently, it increases your body’s production of dopamine — a chemical the body uses as a reward for a job well done. This produces physical feelings of happiness and contentment, the same feelings you might experience after falling in love or winning an important award.
Recent studies have revealed greater activity by alcohol on the brains of heavy drinkers as opposed to those who drink on rare occasions. This suggests that alcohol affects different people in different ways. It’s possible that heavy drinkers get a bigger brain boost in feel-good chemicals than others get, though we don’t know why. Those who wonder how hard is it to quit drinking may not be getting the same satisfaction from alcohol as those who drink more heavily.
Treating Underlying Disorders
Part of quitting drinking is treating any underlying mental health disorders that led to alcohol abuse in the first place. Individuals who drink heavily may also develop a mental health issue as a result.
The following programs help those recover from alcohol use disorder by addressing underlying reasons:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Individual therapy
- Group and family therapy programs
- Dual diagnosis treatment program for co-occurring disorders
Addressing one disorder without the other leads to relapse. This is why it is crucial to receive an in-depth assessment before entering alcohol rehab to create the best addiction treatment plan.
Contact Five Palms
If you understand how hard it is to quit drinking, and you’re ready to reach out for help, Five Palms can help. We provide treatment for mental health conditions, substance use disorder, and dual diagnosis. Our highly skilled care team will guide you gently through medication-assisted detox and onto recovery from alcohol use disorder. Through a mix of evidence-based and experiential therapies, we’ll give you the support and coping skills you need to recover from alcohol use disorder.
At Five Palms, we understand how hard it is to quit drinking. That’s why you’ll find no judgment here. Five Palms offers a peaceful retreat from the harsh judgments and temptation of everyday life. Call us today at 1.844.675.1022 for more information on Five Palms.
