Can You Grow out of Alcoholism?

You may have started to drink alcohol as a stress reliever, to remove worry or to ease tension. You may drink to overcome sadness, depression or feelings of guilt and shame. Alcohol is often part of celebrations for different occasions such as weddings or sporting events. In social situations you may drink to overcome shyness and feel more gregarious. All of these “reasons” to drink contribute to the development of alcoholism, and they make the disease subtle and difficult to identify at first. Casual use can lead to you drinking to feel less lonely, forget problems, suppress anger or get rid of physical pain. Before you know it, you come to rely on alcohol to help you cope with everyday life experiences. When a person craves alcohol and cannot limit or contain his or her drinking, this is a clear indication of alcohol abuse.

Alcohol Side Effects

Individuals who abuse alcohol may experience side effects such as the following:

• Increased tolerance to alcohol
• Depression and anxiety
• Memory loss
• Tremors and shaking
• Impotence or loss of sex drive
• Excessive sweating
• Nausea
• Insomnia and fatigue
• Malnutrition due to loss of appetite
• Long-term brain damage
• Liver and gastrointestinal problems
• Higher risk of diabetes, cancer and heart disease

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

In an effort to manage or control your alcohol use you may attempt to discontinue using it. You cannot grow out of alcoholism, so abruptly ceasing use will result in withdrawal symptoms such as the following:

• Swift changes in emotions from high to low
• Nausea and vomiting
• Difficulty sleeping, fatigue or insomnia
• Rapid or increased heart rate
• Cold or clammy skin
• Change in eyes or pupils (enlarged or dilated)
• Anxiety, excitability, irritability
• Nervousness or depression
• Pulsating headaches, tremors, or twitches
• Lack of focus and the inability to think straight

Breaking an Alcohol Addiction

You cannot grow out of alcoholism without getting professional assistance. There are a variety of options for treatment ranging from getting involved with Alcoholics Anonymous to seeking individual counseling or actively engaging with online support forums. You may want to consider outpatient treatment programs or other group counseling experiences. The most comprehensive and customizable treatment programs will be provided through inpatient alcoholism rehab.

Get Alcohol Treatment Help

Finding the right addiction treatment program to meet your needs or the needs of someone you love can be an overwhelming experience. You need help in getting advice so that you can determine the most appropriate alcohol addiction treatment for you. While recovery is difficult, it is possible and we can help, so please call our toll-free helpline today. We are available 24 hours a day to answer any questions you may have about alcohol addiction treatment programs. We are here to help.