Alcohol Dependence Treatment: Acute Withdrawal

Alcohol Dependence

Diagnosis: Alcohol Dependence
A maladaptive pattern of substance (alcohol) use, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three (or more) of the following, occurring at any time in the same 12-month period:
1. Tolerance, as defined by either of the following:
a. A need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve
intoxication or desired effect.
b. Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of
the substance.
2. Withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following:
a. The characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance.
b. The same (or a closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid
withdrawal symptoms. 3. The substance is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period of time than was intended. 4. There is a persistent desire or one or more unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use. 5. A great deal of time spent in activities necessary to get the substance, use the substance, or recover from its effects. 6.  Important social, occupational, or recreational activity given up or reduced because of  substance use. 7. The substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent  or recurrent psychological or physical problem that is likely to have caused or been exacerbated by the use of the substance (e.g., continued drinking despite recognition that an ulcer was made worse by alcohol consumption).
Specify if:
With Physiological Dependence: evidence of tolerance or withdrawal.
Without Physiological Dependence: no evidence of tolerance or withdrawal.

The illness of alcohol addiction is not you, it is an illness that lives inside of you. An addicts brain is a changed brain. You are not bad; the illness is bad. You will find that this illness has a mind of it's own and it will struggle for survival. It will do everything it it's power to get you off track and get you back to addictive behavior. The illness is cunning, baffling, and powerful. It often works out of your awareness, and you must use healthy thoughts and behaviors to stay in recovery.

Alcoholism is a chronic brain disease. The brain has been hijacked by an illness. You must be disciplined and fight for your life. Ninety-five percent of non-treated alcoholics did of their addiction and average of 26 years earlier than they would otherwise. You are in a life and death struggle, and the war is played out in your mind, body, and spirit.

There are three things that you can do that will bring the illness under control. These new behaviors may seem unnatural for you at first, but you must do them all. If you leave one of the tools out, your chances of recovery significantly decrease.

Let's briefly go over the tools so that you can begin to understand them. You have to do three things to stay sober: (1) get honest, (2) go to 12-step meetings, and (3) get on a spiritual journey to the Higher Power of your own understanding.

You can be proud of yourself because now you are doing something right. If you are an addict, for a long time, you have been living a life full of pain and lies. Now you will step out in truth to help others and yourself.

Print out and work through the exercises on this website and work the program. Read the other books and materials for more information and skills. If you are unable to stay sober on your own, you are going to need some kind of treatment. If this happens, call us at 800-992-1921 for a free assessment. We will make sure that you get into the treatment that you need at a price you can afford.

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