Research finds overuse of alcohol not only contributes to mood and other mental disorders but also creates a cycle of self-medication that is difficult to break. Clinicians refer to alcohol addiction as alcohol use disorder (AUD) or substance use disorder (SUD). While AUD refers only to alcohol addiction, SUD may refer to either a drug or alcohol addiction.

• That’s why the Surgeon General issued an advisory in January 2025 recommending that alcoholic beverages carry new labels warning of the alcohol-cancer link and highlighting that no safe low level of alcohol consumption has been established.
• Recognizing alcohol use disorder as a mental health condition facilitates more empathetic and effective treatment, including therapy and group support.
• As AUD progresses, though, a decline in performance at school or work, a decline in physical health, and other serious issues begin to become apparent.
• Alcoholism and other types of addiction are also frequently referred to as behavioral health disorders.
• In such cases, our alcohol detox program in Indiana, followed by our inpatient rehab program is typically recommended as the initial course of treatment.

Stages Of AUD

As the receptor numbers decrease, their sensitivity to ethanol plummets. In such cases, only more alcohol consumption can achieve the desired effect, leading to tolerance. The American Psychiatric Association’s latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) defines the disorder as a recurrent use and reliance on alcohol to the degree that it interferes with everyday living.

What are the Factors that Increase the Risk of Alcoholism?

Often, alcohol addiction treatment begins with medically supervised detoxification, medical detox, to manage the symptoms of withdrawal and ensure that you are as safe and comfortable as possible. Repeated alcohol use alters the levels of neurotransmitters in your brain that regulate mood and stress, like gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), dopamine, and serotonin. The changes also make your brain reliant on alcohol to function normally and lead to cravings and addiction. If symptoms do not go away, it may be determined that the depression was a co-existing condition with the alcoholism, meaning that the person suffers from a depressive disorder not caused by alcohol. Recognizing alcoholism as a mental illness helps in destigmatizing the condition, promoting empathy, Halfway house and encouraging more effective treatment approaches.

Tips For Coping With Post-Holiday Addiction Trigge…

Many of the same treatment approaches and therapies are used to address substance use and mental health disorders. In fact, many treatment professionals are integrated providers, trained in both addiction and mental health treatment. A comprehensive approach to integrated treatment can also be delivered by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and professionals working together on an individual’s treatment plan. Physicians use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to diagnose mental illnesses. In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association recognized substance use disorder (SUD) as a primary mental health disorder in the DSM-3.

Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment at Footprints to Recovery

If they report daytime sleepiness, one possible cause is alcohol-induced changes in sleep physiology. Understanding the diseases of AUD and comorbid disorders is important to eliminate the myths about these diseases. It also helps people with these disorders cast off their feelings of guilt and shame. PTSD is one of the most common stress disorders and it affects millions of people each year. Live Oaks Wellness is a luxury drug and alcohol detox & rehab in the Bay Area near San Francisco providing evidence-based treatment and lasting outcomes.

Since alcohol use disorder is not necessarily a mental illness, perhaps there is a better way to classify it. When you are struggling with alcoholism, it’s important to detox safely, as detoxing on your own can lead to serious adverse effects, including seizures and even death. Mental and emotional symptoms occur long before physical is alcoholism a mental illness symptoms appear. If behavioral or mental symptoms aren’t appropriately treated, long-term alcohol abuse can lead to physical complications such as cirrhosis of the liver, chronic brain deterioration and, the most serious consequence of all, death. The mood disorders that most commonly co-occur with AUD are major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.

• Prescription drugs like naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram can help people to reduce their drinking.
• The ties between alcoholism and mental illness are enforced by the many psychological, biological, and social components involved with AUD cases.
• The effects of drinking too much can also seep into your daily life and may impact areas like work, finances, relationships and aspects of your physical health like sleep, diet, and exercise, says Dr. Anand.

• It can give you strategies to manage your emotions without resorting to self-destructive behaviors, like drinking alcohol.
• In the case of an alcohol use disorder, alcohol will take precedence over other areas of life, including important relationships.
• Live Oaks Wellness offers personalized care for adults who have become addicted to alcohol and other drugs.
• The co-occurrence of alcoholism and mental health disorders is common, and they often feed into each other, creating a challenging cycle to break.
• Numerous mental health diagnoses tend to overlap with alcohol use disorder.

Both PHP and IOP are integrated programs that work with you to translate skills learned in residential treatment to your home environment. A number of experts have recommended revision of the guidelines toward lower amounts, as more studies have linked even moderate alcohol consumption to health risks. Predictably, the alcoholic beverage industry opposes more restrictive guidelines. Alcohol has long been considered a “social lubricant” because drinking may encourage social interaction. Having a drink while getting together with family or friends is often part of many special occasions. Current alcoholic beverage labels in the US warn of the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol, adverse effects on general health, and risks for a developing fetus — but there’s no mention of cancer.

With higher rates of ADHD observed in inpatient facilities for treatment-seeking SUD patients 6. You may struggle with alcoholism if you neglect responsibilities at home, work, or school, including neglecting chores and cleaning, not doing homework, missing work due to being intoxicated or going through withdrawal symptoms. You might withdraw from your relationships to use alcohol more frequently. We feel bad about falling back into old patterns and might try to stop, only to suffer from withdrawal symptoms and stress that comes with them. In the past, alcohol addiction has been seen as everything from a moral failing to a curse or demonic possession.