Identifying Alcohol Addiction

Determining whether a person has crossed the line into alcohol addiction may take months, or even years, depending on the individual situation. Alcohol abuse can be identified by many different practices. Some of the different types of alcohol abuse can be seen as:

• Frequent binge drinking (consuming more than four drinks in about two hours for women, and more than five drinks in about two hours for men)
• Inability to get through a day without drinking alcohol
• Physical dependency on alcohol (shaking, seizure, or fevers when attempting to cease drinking)
• Lack of ability to control drinking after consuming the first drink
• Hiding drinking habits from friends and family

Alcohol abuse and addiction are widespread problems that often go unnoticed despite affecting over 15 million Americans. Alcohol abuse is not something to be ignored, considering that it can cause chaos in almost every aspect of a person’s life. This may include relationships, friendships, family units, school, and work. Not only can alcohol abuse negatively affect your life, but it can also wreak havoc on your body. Alcohol can break down almost any tissue in the body, causing damage to the liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, as well as altering the serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain.

If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol abuse, the first step to recovery is to acknowledge and address the issue. Alcohol abuse and addiction affect each person differently. Like any other addiction, it can become a problem that can no longer be controlled or stopped without proper help and resources.

Why Treatment May Be Necessary

Because alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system, once it is no longer present in the body, the nervous system will go into shock, triggering withdrawal symptoms. The absence of alcohol in the system causes negative symptoms in the body and different changes in thought patterns and brain chemistry. Quitting the use of alcohol can cause anxiety, confusion, insomnia, irritability, and nausea. When there are so many adverse effects to quitting using alcohol, and drinking can alleviate these uncomfortable symptoms temporarily, it can be very difficult to be motivated to stop.

When a person becomes addicted to alcohol, the “reward circuit” in their brain has often already been rewired to crave alcohol. So even when a person becomes completely sober, the reward circuit will still need to be rewired through different forms of therapy. At Rancho Milagro Recovery, we believe that you can work through these difficulties and overcome alcohol addiction. We will be there for you every step of the way, providing the therapy and support needed to heal your mind, body, and spirit. Our 40-acre ranch in Temecula, California, provides a serene, relaxing environment that will bring you peace of mind throughout treatment and recovery.

Our team genuinely cares about the health and prosperity of you and your entire family. We will be there through your triumphs, as well as your trials. We are ready to support you with any of the services we provide that you are interested in. We offer group and individualized therapy, gender-specific treatment, equine therapy, art therapy, and meditation. We have a garden where we grow herbs and vegetables, and we have a whole team of rescue animals to greet you upon your visit. We have hiking trails that our therapists may accompany you on and classes to teach you about diet and nutrition. We also make weekly visits to local Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) groups and churches to further support your recovery journey.

Medically Assisted Detox Treatment

Depending on the severity and length of the addiction, medically assisted detox may be necessary to ensure your body a healthy recovery from alcohol. The physical withdrawal symptoms from alcohol include gastrointestinal disturbances, heart palpitations, hallucinations, and seizures. It is never recommended to attempt quitting using alcohol by going “cold turkey,” and at-home detox attempts can be hazardous, even life-threatening.

Rancho Milagro Recovery provides a high-quality, comfortable environment with private and semi-private rooms and many amenities to make this difficult transition as easy as possible. During detox, our well-trained medical staff will ensure that you are welcomed like family and will help you cope with any withdrawal symptoms you may face. We provide a safe and trusted environment for detox and the treatment that follows.

Following detox, you will start your stay at our beautiful 44-acre addiction treatment facility. We will personally work with you to build a solid foundation for life after alcohol addiction treatment by outlining your life goals. Each of our treatment and detox plans is specifically designed to meet the needs of each individual client.

Alcohol addiction has done enough damage. If you would like to take your back life, we are determined to help you walk into a beautiful future, free of addiction. We pride ourselves in being one of the nation’s premier drug and alcohol treatment centers and want to welcome you into our facility like it is your new home. We look forward to working with you and supporting you through the lasting transitions to your life.

Alcohol addiction is quite widespread in America, yet it often goes overlooked and untreated. Like any other addiction, alcohol addiction negatively affects your mind, body, and way of life. Rancho Milagro Recovery is here to help you treat your addiction to alcohol by supporting you through detox and treatment programs. Call us today at (951) 526-4582 to explore our many programs and treatment options.