Alcohol addiction, also called alcoholism, is a disease which can affect anyone at any time in their lives. Health experts have made an effort to identify factors such as race, sex, and socio-economics as things which may make an individual liable to this addiction. The truth is that there is no one cause that can be held responsible for this condition. Alcohol addiction is typically a sum total of behavioral, psychological, and genetic factors.

You need to realize that alcohol addiction is a real medical condition and it has the potential to cause changes in how our brain functions. This is why someone suffering from alcoholism may not have control over his or her actions. No matter how this addiction may appear on the outside, when you rely on drinking heavily and cannot remain sober for a prolonged period of time, then you may be addicted to alcohol.

Is Alcohol Addiction Recovery Possible?

Overcoming this addiction is likely to be a long and bumpy ride. It is also easy to feel frustrated because at times recovering from alcohol addiction looks impossible to achieve. But the truth is that if you are willing to seek help to stop drinking, it is possible to recover from this addiction. You do not need to hit rock bottom to start making changes in your life to curb this addiction. Whether you wish to quit drinking completely or cut down your alcohol intake, there are different ways to get there.

Different ways to recover from alcohol addiction

Alcohol addiction recovery is a gradual process and changes will not happen overnight. These are some of the steps to recovery from alcoholism and they are as follows:

• Counseling
  The first step towards recovery is to determine that you have a drinking problem. This is challenging since any alcohol addict is going to convince themselves that there is no problem. So, a trained professional is required who can help you see the problem. Counselors will keep you motivated in the journey for change by helping you develop coping mechanisms so that you are not tempted to resort to alcohol or drugs.
• Alcohol Detox
  This is a process where alcohol from the body is removed through forced withdrawal. In this treatment, there is a licensed practitioner who gives medicines which can reduce alcohol withdrawal effects. Detoxification is the next step in the recovery process and this may be done in rehab. For people who drink excessively but without a dependency, moderation is encouraged rather than complete abstinence. But if this does not work, they are forced to abstain completely. A medical detox is recommended to those who are at risk of severe withdrawal symptoms. Medicines are then prescribed to ease these symptoms, and after detox, further medication is given for discouraging alcohol use. For instance, the medication “Antabuse” will make you ill if you try to consume even the smallest amount of alcohol.
• Therapy
  This is integral to alcohol addiction recovery, whether or not a person is mentally ill. This exercise will help you identify and handle stress factors which may provoke you to drink. Relaxation techniques are taught when you are part of a group therapy process.

Treatment for alcohol addiction is usually holistic in nature and besides dealing with drinking habits, professionals encourage proper diets, nutrition and exercises, and healthy relationships for recovery. There will be setbacks on this alcohol addiction recovery journey, but you need to be focused to not give up if you slip or relapse.