Read on to learn why AUD is considered a mental health condition, which mental health conditions commonly occur alongside it, and treatment options. Regular heavy drinking can raise blood pressure, increase the risk of developing heart disease, and contribute to the formation of blood clots. Long-term alcohol abuse can weaken the heart muscle, leading to conditions like alcoholic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, and an increased risk of heart failure. Many studies support the link between alcohol use disorder and mental disorders, especially between AUD and depression, anxiety, or another mood disorder.
Why is Alcohol Use Disorder a Mental Health Disorder?
Due to the way the body reacts to detoxing, it is important to do so under the care and supervision of trained medical professionals. This can be done at either a local medical facility, a dedicated detox center, or a treatment center that also offers detox. Addiction isn’t one size fits all; despite commonalities, everyone experiences addiction differently. At Lifetime Recovery, we offer a range of services to help those who are suffering from AUD. Our services include inpatient, outpatient, medication-assisted treatment programs, and partial hospitalization programs.
Health Conditions
Alcoholism or AUD can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on the number of symptoms individuals exhibit. If you have a problem with alcohol, it’s important to understand how it can affect you both mentally and physically and to seek help. Through comprehensive and empathetic treatment, individuals with alcoholism can achieve lasting recovery and an improved quality of life. Drunk driving accidents, falls, burns, and other unintentional injuries are common consequences of alcoholism. A person in the problematic stage of AUD may begin Drug rehabilitation to struggle at work because of their drinking, experience problems in their relationships, and spend most of their time drinking.
Physical Health Problems
To top it all off, alcoholism kills nearly 90,000 is alcoholism a mental illness people in the United States every year. Getting help from a certified mental health and addiction rehab center like Footprints to Recovery is the best course of action if you need help with alcohol abuse and mental illness. Our team of clinicians are skilled and experienced in assisting clients on their journeys to a brighter future. Many choose to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs, but this opens the door for real problems with substance abuse and mental illness as the two can perpetuate each other into a vicious cycle. There are many risk factors and components to consider, but none more so than mental illness. According to research from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, around 1 in 5 (20%) of U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.
- The medical community officially recognizes alcoholism as a disease, and it is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
- Twelve-step groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other support approaches, can provide solidarity and emotional support through AUD recovery.
- The mood disorders that most commonly co-occur with AUD are major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.
- A person who has an alcohol use disorder may intend to have just a drink or two, but because of losing control over alcohol consumption, they end up drinking large quantities, perhaps drinking to the point of intoxication.
Get mental health updates, research, insights, and resources directly to your inbox. While political stress is often linked to other stressors — like mass shootings and housing costs — it is a distinct form of anxiety. A survey published last year found that political anxiety and generalized anxiety are different, showing how politics can cause worry and apprehension even for those without general anxiety.
Remember, drinking responsibly is key to maintaining good mental and physical health. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to memory impairment and blackouts. Alcohol interferes with the formation of new memories, making it difficult for individuals to recall events that occurred during periods of intoxication. Frequent heavy drinking can contribute to long-term memory deficits and even a condition known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, characterized by severe memory loss and cognitive impairment.
Self-Medication and Emotional Relief
Anxiety disorder is characterized by episodes of heightened anxiety and panic attacks. Similar to depression, alcohol can cause these anxiety symptoms when it’s abused. However, these symptoms tend to develop over time in people who drink excessively and are generally worse during withdrawal. But like depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms go away after a certain period of abstinence, and if they do not, an anxiety disorder is likely present and needs to be treated.
- We combine our education and expertise with our empathy to provide the highest quality addiction treatment in this region.
- The treatment for alcohol use disorder has many of the same treatment approaches and therapies as other mental health disorders.
- Addressing both alcoholism and mental health disorders at the same time is crucial for effective treatment.
- Get mental health updates, research, insights, and resources directly to your inbox.
Effects on the Mind:
This continuing education opportunity is jointly provided by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and NIAAA. More resources for a variety of healthcare professionals can be found in the Additional Links for Patient Care. To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free consultation, please visit our Admissions page or call us today. A 2020 review of research found that CBT allowed people with AUD to build coping and emotional regulation skills.