Alcohol dependency can creep up on you. Before you realise it, one could be consuming alcohol daily, and quickly become more and more reliant on it, so it is easy to be in denial about problem drinking. Alcoholism, now officially referred to as ‘alcohol-use disorder‘, is not defined by how often a person drinks or how much alcohol they consume. Reliance on alcohol can range from moderate to severe and simply means that alcohol has become an essential part of a person’s life. There are various ways to get on the path to a healthier life, and there is a strong case for starting with a course of therapy or hypnosis for alcohol addiction.
Signs of Excessive Drinking
Excessive drinking does not mean you get drunk every time you consume alcohol or binge drink and wake up with a hangover. Five signs of excessive drinking include:
- Driving under the influence
- Denying and hiding how much alcohol you consume
- Forgetting what has happened or blacking out when drinking
- Choosing a chance to drink over hearing the concerns of friends and family
- If you are drinking alcohol every day and dread the thought of going a day without a drink
Long-term alcohol dependency could cause issues at work, put your relationships under strain, and destroy your mental and physical health. Alcohol overdose can also cause seizures, irreversible brain damage, and even death if not treated in time.
What Causes Addiction?
When a person is addicted to an activity or substance, they will find ways to access their addiction, regardless of the consequences. This is not just due to a lack of willpower; addiction causes actual physical changes in the brain.
When a person takes part in a pleasurable activity, the brain releases dopamine. However, when you consume either an addictive substance or take part in an addictive activity, the brain releases more dopamine and it is trained to trigger a craving for whatever releases the highest amounts. The consequence is that the brain can’t produce a normal release of dopamine when you take part in healthy activities.
Instead, it starts to prioritise behaviour that releases a surge of dopamine and makes you feel good, and the increase in dopamine changes the brain’s neural activity. This is why you feel irresistible cravings and a lack of control. The desire to consume substances, such as alcohol, or take part in activities, such as gambling and drinking, to feel pleasure or to be able to cope with everyday life, is a sign of addiction. It is not easy getting rid of an addiction. Continuous efforts and therapy provided by experts at Fusion Recovery (https://fusionrecovery.com/) or similar medical foundations can help in improving the addiction symptoms. But to completely stop the alcohol addiction, the individual has to make that choice for himself and work towards it.
Does Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Work?
Recognised as an effective type of psychological therapy by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, clinical hypnotherapy uses the process of hypnosis to alter brain activity. During a hypnotherapy session, a practitioner will help you reach a hypnotic state by guiding you to think about relaxing images. This is referred to as an induction procedure. Then, once you are in a deep enough hypnotic state, the practitioner will start making suggestions to trigger thoughts that help you change behaviours.
Research into hypnosis has shown it to be useful for treating symptoms, such as chronic pain, anxiety and both psychological and physical addictions.
Are you ready to stop the control alcohol has over your life and allow your body to recover from the harmful effects of alcohol consumption? Sign up to a free 22-minute Breakthrough Session at Dublin’s award-winning Hypnosis and Therapy Centre, here.
