The brain is always changing and adapting to experience—even now, as you read this. Habits are a kind of mental shortcut, fast-tracking the neural connections involved in an activity so that you don’t need to consciously think out every step. Unfortunately, that wired-in efficiency is what makes habits hard to break.
Is Alcoholism Considered a Mental Illness?
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction, Live Oaks Wellness is here to help. Call us today or verify your insurance to learn more about our personalized treatment options and start your journey toward recovery. This appears as a person who pathologically pursues reward and/or relief by using a substance, (in this case, alcohol) and other behaviors. At its heart, addiction Alcoholics Anonymous isn’t just a social, moral, or criminal problem.
The Link Between Alcoholism and Other Mental Illnesses
It dulls the natural dopamine release pathway while curating a circuit dependent on alcohol. It rewires the brain’s reward pathway, which is responsible for pleasure, rest, motivation, and satisfaction. The primary brain chemical or neurotransmitter that activates this neural circuit is dopamine. There are a million different opinions online, but when it comes to your life, health and wellness only peer reviewed reputable data matters.
Continued Alcohol Consumption, Despite Relationship Problems Related To Alcohol
- Comprehensive care that addresses both the addiction and any co-occurring mental health issues is often the most successful approach.
- Behavioral therapy, also called talk therapy or alcohol counseling, is recognized by the medical community as one of the most effective methods of alcohol rehab.
- To top it all off, alcoholism kills nearly 90,000 people in the United States every year.
- But in 1956, the AMA officially designated alcoholism as a disease, meaning people should be hospitalized and treated for the condition.
The co-occurring mental health issues can lead to a cycle in which the user is drinking to alleviate symptoms of a disorder (for example, depression). At the same time, excessive alcohol use and abuse are likely making the symptoms of depression worse for the alcoholic. This perspective fosters empathy, promotes effective treatment, and paves the way for a more informed and compassionate approach to those struggling with alcoholism.
- But making this a regular habit can impede your mental health, especially if you already have depression.
- Treatment often requires a comprehensive approach, including behavioral therapies, support groups, and sometimes medications to help manage detox symptoms and prevent relapse.
- Patients who answer affirmatively to at least two of these questions may be indicative of having an AUD.
- In the case of an alcohol use disorder, alcohol will take precedence over other areas of life, including important relationships.
- Many people with mental illnesses may turn to alcohol to help themselves feel better and reduce symptoms.
- Those dealing with other mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, or bipolar disorder also have a higher likelihood of developing an addiction.
- Integrated treatment stands as the most efficient method for addressing co-occurring disorders.
- If a person does have an alcohol use disorder, there are specific symptoms that are used to determine whether a person meets diagnostic criteria for this condition.
- According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, this is why a person who misuses drugs begins to feel “flat,” lacking motivation, lifeless, or depressed and unable to enjoy things they used to enjoy.
This can lead to job loss, financial instability, and a decline in career prospects. You may face legal problems, including DUI charges or other alcohol-related offenses. Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience.
Alcoholism is a mental illness because biological differences in brain chemistry are not choices that you can make. Our alcohol recovery program focuses on both the substance dependence, but also the mental health issues that may be present that feeds into the addiction. The treatment for alcohol use disorder has many of the same treatment approaches and therapies as other mental health disorders.
Like other chronic diseases, addiction can be managed successfully, but it may involve multiple attempts at treatment to is alcoholism considered a mental illness achieve and maintain abstinence. Relapse does not mean failure but indicates the need for revised management of the person or condition. The disease model of addiction views it as a chronic disease similar to cardiovascular disease or diabetes. This model argues that addiction is caused by a combination of behavioral, environmental, and biological factors. Genetics play a significant role, contributing to about half of the likelihood that an individual will develop an addiction. Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, one of the most effective treatments for alcoholism, also follow the disease model of addiction.
