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Moderate alcohol use is linked to many potential benefits, like improving sleep and lowering the risks of some heart diseases. However, some people abuse this drink and end up experiencing many side effects or becoming overly dependent on it. According to the World Health Organization, more than 2.3 billion people in the world consume alcohol, and some die due to excessive consumption.

You are not alone if you take alcohol, but you should only consume it in moderation. Also, there’s still hope for you if you feel like you are taking excessive alcohol. The first step to the alcohol addiction problem is to acknowledge the problem so you are a step ahead in your recovery journey.

Keep reading for more insights on when to seek help with alcohol addiction and how to use the sobriety chips to reward yourself for positive progress.

Signs That You Need Help To Stop Alcoholism

It’s not easy to stop something that you have been using for a while, and that’s why many people struggle with stopping alcohol. Once you create the habit of taking it, stopping it seems nearly impossible, mainly if you are stressed or have a group of friends who influence you into taking it.

Thankfully, some organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous understand the habit-forming nature of alcohol and are committed to helping people stop it. This organization is run by people who were alcoholics but embraced the condition and are determined to offer rehab for alcoholics. However, you first have to admit you have an alcoholism problem before seeking assistance. Here are common signs that it's time to seek help to stop alcohol.

1. You Take Alcohol Daily

The first obvious sign is that a day can’t pass without you drinking alcohol. The daily intake shows that your body and mind are used to it, and it’s an apparent sign that you should seek immediate help to reduce or completely stop taking alcohol.

2. Experiencing Withdrawal Signs

Withdrawal signs are the body changes that you experience whenever you stop alcohol for a day or two. These signs may include feeling dizzy, experiencing a headache, anxiety, or stomach problems. Your body is already used to taking alcohol so much that you feel sickly if you don’t take the drink. Seek immediate alcohol treatment if you experience such symptoms or hallucinate if you don’t consume alcohol.

3. Becoming Tolerant Of Alcohol

Alcohol tolerance happens when you don’t get the same satisfaction as you used to when taking alcohol. For instance, perhaps you used to get satisfaction after taking three bottles, and now three are no longer enough for you. Tolerance is a warning sign that you should seek medication for alcoholism.

4. Losing Interest in Many Things

It’s possible to lose interest in people around you or things that you used to like to concentrate on alcohol. For instance, you may be no longer interested in spending time with family or going to your work as you only want to spend time with the people whom you drink alcohol with. Such loss of interest calls for immediate alcoholism treatment before the situation worsens.

5. Experiencing Hardship to Stop It

Perhaps you are willing to stop drinking alcohol, but you just can’t. You always end up taking it despite the efforts to stop using it. If you are eager to stop alcohol addiction but can’t help yourself, seek help right away to live a healthy life.

Embracing the Alcoholism Addiction Recovery Journey with AA

The above are a few signs that you may need help with alcoholism. However, you can still do a self-assessment test to determine the problem and start recovery. You can also seek the help of a counselor, who will most likely need to know the answers to the following questions:

• How often do you take alcohol?

• How many drinks did you take before?

• How often do you miss work or fail to accomplish your plans because of alcohol?

• Do you feel remorseful or guilty when you consume excessive alcohol?

• Have you ever injured or harmed someone while drinking?

• Have some friends or families left you because of alcohol intake?

Once you find answers to the above and discover you have an alcohol addiction problem, it’s time to start treatment. However, the treatment is a journey and takes time. It requires commitment and a high level of discipline to avoid sliding back. Most importantly, you should solve the problem with others who have been there before, and that’s why joining the AA organization might be a good idea.

AA includes a 12-step program designed to help people stop alcoholism. It is an online program run by supportive people who were once addicted to alcohol. The program involves 12 steps, which start with acknowledging that alcoholism is a problem that has overwhelmed you. Once you recognize the situation, you should also accept that some people have the power to help you stop it because you can no longer solve it by yourself.

One outstanding feature of the AA program is that it involves using AAmedallions, such as chips and coins. The AA sobriety chips offer rewards whenever you attain a significant milestone in the recovery journey. For instance, you can get the AA chips when you spend a whole month without taking alcohol or if you have significantly reduced your alcohol intake.

There are custom sobriety chips, including your name or achievement. As such, it’s possible to reward someone else with AA coins if you feel they have made a significant achievement in the alcoholism recovery journey. There is no limit to the number of sobriety chips you can get, provided that they encourage you and show a remarkable improvement in your recovery journey.

Final Remarks

Many people take alcohol for pleasure and to spend quality time with friends. With time, the intake can become addictive and affect your health and quality of health. However, there is a solution that starts with understanding and acknowledging that you are suffering. You should be ready to accept help and guidance from others to stop the issue, which may involve embracing the AA organization.

In AA, help and healing come by talking to others, monitoring your journey, and appreciating the results through the medallions. Hopefully, our guide has shed insights on when to seek help when dealing with alcohol addiction. If you are struggling with alcoholism and substance use addiction, seek help and start recovery as soon as possible. Don’t forget to buy a sobriety symbol once you fully recover, as it will be a sign that you defeated alcoholism.

Contact us today if you need sobriety clothes, medallions, jewelry, or recovery gifts. Feel free to subscribe to our newsletter for timely updates on sobriety gifts.