12-Step Programs: Understanding Alcohol Addiction

12-step programs have been the matter of debate over the years and whether they can help people to survive with addiction.

A 12-step program provides different benefits which cannot be taken lightly. The research keeps on suggesting that such programs help the individuals as part of well-rounded, comprehensive program which includes various types of therapies, detox, and aftercare. It includes different therapies and care tailored to the specific needs of a person.

How 12-Step Programs Work

The basic concept of this program is to give a way to the people with addiction to manage and know their disorders and seek social support for recovery through fellow addicts who have same problems. There are resources where you can find affordable rehab for you. 

There are different 12-step program benefits, such as proper guidance for the people and avoid relapse for a long term.

• Here are the steps involved in this program:

• Accept restlessness instead addiction

• Seek hope with higher goal or higher power

• Turn your power and manage life

• Analyze the behaviors yourself

• Share results with someone

• Prepare to enable higher power to remove your adverse aspects in analysis

• Request higher power to remove these aspects

• List all the wrong things you have done

• Prepare to rectify your mistakes

• Removal of faults, making self-analysis, and amending daily practices

• Helping other people in this process

How Many Types of 12-Step Programs Are Offered

According to the nature of substance abuse, belief systems and other aspects, types of 12-step programs vary. Some of the leading programs are:

• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA)
• Cocaine Anonymous (CA)
• Marijuana Anonymous (MA)

The main aim of 12-step programs is helping loved ones and families of patients who are suffering substance abuse. One type of 12-step program is for alcohol abuse. If you think you or someone you love may be addicted to alcohol, consider reading the following information. 

What Happens When You Get Addicted to Alcohol? 

You may want to use alcohol in social gatherings. But some people cross the line with alcohol abuse from occasional use and suffer mild or severe alcohol addiction.

One of the main signs is losing control on drinking. For example, people may be engaged in illegal activities, such as drunken drive, public violence, or even stealing. Here are some of the potential results and signs of addiction:

• Developing tolerance

• Physical dependency

• Consequences of abuse

However, not all alcoholics are physically dependent. But heavy drinkers are more likely to develop physical dependency on alcohol, particularly when they drink on daily basis. This way, our body becomes so used to get certain levels of alcohol constantly that it loses its new balance if you don’t drink someday. It gives unpleasant results or dangerous consequences.

What to Know About Withdrawal

Once you suddenly reduce alcohol intake or stop it, you may suffer withdrawal symptoms, such as problem in sleep, hand tremors, perspiration, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, nausea, anxiety, hallucinations, restlessness, agitation, and seizures.

Since withdrawal symptoms are unpleasant, it is important to consult a rehab to detox in a healthy and supervised environment as withdrawal is deadly. You may take certain medication to relieve the withdrawal symptoms and cut down the risk of relapse.

If you constantly use alcohol, it can develop tolerance when your body and brain go desensitized to alcohol effects and need large amount to get the same effect. Developing tolerance is the warning sign of addiction.

There are certain far-reaching effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse and they sometimes affect each area of your life. For an alcoholic, it is very hard to maintain quality of their life, from finances to career, to social, family, and love relationships. So, it is better to consult alcohol rehab facilities for effective treatments.