Alcohol Addiction Spain

What Is Alcohol?

The main component in alcohol is ethanol. When drinking alcohol, it is ethanol that is responsible for the effects an individual feels. Ethanol is consumable, but there are other types of alcohol that are too strong for the human body and can lead to poisoning and death.

Alcohol use disorder is characterised as regular and excessive use of alcohol that is usually accompanied by an inability for the person to stop drinking. In other words, they feel they NEED to drink.

Alcohol addiction disrupts the brain’s reward system, and an individual might come to think the pleasurable feelings of drinking alcohol is an escape route from negative thoughts or emotions. This can lead them to constantly seek alcohol, despite negative consequences.

Alcoholism has long been associated with both physical and psychological dependency, making it a difficult addiction to beat. An alcohol treatment plan usually involves tackling the physical and psychological aspects of this addiction.

Alcohol related problems are common across the globe, affecting millions of people and putting pressure on medical services, support groups and families.

Our alcohol rehab treatment options are an excellent way to tackle alcohol dependency. Alcohol problems are complex and difficult to unpick, but at InnerLife Recovery we give you the space you need to reset, recharge, and really change your life for the better. Our rehab centre in Marbella, is a stunning location offering you the space for peace and quiet. With our medical support, psychological therapies, and holistic approach, you can find a path out of addiction. Rehab is not just about treating the addiction but also about rediscovering your identity and purpose in life. At InnerLife Recovery, we focus on rebuilding relationships, redefining personal goals, and learning new coping mechanisms that support a healthier, more fulfilling life. We can support with family therapy and group therapy sessions to get your home life back on track.

Alcohol rehab centre

Start your journey today by contacting us to speak with one of our knowledgeable advisors for a FREE confidential assessment.

Whether you’re reaching out for yourself or a loved one, we’re here to provide the support and guidance you need, whenever you need it.

Is Alcohol Addiction The Same As Alcohol Dependence?

“Alcohol abuse” was first used to discuss problematic drinking and alcoholism, but it has since been used to describe a wide range of unhealthy drinking habits. Things such as:

  • binge drinking
  • excessive drinking
  • drinking alcohol every day

all come under alcohol abuse, and can have a significant impact on a person’s physical and mental health.

The addiction element of alcohol addiction comes from a compulsive need to consume alcohol despite the negative consequences. An addict faces daily struggles with a strong desire to drink and a lack of control over how much alcohol is consumed when they do drink.

Alcohol dependency is characterised as a physical and psychological reliance on alcohol, where drinking behaviour is driven by the body or brain’s desire for alcohol. After prolonged use, the brain and body adapts to the use of alcohol. In order for their body to function properly alcohol almost becomes necessary.

If someone with alcohol dependency and addiction tries to stop drinking abruptly, they can experience withdrawal symptoms that can range from mild discomfort to life threatening conditions because of the shock of alcohol’s removal from the body’s system. The severity and longevity of the alcohol addiction will play a part in how severe or mild the body’s reaction is.

Am I An Alcoholic?

Alcoholism can lead to both physical and psychological harm over time. If you suffer from an uncontrollable urge for alcohol consumption, then you could be facing alcohol addiction.

An alcoholic is an individual who suffer from alcohol addiction and problematic drinking behaviours that can’t be controlled. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines alcohol use disorder as a medical condition that is characterised by an inability to stop or control the consumption of alcohol despite obvious negative social, work, health care, and personal consequences.

If you notice negative consequences in your life that affects your:

  • relationships with your friends and family members and work colleagues
  • ability to complete your work to a satisfactory quality
  • health (both physical and mental)
  • personal hobbies and interests

because of your alcohol use, then you might be addicted to alcohol – especially if you feel you’re unable to stop drinking despite these negative consequences in your life.

Man with a bottle of alcohol am I an alcoholic?

Is Everyone Susceptible To Alcohol Addiction?

There are certain risk factors that make a person more likely to be susceptible to alcoholism:

Genetics

There is a well established link between a person’s genetics and alcohol addiction. It’s often the case that where a person’s family members have a history of alcoholism, they are at a higher risk themselves. This has been studied closely and certain genes have been shown to be responsible for the way alcohol is metabolised in the body which can affect brain function and increase risk of an addiction forming.

Brain Chemistry

Alcohol has a direct impact on neurotransmitters in the brain, chiefly dopamine and serotonin which are responsible for regulating mood and increasing pleasurable, relaxed feelings in the individual. By drinking too much alcohol too frequently, this brain chemistry can be affected, leading to dependence on alcohol.

Social Factors

A person’s environment also has a strong impact on the likelihood of a person developing an alcohol addiction. Things like cultural attitudes towards drinking, early peer influence on alcohol consumption, and family dynamics and attitudes towards drinking alcohol all impact the likelihood of alcohol addiction developing. Being in a stressful situation or in an environment that actively encourages heavy drinking can impact alcohol misuse.

Impact Of Early Drinking

This links to social issues around drinking, but if individuals start drinking alcohol at a young age because of friend or family influence, then brain development can be impacted and put you at increased risk of alcoholism later in life.

Personality traits

Certain personality characteristics, such as a tendency towards impulsiveness, risk-taking, and seeking new sensations, are linked to a higher risk of developing alcohol addiction. People with these traits may be more inclined to engage in hazardous drinking practices.

Changes In Neurology

Neurology is essentially the way your brain is wired and how your brain communicates. Drinking alcohol excessively can change your brain’s neural pathways and over time your brain can become reliant on alcohol in order for pleasure-associated neurotransmitters to fire. That can lead to an individual feeling as though the only way they ever feel happy is after drinking alcohol, which is a very dangerous association to make.

Development Of Physical Dependence

With enough alcohol abuse, a physical dependency can develop. As the body adjusts to alcohol when it becomes a regular part of the system, the body becomes to rely on it. When alcohol isn’t present in the system, withdrawal symptoms occur, as the body cries out for more alcohol to function normally. Without a controlled detox, this can often lead to relapse for addicts who are trying to stop or reduce their alcohol consumption.

Varied Individual Experiences

IThe human body and human experience is unique for each one of us. That means you could live the exact same life as someone else, but one has a healthy relationship with alcohol and another develops an alcohol addiction. That’s because we’re all different and we all respond to situations differently.

Seeking professional help with InnerLife Recovery ensures you receive a tailored, holistic approach that takes all of these factors into consideration and puts you in the driver’s seat of your recovery journey whilst we guide you along the road.

Why Do People Become Addicted To Alcohol?

A Brief History Of Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol has been in use since ancient times, with wine, beers, and ales featuring in grand royal feasts and parties, and older forms of alcohol such as mead dating back even further. Whilst the make-up of alcohol wasn’t fully understood back then, the effects of elevated mood, a reduction in anxious feelings and making social interactions easier were certainly understood.

The social problems stemming from alcoholism were later understood as drunkenness started to become a social issue, mainly among the lower classes. Our understanding of alcoholism and the dangers of alcohol today are far removed from the basic historical understanding.

Culture

Alcohol has a place in many cultures, and as those cultures have changed and developed so too has individual relationships with alcohol. Traditionally, some cultures saw alcohol as an integral part of cultural rituals and ceremonies, and today it’s fair to say that the UK see’s a person’s first alcoholic drink at 18 as something of a rite of passage. Cultural perceptions of alcohol consumption can directly impact a person’s relationship with alcohol.

Escape

Whilst a person can enjoy the positive effects of alcohol responsibly and in a healthy manner, for some it becomes a coping mechanism for the more difficult aspects of life and that can become an unhealthy issue quickly. If you find yourself relying on alcohol as a way to escape a stressful situation, mental health problems, pain, or everyday life, then you could have a problem you need help with.

Evolution From Casual To Addiction

Many people start by drinking casually with friends and family, and that can start as a perfectly healthy relationship with alcohol. The transition from casual use to addiction can creep up steadily, where an individual reaches for alcohol slightly more often than they usually would, or start drinking more heavily when they drink. Eventually this can lead to intense cravings and dependencies, leading to a harmful pattern of uncontrolled alcohol drinking.

Cycle

Once addiction creeps up on a person, a cycle of alcohol abuse can then follow. This cycle is characterised by an overwhelming desire to consume alcohol, despite negative consequences. The individual usually gives into this intense craving, and then feelings of guilt or shame set in. Often the individual then drinks more alcohol to cope with these unpleasant emotions and a physical and psychological dependency begins and the cycle repeats, over and over again.

Alcohol rehab centre
  • Full medical detox
  • Full blood works
  • Psychiatric assessment
  • Customised treatment plans
  • Solution & Recovery focused
  • Holistic facility in idyllic setting
  • Connection with nature
  • Family engagement and counselling
  • Team members who have recovered from alcoholism
  • Maximum of 8 clients for more personalised care

Alcoholism Signs And Symptoms

Physical symptoms of alcohol addictionBehavioural symptoms of alcohol addiction
Withdrawal symptomsLoss of self-control
Increased toleranceObsession with drinking
Liver damage (e.g., cirrhosis)Ignoring responsibilities
Weakened immune systemDenial
Gastrointestinal problemsDrinking in risky situations
PancreatitisContinued use despite bad consequences
Sexual dysfunctionAlcohol cravings
Cardiovascular problemsIsolation
Neurological issues (e.g., neuropathy)Unsuccessful attempts to quit
GastritisLoss of general interest
Legal and financial issues

What Is The Road To Addiction And Recovery?

Everybody’s experience of addiction is different. Each path is different and what leads one person to addiction might not affect another person at all. Because every path is so unique, you need a treatment plan that allows for this – one that is individualised and bespoke and takes into account your unique needs.

Below is an example of just one path to addiction and recovery:

  • Stress: Remember that alcohol affects the body’s stress response, and whilst initially alcohol use can relieve stress, over time it increases it. For many alcoholics, they use alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress, forgetting that it can also contribute to it.
  • Life difficulties: When alcohol starts becoming a problem for a person, it can impact on other aspects of your life, such as work, and stress can increase.
  • Cycle: People will often then turn to alcohol to cope with that stress, which leads to further dependence and increased consumption to try to escape the stress they’re under.
  • Tolerance: Over time your tolerance to alcohol will grow, as your body adapts to its regular presence in your system. This then leads to you needing even more alcohol to feel the same effects you once will have felt after one or two alcoholic drinks.
  • Dependence: As you require more alcohol to feel its stress-reducing effects, you can develop a psychological and physical dependency on alcohol just to function.
  • Mental health: Frequent and excessive alcohol use can cause measurable neurological harm which can contribute to the development or continuation of mental disorders and mental health concerns.
  • Self-medication: Many people with mental illness or mental health problems will turn to alcohol as a form of self-medication to reduce stress, but this only pushes them further into addiction and worsens their mental health.
  • Dual-diagnosis: Recognising and treating both alcohol addiction and any mental health problem that may be contributing to alcoholism is vital for effective recovery.
Road to addiction and recovery

Treatment

Treatment options need to include a holistic approach that focuses on the unique circumstances that may have led the individual to addiction. That’s exactly what we offer at InnerLife Recovery.

An effective treatment plan should focus on stress reduction, tackling any co-occurring mental health concerns, and dealing with the underlying thoughts and emotions behind the addictive behaviour. Add new coping strategies into your treatment, and you have a recipe for success.

By tackling these issues and unpicking tolerance and dependence concerns, you can reduce and eliminate both your physical and psychological need for alcohol. InnerLife Recovery takes a holistic approach, looking at your overall life and health to provide the best possible care and support as you recover.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms vary in severity and only occur when your body is used to alcohol in the system and the alcohol has been removed or reduced. Withdrawal symptoms occur after prolonged or heavy use, and could be any of the following:

  1. Tremors: Having tremors or “the shakes” will typically start for individuals just a few hours after drinking their last alcoholic drink. These are obvious as you’ll be unable to control shaking movements, and are especially noticeable in the hands.
  2. Anxiety: As alcohol leaves the body, you can feel heightened nervousness, worry, and panic. This is as a direct result of the body’s stress response system reacting to the absence of alcohol.
  3. Insomnia: Having trouble with falling asleep or staying asleep is a common symptom when withdrawing from alcohol. As it affects brain chemistry, sleep patterns can be interrupted and the body’s natural cycle can be severely affected.
  4. Sweating: Excessive sweating and night sweats are also common as the body tries to naturally detoxify and return to functioning without alcohol.
  5. Headaches: Anybody who has drank too much alcohol will be familiar with headaches caused by dehydration. Headaches are also common, however, when withdrawing from alcohol as your body attempts to adjust to the lack of alcohol in your system.
  6. Nausea and vomiting: Alcohol is a toxin. Nausea and vomiting is your body’s way of quickly removing that toxin, but can also be as a result of increased acid in the stomach which often accompanies withdrawal.
  7. Elevated heart rate: Having a faster than normal heartbeat is common as your body’s stress system is under a lot of pressure during withdrawal.
  8. Hallucinations: In the most extreme withdrawal experiences an individual can see, hear, or feel things that aren’t really there. As your brain chemistry adjusts to having no alcohol in the system, hallucinations can occur.
  9. Seizures: If somebody has been heavily drinking for an extended period of time, brain chemistry can be so severely affected that electrical activity in the brain can become overstimulated and cause seizures.
  10. Delirium tremens (or DTs): Whilst rare, this is the most serious withdrawal symptom from alcohol, and is characterised by intense confusion, a rapid heartbeat and burning fever. DTs can lead to death, so should you or someone you know be concerned that you might be experiencing this condition, seek medical attention immediately.

Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous and should be carefully controlled and completed with appropriate medical supervision. We offer medical detox that can safely control alcohol withdrawal and support you through the more uncomfortable symptoms.

How Does Alcohol Addiction Make My Life Worse?

Mental Health

  • Alcohol has long been associated with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety:
  • It can worsen existing conditions and contribute to the development of new ones.

Heart Health Concerns

  • Arrhythmias are common in people with a history of alcohol abuse.
  • Heart disease and more serious problems can also occur.

Liver Damage

  • Liver disease, scarring to the liver and liver damage are all common with regular excessive alcohol consumption.
  • Liver failure can also occur, posing a serious risk to health.

Risks To Pregnancy

  • Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder can occur when drinking during pregnancy.
  • This can lead to a range of developmental issues for the child both in the womb and later in life relating to their physical, cognitive, and behavioural abilities.

Accident Risk

  • Alcohol can impair your coordination and judgement.
  • This can lead to accidents and injuries and hazardous behavioural patterns.

Why Choose Us?

  • Full medical detox
  • Full blood works
  • Psychiatric assessment and talk therapy
  • Customised treatment plans
  • Solution & Recovery focused
  • Holistic facility in idyllic setting
  • Connection with nature
  • Family engagement and counselling
  • Team members who have recovered from alcoholism themselves so know where you’re at
  • Maximum of 8 clients for more personalised care

Contact Us

Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive treatments, counselling, and support offerings. Reclaim your Inner Life and embrace a brighter future with InnerLife Recovery.

Contact Us

Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive treatments, counselling, and support offerings. Reclaim your Inner Life and embrace a brighter future with InnerLife Recovery.