Fighting Alcoholism in Plano, TX
Home to almost 300,000 people, Plano is a major hub of corporate headquarters. Some of the companies that use Plano for a home base are Frito-Lay, Rent-A-Center, J.C. Penny, Pizza Hut, Cinemark Theaters, Toyota Motors USA, and several more.
Plano is not just a corporate city, however. There are multiple museums and performing arts venues for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. The Cox Playhouse, the Amphitheater at Oak Point Park, the McCall Plaza, and the Courtyard Theater offer performances of all kinds year-round, from music and dance to classic theater. There are parks, recreation centers, and even a dedicated dog park for everyone to enjoy.
Even in a city like Plano, however , the claws of alcoholism can sink in deep and claim the lives of those it latches onto. Like any form of substance abuse, alcoholism is a progressive disease, which means the longer it goes untreated, the worse it will get. A Better Today is ready to provide that treatment. All we’re waiting for is the phone call.
How to Recognize Alcohol Abuse
For centuries, alcohol has been a part of every culture in the world. No matter what people had, someone would find a way to ferment it. Grapes became wine, wheat became beer, honey became mead, and so on. Something so widespread couldn’t be bad, though, right?
A few drinks every now and again is nothing to worry about. It’s common to have a drink after a hard day or to have a few over the weekend when going out with friends . Throughout history and across the globe, the uses of alcohol have included recreation, revelry, religious ceremony, and everything in between.
Furthermore, there are functional alcoholics who still maintain the ability to work and carry out day-to-day tasks, making identifying a drinking problem all that much more difficult. However, there are some signs to look for that can help identify whether the drinking is recreational and healthy or has crossed the line into abuse.
Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse
Drinking is necessary to relax. It’s not a red flag to have a beer after a hard day, but if a person is unable to relax without a drink, if that drink is needed to relax, that could be a problem.
If a person feels compelled to continue drinking, such as finishing an entire bottle of wine or case of beer once opened, this is a warning sign. If they cannot stop once they start, that means trouble.
Drinking so much that a person blacks out is a major warning sign, especially if it happens regularly.
If a person starts hiding their drinking from others or lying about when and how much they drink, that should send up red flags.
Being able to drink more than they used to is a sign of building tolerance. While in some social circles this is viewed as something to be praised, on a biological level, this is indicative of a forming dependency on the substance in question.
Should a person begin neglecting their personal or professional responsibilities in order to drink or because they are hung over, this is a major warning sign. This means that alcohol has such a hold over them, it is interfering with their priorities and ability to function.
On a similar note, if someone’s interpersonal relationships start to suffer because of their drinking, that’s another sign that alcohol has become more important to that person than these relationships. This can be relationships with friends, family, or a significant other. Any time alcohol starts to cause a problem between people and their relationships, it’s a sign of a major problem.
If one starts to experience withdrawals after not having a drink for some time, that should be major cause for alarm, because this means that the person is likely struggling with a full blown alcohol dependency.
Any one of these signs should be cause for concern. If you notice one, either in yourself or someone you know, talk about it or call to get help. Should more than one appear, the problem has advanced and is more serious.
There is hope, however! Help is available at A Better Today, where our experts are always available and ready to assist, no matter what stage of abuse a person may be in. Treatment has helped thousands shake off their alcohol abuse and stay sober and at A Better Today, we can help you too.
Withdrawals & the Dangers Therein
Treatment for alcohol abuse, or any substance for that matter, begins with a process called detoxification, or detox for short. Detox is the process of flushing the toxins from the alcohol out of the body and is often a very uncomfortable, if not outright miserable experience.
Thanks to Hollywood, most people know that detox and withdrawals are pretty terrible, but how much of it is true? Well, most of it. Detox isn’t always necessary, depending on the substance in question, for alcohol, medically assisted detox under the supervision of trained professionals is absolutely vital.
As is often the case, the exact withdrawals and severity of them can vary from person to person, based on a number of factors. Such factors include how long the abuse has carried on, the volume of alcohol consumed regularly, and so on.
Some of the most common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are inability to think clearly, mood swings, shakiness, anxiety, chronic nightmares, depression, irritability, and fatigue. Other, less common but no less severe, symptoms can include headache, nausea, vomiting, dilated pupils, loss of appetite, clammy skin, rapid heart rate, pallor, sweating, and tremors.
The most severe of symptoms are DTs, or delirium tremens. This is a state of severe confusion which is compounded by fever, agitation, hallucinations, and seizures. DTs can be dangerous and even life-threatening, mostly due to the seizures.
Because alcohol detox can be lethal, it is absolutely critical to undergo detox under medical supervision so the symptoms can be managed and eased with medication and therapy. It is very important that a person NOT attempt to detox by themselves. Please do not become a statistic. Get professional help.
Can’t Afford Treatment?
There are many reasons a person might not seek out treatment for their abuse problem. One of the most common reasons is the prohibitive cost that is perceived to accompany treatment. It’s true that treatment can be expensive, but perhaps not as prohibitively costly as one might think.
Recent studies have made large strides in changing the way substance abuse is perceived. Once upon a time, it was a vice for the criminal element and the weak-willed or those of poor morals. However, the reality has recently come to light that substance abuse is, in fact, a medical disease that affects the brain.
With this knowledge, great strides have been made to provide proper medical care for those who are suffering from this disease. What does this mean to you? It means that treatment is covered by most insurance carriers!
As with any medical condition, the extent of coverage depends on your individual healthcare plan. Some plans will cover the full cost of your treatment, whereas other only offer partial coverage to varying degrees. Call your insurance provider today to find out what your healthcare plan covers and discuss your treatment options.
A Better Today accepts most major insurance providers and is happy to work with you to develop a plan you can manage. Here at A Better Today, our dedication lies in helping those who need help, not turning them away.
Cost is Covered, Where To Now?
There are many treatment options all around you and it’s important to go to a facility that suit your needs. After all, there is no “one size fits all” treatment for alcohol abuse. That’s why A Better Today tailors your individual treatment program to your individual situation and your individual needs.
That said, it may be wise to consider traveling for your treatment. Moving out of your comfort zone and home town can be frightening and you might think that the last thing you need right now is that kind of major upset. However, this is a time for change and a change of scenery can do you a world of good.
It’s not always the case, but very often, one’s environment can contain triggers that might encourage a relapse or disrupt treatment. Sometimes the home environment in some way contributed to the substance abuse in the first place.
Regardless, getting away from the same old places, same old things, and sometimes same old people can go a long way in helping you develop new skills, a new outlook, and a new way of life. After all, the focus of your treatment should be your recovery above all else. Traveling for treatment can help put unwanted distractions behind you and let you focus on getting well.
A Better Today is dedicated to helping you reach that wellness. Don’t wait for the problem to get worse before you do something about it! Pick up the phone and call (510) 246-8864 today to get the help you need. The courage to make real change starts with this phone call. Don’t wait.
