Struggling with substance abuse can be painful and destructive not just for you but also for your loved ones. Alcoholism is one of the most common and well-known examples of substance use disorder (SUD) and can have long-term side effects like emotional dysregulation, cognitive dysfunction, and other mental and physical health issues. Alcoholism or Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), and other substance abuse disorders, can be tricky to identify, for example, you might not notice your family member drinking frequently if you are not around them to observe the behavior.
If you are unsure if you or someone you love is struggling, we have curated a list of behavioral, physical, and social changes that you can reference here.
At Sabino Recovery, We understand that each person’s struggle with alcohol and trauma is unique, so their recovery should be as well. Our first-hand experiences shed light on how to approach alcoholism recovery and achieve true healing. We offer a wide variety of modalities, including the 12-Step approach as well as other non-12-step approaches such as Refuge Recovery, Smart Recovery, Wellbriety, and other alternative methods to community-based support systems. Our primary goal however, is to personalize your recovery journey to best suit your needs.
Is Alcoholism Genetic?
While genetic predisposition has a significant correlation to a person developing alcoholism, there are many other factors that contribute to a person’s development of an alcohol use disorder. For instance, socio-economic factors, other mental health disorders, family of origin, brain chemistry (specifically GABA and dopamine receptors), and trauma; all have an influence on whether a person will develop the symptoms of an alcohol use disorder diagnosis. At Sabino, we understand that many people are predisposed to certain maladaptive coping mechanisms but we also believe strongly in holistic treatments that approach healing in a way that includes addressing underlying trauma.
Alcoholism does not develop overnight. This is a disease that sneaks quietly into your life so that sometimes you don’t realize you truly have a problem until it’s too late. It’s not uncommon to use alcohol as a coping mechanism so the evolution from seemingly normal drinking to alcohol use disorder can feel unexpected and unmanageable.
Studies have found evidence to support the philosophy that trauma is a key factor in developing a substance abuse disorder.
As an addiction recovery center, we often have residents who are struggling to move beyond sobriety because they haven’t worked to address their deeper trauma. Sobriety is a lifelong journey that is made easier by addressing root traumas and issues that cause substance abuse disorders. It is not uncommon to attempt to bury a traumatic event in your life, like mental, physical, or sexual abuse, by turning to maladaptive coping mechanisms like alcohol and drug addiction.
Sabino’s Alcoholism Treatment Model
Alcohol inhibits the parts of our brains that manage decision-making and impulse control, making it even more difficult to take the necessary steps in regulating our nervous systems. It takes more than just willpower to combat the toll alcohol takes on our lives. This is why we focus on creating a safe, comfortable, and encouraging environment for each of our residents.
When you decide to take the first steps to true healing at Sabino, we will work with you to assess the most appropriate individualized treatment plan that are integrated into your recovery process, our main goal is to help you become comfortable with your surroundings on campus.
Our therapeutic model is based on the belief that unresolved trauma leads to maladaptive behaviors such as alcohol and drug addiction and other coping behaviors. Our program is designed to treat the root trauma along with the resulting behaviors, heal the whole person, and provide hope for a lasting recovery.
If you or a loved one are struggling to regain control over your alcohol addiction, reach out to us today at 844-227-7014.
