Myth: “I enjoy a few glasses of wine each night to unwind from work. My wife seems to have a problem with my drinking habits, and lately, she’s been throwing around the word ‘alcoholic.’ I’m a very successful businessman and a good father, there is no way I’m an alcoholic.”

A problematic drinking habit often begins innocently: as a way to relax or transition from work to home, as the most common drug people use to fall asleep, to have sex, to reduce social anxiety, and to enjoy themselves. So before we ask loved ones to stop drinking altogether, we must first understand what role alcohol is playing in their lives. Drinking problems are defined not only by how much and how often someone drinks, but also by the effect drinking has on a person’s health, home, social, legal, or work life. It’s helpful to avoid shame-inducing terms like “alcoholic,” but if your drinking is having a real and negative impact on one or more of your primary relationships, a wise next step would be to talk with your doctor or therapist in a supportive environment about the role alcohol is playing in your life and if an alcohol addiction treatment program could be right for you.

Myth: “My college-aged daughter confided to me that she has, on occasion, blacked out after drinking too much at a party. But that’s just part of the college experience these days, not an indication of a larger problem.”  

I want to first commend your courage for even exploring the idea that your child could have a problem with alcohol. For many parents, underlying fear keeps them in denial. Binge-drinking (defined as 4 or more alcoholic drinks within a few hours for women, 5 or more for men) is a part of the college experience for more than 40% of students, according to some estimates. My concern for those students, and for your daughter, is safety. The dangers of binge drinking include alcohol poisoning, unsafe sex, sexual assault, drunk driving, legal or academic consequences, and serious or fatal injury. Binge-drinking could certainly be an indication of an alcohol use disorder. It could also be a symptom of an underlying mental health issue like anxiety or depression. It would be in your family’s best interest to continue this conversation with a professional who can help you make informed decisions about wisely and compassionately supporting your daughter.

Myth: “Alcoholics just lack willpower. With discipline, someone could easily get their drinking under control on their own.”

This is the kind of myth that breaks my heart because it might prevent someone from seeking or receiving much-needed help. Alcohol use disorder is a biological, brain-based disease. It is my job as a physician, and our society’s job as a whole, to treat addiction with the compassion and medical attention it deserves. Consider a disease like cancer or diabetes; you would never suggest that someone battling those illnesses should simply will him or herself to overcome the illness overnight. Additionally, sudden and severe withdrawal could cause painful physical symptoms leading to hospitalization or death. In my experience, so many people suffering from addiction want to change, but they don’t know how. Safe, supportive, and effective treatment is the bridge between the desire to change and the ability to change.

Benefits of Addiction Treatment at True Life Center

Hopefully, Dr. Roybal’s words have given you hope. True Life Center provides outstanding comprehensive addiction treatment. Some of the benefits of our treatment programs include:

• Enhanced sense of self-esteem
• A support system of peers also in recovery
• Strategies to avoid your triggers
• Aftercare support options
• Personalized treatment plans

Our team of experts, including Dr. Roybal, will give you the tools that you need for genuine, long-lasting recovery.

Choose True Life Center to Begin Your Recovery

True Life Center for Wellbeing is an integrative mental health and addiction treatment center located in La Jolla’s UTC area. We offer an Intensive Outpatient Program as well as outpatient psychiatry and therapy appointments. If you or a loved one feels ready to prioritize wellness and end your drinking problem, please contact us today at 858.202.1822.

The post Ask the Psychiatrist: Do I Have A Drinking Problem? Alcohol Use Fact vs. Fiction appeared first on True Life Center.

When To Seek Help

For those seeking help in managing alcohol use, our outpatient alcohol treatment program in San Diego can provide meaningful and long-lasting benefits. But sometimes the first step can be the most challenging. How do you know if your alcohol use or that of a loved one requires some form of intervention? Having a casual drink after work may not constitute a problem. It all depends on what role that drink is serving. Is it just for fun, to enjoy the flavor? Or is it helping to alleviate symptoms of a deeper, underlying condition? If your answer has more to do with a larger personal struggle than purely recreational consumption, it may be time to find a team of compassionate mental health and wellness professionals like our staff at True Life, where we offer a premier Outpatient Alcohol Treatment Program in San Diego.

How Drinking Can Interfere With Your Life

Alcohol use has played an interesting and integral role in many human civilizations for millennia, as far back as Ancient Egypt and beyond. We are not here to judge anyone’s choices about the role alcohol plays in their lives, but we are here to support you in finding alternative ways of dealing with anxiety, stress, and trauma if you are turning to alcohol as a means of relief. When you find yourself unable to limit how much you drink, try to cut back on the amount you’re drinking but can’t, begin to remove yourself from social activities and hobbies that give you pleasure, increase the amount of alcohol you’re intaking to still feel its effects, or find yourself in withdrawal when you’re not drinking, our Outpatient Alcohol Detox Center in San Diego may be what you need to uncover what is driving you to drink.

Neurobiological Integration

At True Life Center, our dedicated staff is drawn to working with people on finding and freeing their true selves to live their best lives. Moreover, we use an integrated approach to healing. That means you have access to experts in traditional psychotherapeutic modalities as well as holistic modalities, all on full-time staff, who collaborate extensively and coordinate your care. At True Life Center’s mental health IOP and PHP, we treat substance use  and mental health with our unique Neurobiological Integration to identify the root cause of your alcohol use and get results by using the synergistic combination of:

• Individual psychotherapy with DBT, CBT and/or psychodynamic approach
• Specialized psychiatric treatment
• Acupuncture
• Mindfulness and Self-compassion practices
• Yoga Therapy
• Body Healing

The benefits of mental health treatment that incorporates not just the mind, but the body and spirit as well, cannot be overstated. TLC’s Outpatient Alcohol Treatment Program in San Diego is geared toward total restoration of the whole self.

Finding Relief At Our Outpatient Alcohol Treatment Program in San Diego

True Life Center is committed to helping individuals find and express their authentic selves. When suffering is deep and enduring, understanding the path forward brings comfort and hope. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive map for long-term recovery and optimal health. We listen carefully to you and your loved ones to understand and co-collaborate in the creation of your True Life Recovery Plan. Give us a call at 858.202.1822 to start your journey to healing today.

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