It's Okay to Ask for Help With Sobriety
Alcohol use disorder is a disease. But like any disease, you can cure it.
More than 14 million Americans have alcohol use disorder. They come from every walk of life. But alcohol use disorder affects all of their lives in some way, and millions of them look for help.
It is ok to admit that you have alcohol use disorder. It's ok to ask for help with addiction and staying sober. Many people survive their disorder and live to tell about it.
Here is a quick guide on asking for help with addiction.
Addiction Science
Scientists have known that addiction is a brain disease since the 1930s. The brain has a reward system that transmits a hormone called dopamine. This is the "feel good" hormone in the brain.
When you are enjoying something, dopamine is firing through your brain. Once the brain experiences dopamine, it craves more. Alcoholic beverages stimulate dopamine receptors, so you wind up craving alcohol to get more dopamine.
As you drink more alcohol, your brain adjusts. Your reward system fires weaker and weaker bursts of dopamine. You become unable to receive dopamine from anything else but drinking alcohol.
When you go through withdrawal, you are going through withdrawal from dopamine. Your brain is begging you for dopamine, but you are not granting it, so your brain punishes you.
Your brain is not the only factor that affects addiction. Alcohol use disorder runs in families, which suggests that genetics play a role. Some people have addictive tendencies, which might spark alcohol use disorder.
It's ok to ask for help because you need help. You are fighting against your brain with alcohol use disorder. Seeking support from friends and doctors can cure your brain and let you live a full life.
Getting Help
There are a lot of ways that you can get help. Pursue the ways that make the most sense for you.
Make a phone call to someone you trust. You can rehearse what you are going to say, and you can take notes on what you want to talk about. You can talk to a friend, a family member, or a work associate.
You can also talk to your doctor. Your doctor is required to keep your conversations with them confidential. They can refer you to specialists who can address your needs.
Search for online resources, from chat rooms to information about treatment facilities. Read some more guides about seeking help.
Call a hotline. 1-800-662-4357 is the national helpline for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Information specialists are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions and direct you to local assistance.
There are a number of services that help with alcohol use disorder. Alcoholics Anonymous is the most famous, but you can also attend a self-help group. You can also form your own group, and you can attend conferences on living a sober life.
It's Ok to Ask for Help
It is difficult to admit that you need help with any problem. But it's ok to ask for help for addiction.
Addiction is a brain disease that impacts how you receive dopamine. The more alcohol you drink, the more you become dependent on dopamine from alcohol.
You can seek help in many ways. You can talk to a friend or a stranger. You can find online resources, call a hotline, or attend a group.
The Token Shop is another resource you can rely upon. We offer literature and online meetings to help with getting and staying sober. Contact us today.