The signs and symptoms of an alcoholic can vary with the individual and may be hard to recognize if you’re not educated on what symptoms to look out for. In addition, alcoholism has various psychological, physical, and social effects that can drastically reduce people’s quality of living.

Many of the signs and symptoms of substance abuse are similar, and once identified, one may be able to help a friend or a family member. Here are some signs to look out for on how to know you are living with an alcoholic:

What Are The Psychological Signs Of An Alcoholic?

• Dependency: One cannot stop drinking for a long period.
• Obsession: A person with alcoholism may come obsessed with drinking and spending all their energy finding ways and means of drinking.
• Rewarding or way to deal with problems: A person will find any excuse to drink, from rewarding themselves for getting through the workweek or because they fought with their spouse.
• Binge Drinking: One may drink large amounts in short periods.

What Are The Physical Signs Of An Alcoholic?

• Withdrawal symptoms: When a person drinks frequently, the body builds up a dependency on alcohol. When that amount of alcohol isn’t at the level the body is dependent on, one might experience physical symptoms. These may include sweating, seizures, diarrhea, trembling, constipation, and mood swings.
• Weight and Appetite changes: Depending on the drinking style, one might eat more or less, therefore, gain or lose a significant about of weight.
• Sleep patterns: Insomnia is a common symptom of alcoholism.
• Change of appearance: A person who may have kept a groomed appearance may stop making an effort and lack personal hygiene.
• Dilated or pinned pupils and bloodshot eyes

What Are The Social Signs Of An Alcoholic?

Alcoholism can impact the way an individual socializes with and relates to other people.

• Hobbies and activities: A person addicted to alcohol might change their social habits and activities. They are not active in their regular social lives, such as attending movies or dinner with friends, not going to the gym, or engaging in their normal hobbies. Also, one may turn down such invitations to events if alcohol is not being served or required to be confined in an establishment for long periods.
• Financial problems: An alcoholic will start spending all their money on alcohol, even sacrifices money for needed bills or food to ensure they have what they need.
• Isolating: A person with an addiction to alcohol most likely prefers to drink in solitude and secrecy.
• Denial: If a person who is an alcoholic is confronted, they most likely don’t recognize the severity and will deny ever havening a problem.
• Legal Issues: Because alcohol impairs judgment, legal issues will most likely follow an alcoholic.

Are You An Alcoholic?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH) has some questions to go through and answer honestly about a person in question whether or not they have an alcohol abuse problem: 

1. For example, does the person drink in larger amounts or for longer than intended?
2. Do they want to cut down or stop drinking but can’t?
3. Do they spend a lot of time getting, drinking, or recovering from drinking?
4. Do they have cravings and urges to drink?
5. Are they unable to manage responsibilities at work, home, or school because of drinking?
6. Do they continue to drink, even when it causes problems in relationships?
7. Do they give up important social, recreational, or work-related activities because of drinking?
8. Do they keep drinking again and again, even when it puts them in danger?
9. Do they continue to drink, even knowing that a physical or mental problem could have been caused or made worse by drinking?
10. Do they drink more just to get drunk?
11. Have they developed withdrawal symptoms, which can be relieved by drinking more? 

If the answer to some or all of these questions is yes, your friend or loved one might be an alcoholic.

Alcoholism Help at Agape Treatment Center

When that friend or loved one is ready to get clean and take their lives back, that’s where Agape Treatment Center steps in. Agape Treatment Center is a comfortable and evidence-based drug and alcohol inpatient detox in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Agape has A Behavioral Healthcare Program focused on a twelve-step rehabilitation program created solely to save lives from the grip of chemical dependency, substance abuse, mental health disorders, co-occurring disorders, and alcoholism. Remember, nobody had to stay addicted.

The post How Can You Identify An Alcoholic? appeared first on Agape FL.

If you aren’t consuming alcohol, it has come across your mind because of how much alcohol advertising there is. You even see it advertised across TV screens or staring down at you from huge billboards across town. It is very hard to go a day without seeing alcohol-related material.

Because alcohol is so normalized and so many individuals partake in it, it is hard to know whether or not you are drinking too much or being considered an alcoholic. Of course, the obvious falling drunk every day can’t get your life together alcoholic, but there are also those that drink that has their lives completely together, and everything seems grand. Those are what are known as “functional” or “high-functioning” alcoholics.

Are You an Alcoholic?

So how can you tell if you are an alcoholic? How many drinks is a day considered an alcoholic? Can you measure it that easily? No, but there are telltale signs of alcoholism.

Because alcohol can affect each person differently, it can be hard to define what “too much alcohol” is for the general population or if you drink so many drinks that you are considered an alcoholic. Still, there is somewhat of a guideline of how many drinks are considered a health problem and can cause concern.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, drinking is considered in the moderate or low-risk range for women at no more than three drinks in any one day and no more than seven drinks per week. It is no more than four drinks a day for men and no more than 14 drinks per week.

Do Any of These Apply to You?

If you are questioning your drinking and think you may be an alcoholic, ask yourself these questions:

• Are you spending a lot of time obtaining, using, and recovering from the effects of alcohol?
• Do you have cravings or a strong desire to use alcohol?
• Are you unable to cut down on alcohol use despite a desire to do so?
• Do you continue to abuse alcohol despite negative interpersonal or social problems likely due to alcohol use?
• Do you use alcohol in physically dangerous situations (such as driving or operating machinery)?
• Do you drink more or for a longer time than originally intended?
• Do you continue to abuse alcohol despite the presence of a psychological or physical problem that is probably due to alcohol use?
• Are you unable to fulfill major obligations at home, work, or school because of alcohol use?
• Are you giving up previously enjoyed social, occupational, or recreational activities because of alcohol use?
• Do you have a tolerance (i.e., needing to drink increasingly large or more frequent amounts of alcohol to achieve the desired effect)?
• Do you develop symptoms of withdrawal when efforts are made to stop using alcohol?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might need to consider getting professional help to cut back on your drinking. It is important to be aware of these signs and to know that you’re not alone. Thousands of people from all walks of life battle alcoholism every day, and thousands decide to seek help. 

Start Alcoholism Help Program at Agape Treatment Center

At Agape Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, embrace a universal, unconditional love that transcends, that serves regardless of circumstances. We provide individuals all over the country with the opportunity to achieve the gift of lasting sobriety. Our evidence-driven therapy and counseling methods are based on a belief that every individual is worth living a joyous and rewarding life free from the bondage of addiction. 

Experience the difference with Agape Treatment Center of South Florida: A Behavioral Healthcare Program focused on a twelve-step rehabilitation program created solely to save lives from the grip of chemical dependency, substance abuse, mental health disorders, co-occurring disorders, and alcoholism.

The post How Many Drinks a Day Is Considered an Alcoholic? appeared first on Agape FL.

How many times have you woken up with a pounding headache and a sick, sinking feeling in your stomach after a night of booze-fueled debauchery? How many times have you vowed to quit drinking entirely, only to find yourself back at the bar a couple of weeks later? Many people go through a similar experience, and as they get older and begin taking on more and more responsibilities, the length between drunken nights grows longer and longer. By the time they have high-powered careers and families of their own, many people have completely given up drinking (except social drinking on occasion and in moderation). Unfortunately, this isn’t possible for everyone. 

Potential Physical Dependence After Alcohol Misuse

Some people develop a physical dependence on alcohol over time and eventually lose control over their drinking habits. As a result, they consume alcohol compulsively, and when they attempt to quit, they begin experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. If you or someone you love has developed a serious drinking problem, Agape Treatment Center is available to help. We treat the root causes of alcoholism and provide each of our clients with the healthy coping mechanisms they need to maintain fulfilling sobriety for years to come. 

Experiences Signs of Drinking Too Much Alcohol

The symptoms a person experiences, when they drink too much, depends on the following factors:

• Their age
• Their weight
• How quickly their body can process alcohol
• Whether or not they combine alcohol with any other chemical substances
• How much alcohol they consumed 
• Whether or not they drank a sufficient amount of water at the same time 
• How long they have been engaging in heavy alcohol use

Short-Term Effects of Alcohol Use

There are short and long-term effects of excessive alcohol consumption. Short-term effects include:

• Slurred speech and inability to speak clearly
• Excessive clumsiness
• Drowsiness
• Lapses in memory, also known as blackouts
• A complete loss of consciousness
• A distorted sense of perception
• Nausea and vomiting
• Persistent headache
• An increase in risk-taking activities, like driving while intoxicated or engaging in promiscuous sex with strangers.
• Falling or being unable to stand up straight

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse

The long-term effects of excessive alcohol consumption include: 

• The development of certain psychological issues like anxiety and depression
• Malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies
• Permanent damage is done to the brain and the central nervous system
• Permanent damage is done to the immune system and immune system functioning
• Certain types of cancer
• Osteoporosis
• Stomach ulcers and other gastrointestinal issues
• Liver disease and pancreatitis
• Permanent damage is done to the heart muscle and other cardiovascular issues.
• The development of a physical and psychological dependence
• The development of a physical tolerance, meaning that a greater quantity of alcohol needs to be consumed for the desired effects to be produced
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when alcohol use is stopped suddenly, which can lead to life-threatening complications

Overcome Alcoholism at Agape Treatment Center 

If you or someone you love has been struggling with an alcohol abuse disorder of any severity, medically monitored detox is often a necessary first step. The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous and even life-threatening when left untreated. At Agape Treatment Center, we focus on a comprehensive approach to recovery, providing our clients with numerous levels of clinical care. 

We believe in a whole-person approach to recovery, tackling the physical, mental and emotional implications of alcoholism and alcohol abuse. We understand how difficult it can be to overcome an alcohol abuse disorder because heavy drinking is societal. However, with the right tools in place, anyone can overcome alcoholism and go on to leave the healthy and fulfilling life they deserve. Contact us today to learn more about our effective program of alcohol addiction recovery. 

The post What Are the Symptoms of Drinking Too Much Alcohol? appeared first on Agape FL.

Most of us tend to have off days on occasion, where we feel a little bit down in the dumps and a little bit off of our game. Some days we feel sad, and other days we feel happy – most of the time, the way we feel is based on our current circumstances. If we are super stressed about work or school, for example, we are likely to feel a little bit sadder. If we lose a loved one, if a relationship ends, or if we get fired for poor performance, we tend to feel depressed. However, this depression usually subsides when the initial shock of the experience wears off, and when things return to normal. Men and women who suffer at the hands of a diagnosable depressive disorder experience deep sadness that is unrelenting and extremely disruptive to day-to-day life.

How Does Depression Affect Americans?

According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, mental major depressive disorder affects roughly 17 million American adults on an annual basis – this equates to roughly 7 percent of the entire US population. More women than men struggle with major depressive disorder, and roughly 1.9 million children between the ages of 3 and 17 have also been diagnosed with a depressive disorder of some severity. Depressive disorders can be extremely difficult to manage without professional help – in most cases, men and women of any age who have been diagnosed with depression will need a combination of intensive psychotherapy and medication-assisted treatment. Still, even if depression is adequately treated it can result in a wide range of negative symptoms.

Negative Symptoms Associated with Depression

Some of the negative symptoms commonly associated with depression include:

• Substance abuse and dependence. It has been estimated that well over 20 percent of all American adults who are currently living with a diagnosable substance abuse disorder simultaneously suffer from a mood disorder like depression.
• An inability to enjoy extracurricular or recreational activities. Men and women who suffer from depression have a difficult time finding the motivation to engage in recreational activities, and if they do participate, they find it extremely difficult to enjoy what they are doing and to remain present at the moment.
• Difficulties within interpersonal relationships. People who struggle with depression have a difficult time maintaining mutually beneficial relationships, whether those relationships be with friends, family members, or a significant other.
• A lack of motivation to perform while at work, which often leads to career loss and ultimately leads to financial insecurity. Men and women who suffer from undiagnosed or untreated depression tend to live below the poverty line more frequently than members of the general population.
• A lack of energy and a desire to sleep excessively, which leads to a variety of negative consequences including missed opportunities, strains on interpersonal relationships, and feelings of loneliness and isolation that can compact depression, ultimately making it worse.

Struggling with untreated depression can be extremely difficult, and often leaves people feeling hopeless, alone, and entirely worthless. However, with a careful combination of intensive therapy and medication, recovery is possible.

Depression Therapy at Agape Treatment Center

At Agape Treatment Center we have extensive experience treating dual diagnosis disorders of all types and severities. Our team of experienced professionals is made up of licensed specialists in the realms of substance abuse and mental health. If you or somebody you love has been struggling with depression and substance abuse, seeking professional treatment in a dual diagnosis addiction treatment center is extremely important. For long-term sobriety to be achieved, all underlying mental health conditions and addictions must be tackled simultaneously. To learn more about our dual diagnosis treatment program, call us today. We look forward to speaking with you soon and getting you or your loved one started on the path to lifelong recovery and comprehensive healing.

The post Negative Symptoms Resulting from Depression appeared first on Agape FL.

Many teenagers and young adults abuse prescription medications because they mistakenly believe that, seeing as these medications were originally prescribed by a medical professional, they are safer to use than illicit chemical substances. The truth is, however, that prescription medications can be extremely habit forming, and can lead to just as many (if not more) serious health-related issues and interpersonal consequences than other substances. The most commonly abused prescription medications are prescription opioids, prescription depressants, and prescription stimulants. Prescription opioids include painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone and affect the same parts of the brain as heroin and synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

What Drugs Can My Daughter Be Using?

These medications can cause a range of side effects like nausea and vomiting, constipation, drowsiness, and respiratory depression. Prescription depressants include tranquilizers and sedatives like Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin. These medications are generally used to treat anxiety and sleep-related disorders and can result in drowsiness, a lack of coordination, disorientation, and shallow breathing. Prescription stimulants include medications like Adderall and Ritalin and are most frequently used among the college-aged demographic. These medications can result in increased body temperature, irregular heartbeat, anxiety, and paranoia. If you think that your daughter might be abusing a prescription medication of any kind but you are not quite sure, there are several telltale signs to keep an eye out for.

Signs My Daughter is Abusing Pain Pills

Some signs that your daughter might be abusing prescription pills include:

• She has been spending more time alone and has an increased need for privacy. She spends more time isolating herself from family members and close friends. Either her social life has fallen off completely, or she spends the majority of her time with the new group of friends who you might not know very well.
• She is no longer performing well in school, assuming she once was, and her grades have been rapidly declining. She might even get in trouble at school, and you might get calls from authoritative figures.
• You might find that your medicine cabinets have been rated, and you might get complaints from your friends or other family members that they have had the same issue. The majority of teenagers and young adults who obtain prescription medications find unused prescriptions in household medicine cabinets or bathroom drawers.
• If your daughter currently has a prescription, she might go through it more quickly than normal and ask you to drive her to the doctor’s office on an abnormally frequent basis.
• She might appear to lack coordination, slur her speech, or exhibit other physical symptoms like an increased heart rate and unusual spurts of energy (common with prescription stimulants) or excessive fatigue and shallow breathing (common with prescription opioids and some prescription tranquilizers).
• You might find that she has been seeking prescriptions for more than one doctor, a behavior that is known as “doctor shopping.” She might also pretend as if she lost her prescriptions before bringing them to the pharmacy.
• There is a good chance that she will experience abnormal mood swings, typically marked by hostility and aggression.

If you feel as if your daughter might be abusing prescription medication, it is important to seek professional help immediately. Agape Treatment Center has extensive experience treating young women who suffer at the hands of substance abuse disorders of any severity.

Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment

Agape Treatment Center offers a comprehensive and personalized program of age and gender-specific prescription drug treatment. Offering age and gender-specific programs allow for a more focused treatment experience overall and allow young women to hone in on issues and challenges that are unique to their specific demographic. To learn more about our inpatient prescription drug rehab program, or to help your daughter get started on her journey of recovery, please feel free to reach out to us at any point in time. Our treatment advisors are standing by to point you in the right direction and answer additional questions, should you have any.

The post Signs of Daughter Abusing Prescription Pills appeared first on Agape FL.

Xanax is a fast-acting benzodiazepine medication, most commonly prescribed for the treatment of severe anxiety-related disorders. In many cases, Xanax will be prescribed to treat panic attacks. Prescribing physicians suggest that the medication be taken at the onset of the panic attack – not taken daily. The reason behind this is that the medication is so potent and has such a high potential for abuse. As a whole, benzodiazepines were responsible for over 8,000 deaths in the United States in the year 2015 alone.

Since then, the number of accidental overdose deaths involving medications like Xanax has continued to skyrocket. Overdose can occur easily when more than the recommended dose is taken. If you have been suffering from a Xanax abuse disorder or you know someone who has, being able to instantaneously identify the symptoms associated with a Xanax overdose is of the utmost importance.

Symptoms of a Xanax Overdose

Most medical professionals will prescribe Xanax to be taken in small doses – between 0.25 and 0.5 milligrams at a time. In very severe cases of anxiety up to 4mg might be prescribed, but never more than this. If you take more than the recommended dose you put yourself at risk of overdose. This risk increases when another chemical substance – like alcohol – is involved.

The symptoms of Xanax overdose will typically include:

• Intense drowsiness/an inability to stay awake
• Confusion and disorientation
• A severe lack of coordination
• Reduced reflexes
• Moving in and out of consciousness
• Coma
• Death

If you witness a Xanax overdose, it is important that you immediately call 911. Calling for help as quickly as possible could mean the difference between life or death. If you know someone who has been abusing Xanax for any period, he or she must seek professional addiction treatment immediately. Xanax addiction is a progressive disease, meaning that the associated symptoms will continue to worsen over time. They will never resolve on their own and they will never be effectively treated without a curriculum of clinical care – like the one provided by Agape Treatment Center.

Xanax Addiction Treatment

Because Xanax is a benzodiazepine, the symptoms associated with withdrawal can be life-threatening when not adequately treated in a medical detox facility. For this reason, medically monitored detox is a necessary first step on every journey of Xanax addiction treatment and long-term recovery. Once medical detox is complete and the client has been deemed physically fit to continue in his or her treatment program, the next logical step is inpatient treatment. Inpatient or residential treatment (also known as drug and alcohol rehab) lasts for between one and three months depending on the severity of the addictive disorder (even longer if the Xanax addiction was severe and life-threatening).

Next, the individual moves onto a comprehensive and long-term aftercare program, which generally includes sober living housing and a continuation of clinical care in an intensive outpatient or outpatient program. Agape Treatment Center offers a quality continuum of clinical care that provides clients with all of the tools they need to maintain solid and fulfilling sobriety for the remainder of their lives.

Agape Treatment Center – Quality Clinical Care

At Agape Treatment Center, we offer a comprehensive and individualized program of care to men and women of all ages who have been struggling with a Xanax addiction for any length of time. Xanax overdose is responsible for hundreds of overdose-related deaths every year – the truth of the matter is, however, that every single one of these deaths could have been prevented. If you or someone you love has been abusing Xanax, get the help you need and deserve today. Simply give us a call and we will get you started on your journey of Xanax addiction recovery.

The post Symptoms of a Xanax Overdose appeared first on Agape FL.