Moderated Drinking: A Creative Strategy to Treat Alcoholism?

Individuals often find themselves quickly returning to previous levels of heavy drinking, Alcohol Use Disorder or even exceeding them. This can exacerbate existing health complications, such as liver damage, cardiovascular issues, and neurological damage, including cognitive impairments. If you went through rehab and after some time you started thinking about drinking in moderation, then you are in the first stage of relapse. The New Breath Recovery clinic will help you find the strength to give up alcohol completely and find joy in life without using psychoactive substances. The goal during the recovery process is to feel your best and reinvent your future without alcohol.

Medical Professionals

Getting started with addiction treatment may feel intimidating at first. We understand this and are ready to help you on your road to recovery. We can offer guidance and insight into the recovery process, and will work to provide you with clarity into the steps that lay ahead. When dependence is established, drinking shifts from a choice to a physical necessity to avoid severe discomfort. In these moderate to severe cases, the possibility of maintaining moderation becomes substantially https://metroradios.com.ar/uncategorized/how-does-alcohol-consumption-affect-the-immune-2/ less likely.

Can an Alcoholic Drink in Moderation?

can an alcoholic drink in moderation

You don’t need to have a ‘rock bottom’ to seek treatment and community. Connecting with medical professionals and a peer support network can give you the tools to reach your goals, and set you up for long-term success. Experts also point out that even small amounts of alcohol can reactivate addictive pathways in the brain, making can an alcoholic drink in moderation moderation extremely difficult for those with a history of addiction. Addiction specialists at facilities like Harmony Ridge Recovery stress that avoiding alcohol altogether is a more reliable strategy for achieving long-term health and stability. Our dedicated team has guided over 40,000 individuals toward freedom from addiction, and they can support you too. Reach out to an Avenues Recovery facility near you and take the first step toward a life of peace, balance, and lasting happiness.

Is Moderation Management Right for a Recovered Alcoholic?

Many clients seeking our addiction services are hoping to have a different relationship with alcohol. While this blog is focused on alcohol, moderating any problematic behavior or substance use can be paralleled. Moderation is necessary for certain behavioral addictions such as eating and shopping, and let’s be honest, for most people sex (although abstinence is an option of course). In this article I will provide some best practices for moderating alcohol and always encourage working with a professional for best results. ” the answer often starts with professional treatment and structured approaches.

Sleep and mental health: What the science says

A standard drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits. But experts caution that even within these guidelines, individual risk varies. Factors including age, genetics, body size and existing health conditions all influence how alcohol affects a person. We offer two types of treatment options for people who want help for drinking problems.

Can an Alcoholic Learn to Drink in Moderation?

Certain health problems — like depression or anxiety, sleep problems, and chronic pain — can put you at a higher risk for alcohol use disorder. People who have alcohol use disorder are also more likely to experience these health problems. These calories add up — and getting more calories than you need can make it harder to stay at a healthy weight. Past studies may have masked the health benefits of not drinking at all.

  • Emotional regulation is the ability to notice, understand, and manage intense emotions without being overwhelmed by them or acting impulsively.
  • It helps individuals identify their emotional triggers, develop healthier responses, and stay accountable to their recovery goals.

Can Alcoholics Drink in Moderation? Understanding Controlled Drinking Programs

Stopping and staying stopped from any addiction is about so much more than the quitting. While that, initially, is clearly the priority, it is only the tip of the iceberg. Many experts in addiction believe that people who have been addicted will always have the propensity to get addicted to things.

  • Higher concentrations of alcohol, such as can occur with drinking more, drinking spirits or hard liquor, and drinking on an empty stomach are more harmful.
  • A single drink can trigger powerful, uncontrollable cravings that override a person’s rational decision to stop.
  • The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends abstaining from alcohol if you’re unable to control your drinking.
  • Many of our staff and admissions team are also in recovery and are dedicated to helping individuals find the same path to wellness.

The Role of Moderation Drinking Programs

can an alcoholic drink in moderation

This can range from mild discomfort to severe physical and psychological reactions. Instead of focusing solely on abstinence, MM teaches individuals with AUD how to drink responsibly and in moderation. This program provides a structured yet flexible approach, allowing participants to set their own drinking limits and track their progress.

For those who do not drink, there’s no strong evidence that anyone should initiate alcohol consumption. For those who do enjoy consuming alcohol, it is safest to do so in moderation, ideally avoiding more than one drink in 24 hours. While ALDH2 is the most common inherited variation to affect how well someone can handle alcohol — and its’ long-term risks — it is not the only factor. Some people are already at higher risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease because of their genetics or other risky behaviors like tobacco use.

can an alcoholic drink in moderation

Without addressing those needs, it’s like trying to cap an active volcano with a giant boulder. Sooner or later, the pressure will build up and the volcano will explode—or you will relapse. Our experienced team of experts at Tikvah Lake Recovery, has helped people with all types of addiction, including alcohol addiction. No matter how desperate someone’s situation seems, there is always a solution. This is a world away from white-knuckling it and/or switching to another damaging (but maybe not so obvious) addiction.

When someone continues to drink despite it causing issues in their life, this is usually an indication of an unhealthy relationship with alcohol and could point to alcoholism. Soon, they find themselves reaching for alcohol more and more frequently, especially when they’re experiencing negative emotions like loneliness, sadness, or stress. In some cases, a person may develop an unhealthy relationship with alcohol and lose control of how much they’re consuming. By checking in on your relationship with alcohol, you can transform the role it plays in your life.