Rob’s doctor broke the news to him yesterday: he has high blood pressure. Rob wasn’t surprised. It runs in his family, and his health habits aren’t spectacular. What did surprise Rob was one of his doctor’s recommendations: cut alcohol out of his diet. He could only wonder- does alcohol really raise blood pressure? Rob isn’t a heavy drinker, so he has doubts that the amount of alcohol he consumes could make a difference in his heart health. But it turns out… Low Levels of Alcohol Consumption Can Increase Blood Pressure In 2023, researchers analyzed multiple studies involving adults in the U.S ..read more

Alcoholism (now called alcohol use disorder) affects a staggering number of Americans. According to a National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2022), 29.5 million adults aged 12 and older struggle with this condition. However, not many people understand the addictive nature of alcohol, what constitutes alcohol abuse, and many wonder if alcoholism is a chronic disease. This blog explores those key topics and more. What is chronic alcohol abuse? According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcohol use is common, with 84.1 percent of adults aged 18 or over reportin ..read more

She couldn’t take it anymore. Liz and Dave have been married for 15 years, but for the past eight, Dave’s drinking dominated the marriage. It felt like his addiction finally destroyed their relationship. There was no marriage left – only substance abuse and the fights it causes. A friend recommended that Liz see a counselor, even if Dave refused to go to therapy with her or seek help for himself. She told herself she had nothing to lose and scheduled her first appointment. To her surprise, Liz learned some tools of therapy and behavioral techniques from the counselor that were extremely helpf ..read more

People in recovery know that it requires consistent effort to maintain their sobriety, even if it’s been years since they last took a drug or drink. However, just as life has its ups and downs, so too does recovery. The important thing is to acknowledge the relapse warning signs you can’t afford to ignore and safeguard your well-earned recovery. What is a Relapse? Unfortunately, in some recovery groups, relapse is stigmatized, leaving members feeling like they weren’t working hard enough at their recovery or like they’ve let others down. The reality, however, is very different once you consid ..read more

Will saw his parents fight…a lot. On the nights when he didn’t see them argue, he could hear them from his bedroom. This went on for a few years, until they eventually got divorced. Now, Will is all grown up and has a family of his own. He also has a substance use disorder. Is Will’s alcoholism related to his home-life as a child? Would he struggle with alcohol use if his parents had gotten along better? Did the divorce drive him to drink? These are the questions researchers have been asking. Studies indicate that alcohol use disorder is passed down through the generations. In other words, al ..read more

It’s hard to recognize yourself. After all, you just wanted to help them, right? But lately, helping has been hurting both them and you. It’s called enabling. Your support now goes beyond what’s helpful and healthy. Your “help” is now allowing your loved one to continue their addictive behavior. And for you? Your enabling has now become a foundation for a relationship built around alcoholism and codependency. It’s important to note that healthy dependence is completely different from codependency. When you’re dependent on someone, you: Ask for support when you need it State your personal desi ..read more

You’ve probably heard people say that rehab is the first step in a long journey of recovery. They’re right. But what will your social life will look like after treatment for alcoholism? Here’s the truth: After what feels like a lifetime of alcohol addiction, rehab is really just the beginning of a new life. When you leave treatment, you also leave behind the protective bubble that kept you sober. At this point, it’s really up to you to maintain your recovery. It can be difficult when we leave the safety of treatment and return to face our real lives – that includes damaged relationships, life ..read more

Day 342. John hadn’t touched a drop in almost a year. Then his cousin came to visit. In the past, John always drank and frequented local bars with his cousin. And that trigger was too much. Before he knew it, John had a beer in his hand. John’s story isn’t unique. Between 40 and 60 percent of people with an alcohol use disorder relapse within a year of treatment. In fact, it’s so common that it’s generally accepted as a part of the recovery process — if you have a substance use disorder, it’s likely you’ll return to use. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost or that your journey toward recov ..read more

Jeff didn’t remember feeling like this in college. He had hangovers back in his fraternity days, but not like this. In his 20s, Jeff had the usual headaches and nausea, but he was able to function (somewhat) as he recovered from a hangover. Not now. Now Jeff is in his 40s, and even a small drinking binge leads to explosive headaches and extreme light sensitivity the following morning. He feels so bad he doesn’t get out of bed, much less deal with the responsibilities of work and family. What happened? It’s simple: Jeff got older. Effects of a Hangover (And Age): Older = Slower A hangover happe ..read more

My second stint in rehab was impactful. My first and third were, too, but the second time receiving treatment for alcoholism stands out. Mostly because of two people I met while in rehab: Sally and Troy. Both Sally and Troy were in treatment for alcoholism. Both had very different reasons for their years of heavy drinking. By talking to them over a few weeks, the conversations broadened the way I thought about drinking. In short, I learned unique individuals drink for unique reasons: grief, stress, anxiety, depression, rejection, hopelessness, poverty, social norms, trauma, and an entire myri ..read more