Let’s take a look at 5 addiction myths that may be holding you back. The psychological and physical impact of alcoholism on a person’s mind and body is not only complex but is an intense change as well. Those who believe they’ll only have ‘one drink’ or feel they’ll be able to control their drinking usually fail and end up relapsing into drinking again. It is one of many alcohol myths that you can just control your drinking. Those who have fallen deep into alcoholism typically don’t break the habit without professional help. A person does not have to drink every single day to have an alcohol problem.

When this region of the brain slows down, there’s a reduction in negative thoughts. This reduction of negative thoughts is what makes people feel stimulated when drinking alcohol. There are a handful of these myths that you should be aware of. Believing the myths about alcohol can be dangerous, increase the risk of addiction, and even lead to problems with law enforcement.

You Can’t Become an Alcoholic by Drinking Only Beer

Alcohol addiction is a serious and dangerous behavior that affects thousands of people across the nation. With endless information about alcohol abuse at your fingertips, myths about alcoholism it can be difficult to know what to believe. While it’s true that relapses can happen during the recovery journey, that doesn’t mean that treatment is ineffective.

Alcoholism is a serious condition and can end up causing major problems throughout a person’s life. Without the proper treatment, alcoholism can end up inflicting permanent damage on a person’s body, mind, and life. Some people may feel like they’re too far gone in their disease to get help. At any age or stage in your alcoholism, you can successfully seek sobriety.

Myth #6: Confrontation and shaming are effective strategies to stop drinking

Not everyone who starts drinking at a young age will necessarily develop the condition. Many people may believe the myth that loading up on bread, heavy foods, or even drinking coffee will lower your blood alcohol level. The truth is that time passing is the only way for alcohol to wear off. But there’s still a lot of misinformation about alcohol and alcohol use disorder. Alcohol does not always make someone fat but people who abuse alcohol are more likely to gain weight.

Depending on how you metabolize alcohol, your BAC can reach this level after only one drink. In most of the United States, your blood alcohol content (BAC) must be under 0.08% for you to legally drive. I am a dedicated and seasoned health writer passionate about transforming complex medical jargon into accessible, actionable information. Leveraging extensive research and a knack for distilling complicated topics, my work is a reliable resource for a diverse online audience. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information.

Myth #8: Coffee and cold showers can sober you up quickly

You can seek help at any stage in your drinking – whether it’s the first time you binge drink or you’ve been drinking habitually for 25 years. You can and should seek treatment any moment you feel you need help. Drinking is a terrible way to take the edge off of your chronic pain.

Early sobriety can be tough because all those emotions you tried to avoid by drinking can come back to the surface. But dealing with those feelings and tackling the “why” of your alcoholism is the only way to get on a healthy recovery path. After work, it’s perceived as normal to meeting with coworkers for happy hour or having a glass of wine when you get home. Binge drinking is viewed as a harmless rite of passage during college and drunken escapades are often considered funny even if they cause significant harm.

Find out how many people have alcohol use disorder in the United States across age groups and demographics. Social drinking is very popular and also officially many take to drinking as they feel it boosts their career prospects. Initially, a person starts drinking with his peer group with the view that it does not become a habit. But eventually, in the case of many drinking becomes a regular habit and if the drinker faces personal problem he or she come a drunkard. Many of us look forward to celebrations during the holidays, yet it is also a time when some people are more likely to drink beyond their limits than at other times of the year.

• Heavy drinking can put you at risk for health problems such as heart disease, stroke, liver disease, sleep problems, and some types of cancer.
• Many rehab centers are ready to help you get started on your journey towards sobriety.
• Environmental factors like stress or trauma also play a significant role.
• In fact, if you need to drink increasing amounts of alcohol to feel an effect, it could be a sign you have a problem with alcohol.
• There also may be a higher likelihood for older people to have mental health conditions that may contribute to excess drinking.
• Alcohol is a diuretic, so consuming alcohol causes the kidneys to release more water into the bladder.