Is Alcoholism a Mental Illness?

Living life addicted to alcohol can feel crazy on many days, but is alcoholism a mental illness? What is the connection between abusing alcohol uncontrollably and having a diagnosable mental illness? Tampa Bay Recovery explores this question to help people understand the true nature of what’s going on not just with their bodies but also their minds when they become addicted to alcohol. Our highly effective program offers maximum care for those who struggle with both addiction and other mental health disorders.

What Does It Mean to Be an Alcoholic?

Alcohol consumption is common in this country with drinks being consumed at home, in restaurants and bars, and at social gatherings and public venues of all types. For many people, drinking alcohol is something they do occasionally and with the ability to control how often and how much they consume. Unfortunately, a large number of people find that they begin to rely on drinking alcohol to the point that they develop an addiction. In fact, as recently as 2020, about 10% of Americans aged 12 and up had an alcohol use disorder. 

Someone who becomes an alcoholic drinks daily or several times a week without being able to cut back or stop drinking. They may drink in an attempt to deal with painful emotions or difficult situations or for other reasons. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the amount of alcohol people consumed due to the stress of living during a worldwide health crisis and being isolated during extensive lockdown periods. 

Is Alcoholism a Mental Illness?

Mental illnesses are defined as health conditions that include changes in how a person thinks, feels, and/or behaves. They can develop as a result of a situation like how military service or experiencing an assault can cause a person to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They can also happen with no obvious specific cause which may have to do with a person’s family history of having mental illnesses. 

Is alcoholism a mental illness? This is a tricky question but the fact is that it can be classified as a mental health disorder. In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association placed substance use disorders, which include alcoholism, in the category of a primary mental health disorder. This appeared in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). In previous versions of the DSM, alcoholism was considered to be a subset of personality disorders. 

Similar to other mental illnesses, alcohol use disorder does not heal by itself and causes observable symptoms that something is wrong. It also gets progressively worse if professional help is not obtained, and it responds well to proper treatment.

Is Alcohol Addiction Considered a Disease?

Another way to answer the question “Is alcoholism a mental illness?” is to understand that alcohol use disorder is also a disease. Sadly, some people dismiss alcohol abuse as someone being stubborn or behaving poorly as if they could stop drinking if they just tried harder. Actually, alcoholism affects the brain by altering its ability to naturally produce feel-good chemicals like dopamine. The person’s brain begins to rely on alcohol to help them feel pleasure and joy. Once a person’s brain chemistry is altered by their addiction, the disease has taken control.

What is the Connection Between Alcoholism and Mental Illness?

About half of those who have an addiction also deal with a diagnosable mental illness such as anxiety or depression. As a matter of fact, alcohol abuse can cause an increase in symptoms of a mental illness or contribute to developing one. This can create a terrible cycle in which the person drinks to relieve symptoms like anxiety, depression, or trauma-related flashbacks while at the same time, the drinking increases the symptoms.

How is Alcoholism Treated?

Alcohol treatment begins by going to a detox program. From there, a person transitions into either residential or outpatient care. At all stages of treatment, the person is monitored for withdrawal symptoms, which can range from difficult to dangerous when someone stops drinking alcohol. Prescription medications can be used to help minimize the symptoms and make getting sober easier. 

Alcohol addiction treatment also consists of attending multiple types of therapies proven to help with substance use disorders. They also prove helpful when treating mental health disorders, which allows people to save time and money by getting help for all of their illnesses under one roof. 

Get Help For Alcohol Addiction Today

Addiction is difficult to understand by both those who experience it and their family members and friends. Loved ones often fail to understand why someone doesn’t just quit drinking when it’s become a problem for them. They sometimes find themselves wondering, “Is alcoholism a mental illness?” Tampa Bay Recovery offers several outpatient programs that help the individual understand what it takes to change both their behaviors and their mindset so they can become sober for life. We also offer family therapy to help loved ones understand the nature of addiction and how to support the person they care about as they begin recovery.

Is it time for you to face your alcoholism head-on and get the help you deserve? Visit our admissions page now and we can get you started on healing today.