Services Alcoholism Treatment
Being heavily dependent on alcohol to overcome your anxiety and depressive thoughts can be termed as alcoholism or alcohol addiction. While it is acceptable to drink alcohol socially but being unable to function normally without the aid of an alcohol-based drink indicates that there is something wrong psychologically. The behavior-altering patterns of alcoholism are often associated with serious grievances both physical and mental. An alcoholic person may be socially harmful as well. The best way to combat alcoholism is through counseling.
Symptoms Of Alcoholism
However, it is mandatory to understand the facts about alcoholism and then approach a counselor for help. You are likely to be an alcoholic if you:
- Look forward to alcohol as something that can distract you from unpleasant everyday activities.
- Find it hard to stop once you start drinking alcohol every day.
- You gradually begin to require more and more alcohol in order to stay distracted.
- You do not bother about the time of the day and start drinking morning, noon, or night.
- You start neglecting your home, work, family, and friends.
- You develop tremors, delusions, and dehydration symptoms if you go without alcohol for 2-3 days at a stretch.
Treatment For Alcoholism
It is rare for an alcoholic to request for counseling sessions. It is usually the family members or the spouses who become aware of the situation and try to treat the alcoholic. The counselors may be physicians, certified therapists, or recovering alcoholics that can help a person dealing with alcoholism.
Counseling Process For Alcoholism
The counselor usually has the following goals when dealing with alcoholism:
- Gradually withdrawing alcohol without causing any harmful physical effects.
- Medication and counseling the affected person so that he or she can stay away from the substance in the future.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for children or young adults less than 18 years of age.
The first step for a counselor is to talk to the person and make him or she admit their problem. Most addicts are unaware of it and often make excuses for themselves instead of accepting the facts particularly when it comes to alcoholism. However, it is up to the counselor to make the patient accept the changes that alcohol has created. Helping the alcoholic learn to control their urges to drink is yet another headway for the counselor who then goes on to show the person how to address the problems and insecurities in life without turning to a self-damaging substance like alcohol. The third and final phase is to counsel the family of the addicted person and offer support and guidance.
