Therapy of people addicted to alcohol can be a time-consuming process that requires strong will and commitment. However, if it is well managed, it brings lasting effects: it improves health and family relationships, and sometimes even saves lives. The course of treatment is always adapted to the individual needs of the patient, his life situation and the degree of severity of the problem.
Stages of alcohol addiction therapy
The process of treating alcoholism takes place in several stages. These are:
- Diagnosis – consists in recognizing the problem and assessing the degree of its severity. The specialist conducts an interview on the frequency of drinking, symptoms of addiction and well-being in the absence of the possibility of alcohol consumption. There may also be questions about co-occurring difficulties, e.g. depression or anxiety disorders.
- Detoxification – if the body is heavily burdened with alcohol, detoxification may be necessary. This stage may require medical support, as appropriate medications are able to alleviate withdrawal symptoms, which include muscle and joint pain, hand tremors, sweating, irritability, and anxiety.
- Basic therapy – the first part of the actual therapy, which usually lasts from a few to several weeks. The patient learns about the mechanisms of addiction, learns to cope with alcohol cravings and situations of risk of relapse.
- In-depth therapy – at this stage, we strive to ensure that the addicted person works through the problems that contributed to the addiction. Drinking is often an escape from difficult emotions. We also focus on consolidating the changes achieved, rebuilding relationships and working on self-esteem. This can take anywhere from a year to several years.
Group therapy
Group therapy is an important complement to individual therapy. These are meetings in a group of several or a dozen people, which is led by a qualified addiction therapist. Participants talk about the difficulties associated with abstinence, share successes and ways in which they cope with stress. They also analyze situations that may lead to a return to drinking.
Such a group gives the addicted person the feeling that they are not alone with their problem. The experiences of others can become a source of motivation and hope.
Meetings usually take place once or twice a week. During therapy in a closed center, they may be more frequent.
The specialist who leads the group makes sure that all its members follow the established rules. The most important rule is that only sober people can take part in therapy. Discretion is also important – you can’t talk to anyone about what other group members have said about themselves.
When is it worth starting therapy?
You need alcohol addiction therapy if:
- you have trouble controlling the amount of alcohol you drink,
- you drink frequently despite previous restrictions on
- you have noticed that even small doses of alcohol give you a feeling of intoxication,
- you have withdrawal symptoms when you don’t drink, e.g. trembling hands, anxiety, irritability,
- you neglect duties, e.g. work or family duties, due to alcohol,
- there are conflicts with loved ones related to drinking,
- you happen to come to work under the influence of alcohol,
- you drink alone or hide alcohol,
- You can’t refrain from drinking, even though it causes you negative health effects.
Remember that the earlier you start treatment, the better the chance that you will overcome the addiction before it causes serious problems in your life.
Who benefits from alcohol addiction therapy?
The therapy is used by people of different ages, both women and men. Among the patients are professionally active people, pensioners and students. Addiction does not concern only one social or age group. The stereotype of a neglected and poorly educated alcoholic who drinks the cheapest liquor is slowly fading into oblivion.
Data published in Poland indicate that the problem of alcoholism is widespread. It is estimated that about 900 thousand. of people in Poland may be addicted to alcohol. That’s not all, because more than 2 million people drink in a risky or harmful way.
Alcohol destroys health and sometimes even leads to death. Due to the consequences of drinking alcohol, about 12 thousand people die in Poland every year. people. That is why it is so important not to delay the start of treatment.
