Alcoholism or Alcohol Addiction is the inability to control drinking due to both a physical and emotional dependence on alcohol.
This addiction entirely changes the way the brain works. It causes impulsive behaviour, negative emotions, cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Prolonged Alcoholism generates a lot of severe health issues in a human body like Heart disease and Liver disease. Both can be fatal with Alcohol Addiction.
Some of the side effects of Alcoholism are Ulcers, High Blood Pressure, Reproductive Problems, Suppressed Immune System, Vision Problems, Birth Defects, Brain Damage, & Cancer Risk.
What is alcohol counselling?
Alcohol counselling is done to tackle the root causes that lead a person to alcoholism. Alcohol counselling refers to when a therapist or counsellor helps an alcoholic resolve their substance abuse issues by addressing the negative thought patterns and behaviours that lead to alcoholism in the first place.
Addiction is classified as a mental disease and alcohol therapy is an essential factor that helps with the recovery process.
Alcoholic counselling sessions are supervised by a counsellor, the counselling sessions are held at safe spaces or support groups such as Alcoholics anonymous Bangalore.
During alcohol counselling, medical professionals will provide essential guidance and support that will help the patient achieve recovery and sustain it, as well.
Counselling and therapy for alcohol are available through inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment facilities.
Most inpatient rehabs will offer intensive counselling for alcohol addiction during residential treatments and as a follow-up, once you return home; there will be occasional alcoholism counselling sessions scheduled as aftercare.
It’s important to provide counselling for alcoholics, especially once the patient has left the clinic. Alcohol counselling, as aftercare, will help you with sobriety in the long term.
It’s also strongly recommended that a patient combines outpatient counselling with support groups that are offered through Alcoholics Anonymous.
What is the role of an alcohol therapist?
It can get challenging to define the exact duties of an alcohol counsellor because there is no standard treatment plan that is made to sit all the patients; each treatment plan is customized according to the patient and it is formulated in a way that suits their needs.
Usually, the counsellor will meet with you to provide the following:
- Hearing out your issues and helping you identify the reasons behind the alcohol abuse
- Helping you develop a structured recovery process that is customized according to your needs
- Identify the emotional triggers that send you in a drinking spiral and enhance your alcohol dependence
- The therapist will educate you on techniques that help sustain your recovery
- Assess your progress, once the treatment is agreed on
- Encourage and motivate you to succeed, during your recovery process
The alcohol therapist will undertake several meetings with you, especially during the early period of your recovery.
The number of meetings, that take place, will reduce later on; especially, once the patient is more confident during your recovery.
Selecting an alcohol counsellor based on your needs:
When it comes to counselling for alcoholics, you must select the right counsellor who will help you with the recovery process and gets you off on the right path.
Firstly, get a counsellor who specializes in alcohol treatment. Counsellors might mention that they treat addiction, but it’s strongly suggested that you seek out a counsellor who specializes in counselling for alcohol addiction, as their primary offering.
You must consider if you prefer a certain gender while choosing a therapist. For instance, if you’re a woman who has had a violent past with men you may be comfortable with a female therapist.
You must note that the counsellor will discuss your vulnerabilities and your most intimate moments, and it’s essential that you feel comfortable during the process. Also, check their qualifications and credentials before setting up a therapy appointment.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment:
Alcohol addiction is a self-diagnosable condition. But often people struggle to recognize the symptoms.
You can determine if you have a mild, moderate or severe alcohol use disorder by following this checklist:
- Have a high tolerance for alcohol
- No hangover symptoms
- Drinking at inappropriate times
- Hiding alcohol
- Dependence on alcohol to function in everyday life
- Facing depression, feeling lethargic or any other emotional issues
If you or any of your loved one has these symptoms, then do not delay further to have an alcohol addiction treatment.
Treatment for alcohol addiction includes supervised detox, counselling and therapy, and support group participation.
Medications only help manage the symptoms or cravings, but to completely overcome the addiction, one has to be determined from within. Some of the medications for alcoholics to stop drinking are Antabuse (Disulfiram), Naltrexone, and Campral (Acamprosate)
Because of prolonged alcohol addiction, the brain develops a severe dependency on alcohol and cannot function properly. This is where counselling comes.
Counselling is an essential part of the alcohol addiction recovery program. Some common types of counselling and therapy for alcohol addiction include:
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy
- Dialectical behavioural therapy
- Multidimensional family therapy
- Motivational interviewing
- Motivational incentives
- Alcohol de-addiction Group Therapy
Cognitive-behavioural therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy or CBT is a type of psychotherapy that helps individuals overcome their addiction to alcohol and other behavioural problems associated with it. CBT follows a treatment approach in which people are assisted and encouraged to identify their feelings and situations that may be triggering their craving for alcohol.
CBT works with the aim to change these thoughts and feelings that drive people to indulge in heavy drinking as well as develop the skills to cope up with stress and other triggers that could possibly lead to alcohol relapse.
Dialectical behavioural therapy
Dialectical behavioural therapy, a form of CBT, is a dynamic therapy that has been proved to be quite effective for the treatment of alcoholism.
Regular alcohol abuse may lead to severe dependence as well as mood swings and difficult emotions, including anxiety and depression. DBT is focused on helping individuals cope with these negative emotions through validation and acceptance of such feelings, behaviours, and thoughts.
Dialectical behavioural therapy is all about finding the balance between the things that can be accepted and the ones that need change. Moreover, it also helps people to move past the guilt, shame, and other problems of alcoholism and build the necessary motivation and self-esteem for change.
Multidimensional family therapy
Alcohol addiction doesn’t just affect the individual but has far-reaching impacts on families as a whole. In multidimensional family therapy, family members and friends can participate in the treatment program. Their involvement in the treatment of alcoholism can significantly boost up the recovery of their loved one by repairing and improving relationships between them. Additionally, research has shown that individuals who receive support from their family and friends during the counselling have a better chance at preventing relapse than those undergoing individual therapy.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational interviewing aims at assisting individuals to develop the strength and desire to change their drinking behaviours through structured feedback and planning. It is usually conducted over a short period of time, where individuals can design a plan to maintain abstinence from alcohol as well as develop the skills to sustain sobriety.
Motivational incentives
Motivational incentives are also called contingency management and are a type of behavioural therapy that works on the principle of operant conditioning. During this treatment, positive behaviours are rewarded and disciplinary actions such as drawing back the privileges are carried out whenever the individual indulges in undesirable behaviour. Generally, motivational incentives are used in combination with other treatment styles, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, medicine for alcohol addiction, etc.
Alcohol de-addiction Group Therapy
It is a vital treatment process which provides the person with a gateway to share and perceive the mutual experiences, failures and disappointments.
The medical professional seated along with the group gives an in-depth knowledge that makes the individual understand the addiction-related issues.
As a counsellor, referring patients to other alcohol de-addiction programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous can add another level of outside support.
Dual Diagnosis
Treatments like Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, phobias, and other mental disorders associated with alcohol and other substance abuse. Alcohol counselling also helps in treating other mental health problems along with substance abuse.
Goals of Alcohol Counselling
The treatment process and methods depend on the severity of the individual. But the treatment goals remains the same.
- Develop and boost the internal motivation of the person.
- Educate them to break the addiction cycle and start teetotalism.
- Enhance problem-solving skills and coping techniques achieve sobriety in the long-run.
- Avoid and overcome alcohol craving and dependence.
- Handle high-risk triggers and relapses.
- Educates the family members how to be an active participant in the recovery.
- Engages the person in programs such as 12-steps, alcoholics anonymous, and narcotics anonymous.
No matter how much you drink or how long you’ve struggled with alcoholism, alcohol counselling can make a huge difference in your recovery. Here’s how alcohol counselling can help you kick the habit.
Benefits of Alcohol Addiction Counselling
Alcohol counselling is the most crucial part of treating an alcohol abuse disorder. A counsellor offers support and guidance along the journey to an alcohol-free life.
No matter how much you drink or how long you’ve struggled with alcoholism, alcohol counselling can make a huge difference in your recovery.
The techniques and strategies learned from alcohol counselling can be applied to different situations in life, including workplace, school, social settings, and personal life as well. Some of the benefits that alcohol addiction counselling offer are -
Goal setting and achievement
During the treatment, your counsellor will help you set goals and benchmarks and achieve them. Some goals that you need to accomplish could be as simple as fighting the urge to drink for a few days or a week or participating in a self-help meeting.
Identifying and managing triggers
Alcohol counselling offers you the strength to overcome the desires and impulses to drink. They can also teach individuals to cope in situations that bring high stress and anxiety to prevent triggers from arising.
Developing new hobbies
This is one of the best parts of alcohol counselling, where people discover new things about themselves. There are certain activities that people usually enjoyed doing before their addiction. Probably, there was something that they always wanted to do but never got the opportunity. Counselling helps them think outside the box and involve them in these activities. They also get the opportunity to try out new activities like yoga or team sports.
Induces Acceptance:
It allows the individual to accept the fact that he is addicted because in most of the cases the person is in complete denial of addiction, which is the first step towards leading an alcohol-free life. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a valuable therapy while treating alcoholism and drug addiction.
This is especially true when it's part of an overall program of recovery. It teaches the person to recognize situations in which they are most likely to drink or use drugs and avoid these circumstances if possible.
It also helps cope with other problems and behaviours which may lead to their substance abuse.
Relapse Prevention:
Relapse prevention is why most people seek alcohol treatment. By the time most individuals seek help, they have already tried to quit on their own and they are looking for a better solution.
Counsellors create tailored plans according to the needs of each individual patient after analysing a few elements:
- A detailed account of the patient’s experience with alcohol including previous relapses
- Warning signs and ways how you can best manage them
- A detailed list of counsellors, family and friends that can be used as a support network
- An emergency relapse plan
- Specific lifestyle changes
If you’re looking for help with alcohol addiction treatment, alcohol counselling, alcohol deaddiction, check into our Alcohol deaddiction centre in Bangalore.
For more details on our alcohol de-addiction program, call our 24x7 alcohol addiction helpline @ +91 97414 76476.
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