Behavioral treatments share certain characteristics, which may include:
- develop the skills you need to quit or reduce drinking
- help develop a strong social support system
- set achievable goals
- avoid or deal with the causes that could lead you to relapse into drinking
Types Of Behavioral Treatments
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: can be done individually with a therapist or in small groups. This form of therapy focuses on identifying the feelings and situations (called “cues” or “cues”) that lead you to binge drinking and managing stress that may lead to relapse.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (Met) – This takes place over a short period to build and reinforce motivation that enables you to change your drinking behavior.
Brief Interventions: These are short, individual, or small group counseling sessions, limited in time. The counselor provides information about the person’s drinking patterns and potential risks.
Ultimately, the fact that you choose to receive treatment may be more important than your approach as long as the approach avoids harsh confrontation, incorporates empathy and motivational support, and focuses on changing drinking behavior.
Tips For Choosing A Treatment
Professionals in alcohol use treatment advise what to consider when choosing a treatment program.
Generally speaking, gather as much information as possible about the program or professional before making a treatment decision. If you know someone who knows the program firsthand, ask about their experience.
Some Questions You Can Ask To Help You In Your Choice:
What Type Of Treatment Does The Program Or Professional Offer?
Estimating whether the center provides all currently available methods or is based on a certain approach is important. You should determine if the program or professional offers medication and addresses mental health issues and addiction treatment.
Is The Treatment Tailored To Each Person?
Finding the right therapy for the individual is important to their success. There is no single treatment that benefits everyone. Another thing that would help is to determine if the treatment will adapt to meet changing needs as they arise.
What Is Expected Of The Patient?
It is in your best interest to understand what will be required of you to decide which treatment best suits your needs.
How does the program or professional handle relapse? Relapse is common, and it would be good for you to know how it is treated.
The Importance Of Persisting
Since alcohol use disorder can be a chronic, relapsing condition, persistence is key. It is rare that someone undergoes treatment once and never drinks again. More often than not, people try over and over to quit or cut down, relapse, learn from them, and try again. For many, continued follow-up with the treating professional is essential to overcome problematic drinking.
Relapse Is Part Of The Process.
Relapse is common among people recovering from alcohol problems. People with drinking problems are more likely to relapse during stress or when exposed to situations where they used to drink alcohol.
Just as some people with diabetes or asthma may experience flare-ups in their disease, a relapse into drinking can be seen as a temporary setback to full recovery rather than an outright failure. Medications can also discourage a person from drinking when at increased risk of relapse (e.g., divorce, death in the family).
Mental Health Issues And Disorders Due To Alcohol Use
Depression and anxiety often go hand in hand with excessive alcohol consumption. Studies show that people with alcoholism are two to three times more likely to experience major depression or anxiety disorder in their lifetime. When addressing alcohol use problems, addressing any accompanying physical or mental health issues is important.
Advice For Friends And Family
Caring for people with alcohol use problems can be extremely stressful. When you try to help your loved one, it is important that you also find a way to take care of yourself. It can help to seek support from others, including friends, family, the community, and support groups. If you find yourself developing your own symptoms of depression or anxiety, consider seeing a professional for help. Based on clinical experience, many health professionals believe that the support of friends and family is very important in overcoming alcohol problems. However, many friends or family members may be uncertain about how best to provide support. The groups for family and friends listed below can be a good starting point.
Remember that changing ingrained habits is difficult, takes time, and requires repeated efforts. In every path we undertake, we tend to fall into failures, learn from them and get back on track. Recovery from this disorder takes work and time.