Monday, March 25, 2024

How To Overcome Alcohol Addiction

Health Risks Of Heavy Drinking

How to Overcome Alcohol Addiction | Beat Addictions

Heavy drinking can take a heavy toll on your physical and mental health, upping your risk of the following conditions:

  • Alcoholic hepatitis
  • Sexually transmitted disease
  • Stroke

Research shows that some of the damage caused to your brain, liver, cardiovascular system, and gut will begin to slowly heal as you stop drinking and enter recovery from an alcohol use disorder.

As the alcohol leaves your system and you begin to establish some healthy habits, you will begin to feel betterperhaps better than you have in years. Especially after you get past the temporary discomfort of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, you’ll notice increasing improvements in your physical and mental health.

Types Of Behavioral Treatments

  • CognitiveBehavioral Therapy can take place one-on-one with a therapist or in small groups. This form of therapy is focused on identifying the feelings and situations that lead to heavy drinking and managing stress that can lead to relapse. The goal is to change the thought processes that lead to alcohol misuse and to develop the skills necessary to cope with everyday situations that might trigger problem drinking.

  • Motivational Enhancement Therapy is conducted over a short period of time to build and strengthen motivation to change drinking behavior. The therapy focuses on identifying the pros and cons of seeking treatment, forming a plan for making changes in ones drinking, building confidence, and developing the skills needed to stick to the plan.

  • incorporates spouses and other family members in the treatment process and can play an important role in repairing and improving family relationships. Studies show that strong family support through family therapy increases the chances of maintaining abstinence , compared with patients undergoing individual counseling.

  • Brief Interventions are short, one-on-one or small-group counseling sessions that are time limited. The counselor provides information about the individuals drinking pattern and potential risks. After the client receives personalized feedback, the counselor will work with him or her to set goals and provide ideas for helping to make a change.

There Is No One Size Fits All Treatment

But while theres no magic bullet, there are also many different paths to successful recovery.

Some people benefit from the structure, social dependency, and quasi-religious nature of 12 step recovery programs. Others dont need group therapy or counselling, but they do need to be shown ways to make positive changes in their lives.

One thing that most paths to successful recovery share, is that theyre focused on long-term personal growth strategies, rather than short term tactics.

Also Check: How To Come Out Of Alcohol Addiction

Follow A Nutritious Diet

Nutrition was probably not high up on your agenda when you were abusing alcohol, but now that you are clean and sober, you must remember that a healthy diet is important to your overall wellbeing.

Sticking to a healthy diet will mean there is less chance of your blood sugar dropping, which could be a potential cause of alcohol cravings.

Educating Yourself On The Disease Of Addiction

Overcoming Alcohol Abuse

Learn as much as you can about alcohol use disorders doing so will help you understand the disease of addiction, not take things personally, and make good choices when taking care of yourself or your loved one.4,7

Alcohol use disorders are complex medical disorders with many interrelated biological and environmental underpinnings. There is currently no cure for AUD, but it is treatable and can be effectively managed.10

However, this doesnt mean you and others cant implement and enforce healthy personal boundaries.

Last, focusing on your own needs is of the utmost importance when helping a loved one recover from unhealthy alcohol use. Al-Anon meetings, individual therapy or counseling, and support groups are all resources that can help you cope with your loved ones addiction or learn more about the disease of addiction.7

Attain more information on how to support yourself or your loved one struggling with alcohol abuse at AACs toll-free, confidential helpline for loved ones and family members affected by the disease of addiction.

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How To Stop Drinking With Ria Health

If youre ready to quit drinking alcohol, but unsure where to find help, Ria Health may have a solution that works for you. Our program offers access to expert medical advice, prescription medications, recovery coaches, online support groups, and digital tracking tools, all through your smartphone.

Our mission is to use new technology to make treatment more accessible, and reduce the stigma around problem drinking. We offer both abstinence and moderation as options, and use only evidence-based methods.

If youd like to learn more about what it means to quit using our program specifically, continue reading here.

You can also with a member of our team for more information.

Regardless of how you choose to approach the problem, we wish you luck, and applaud you for seeking solutions. Quitting drinking can be hard, but many have succeeded before you. With enough confidence and the right support system, we believe you can do it, and we are here any time you need us!

What Happens When A Person Really Needs Rehab But They Dont Want To Go

Family members may be tempted to ask their doctor, or the police, to Baker Act their loved one. They want to ensure that their loved one is taken in to be observed and treated at a psychiatric facility.

The Baker Act, which is commonly used as a verb, as in to Baker Act someone, is a law that allows the courts to force a person to go to up to 72 hours of mandatory mental health evaluation and treatment. The requirement for using the Baker Act is that the person is known to be a harm to themselves or others.

While this law has likely saved many lives, when it comes to addiction treatment, there may be better options. Many states have specific laws regarding mandatory addiction treatment. In Florida, it is the Marchman Act.

It is important for family members who are seeking this option to protect a loved one to be careful in what action they choose to take. I recommend consulting with a lawyer who has experience of working with clients in these situations.

Also Check: How To Smoke Without Getting Addicted

Types Of Professionals Involved In Care

Many health professionals can play a role in treatment. Below is a list of providers and the type of care they may offer.

Provider Type Treatment Type

Primary Care Provider

M.D., D.O. , additionally you may see a Nurse Practitioner or Physicians Assistant

Medications, Brief Behavioral Treatment, Referral to Specialist

Psychiatrist

M.S.W. , L.C.S.W.

Behavioral Treatment

Variesmost States require some form of certification

Behavioral Treatment

Individuals are advised to talk to their doctors about the best form of primary treatment.

Getting Sober Is Not Easy

Jordan Peterson How To Overcome An Alcohol Addiction

It may seem obvious, but probably the biggest reason that failure rates appear high in recovery programs, is that getting sober is damn hard. Theres no getting around it.

No matter what program of recovery you choose, most of the people in the program will relapse at some point. Successful, long-term recovery requires massive action on the alcoholics part. Whether you do it within the traditional boundaries of AA, or following a more unconventional path, it might take more than one try to get it right.

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How To Stop Drinking Alcohol

Ashraf Ali, MD Chris Elkins, MA 6 sources

Before you try to achieve sobriety, you need to think about your drinking habits. The way that a social drinker stops drinkingis different from the way that ahigh-functioning alcoholic quits drinking. People with the disease of alcoholism require formal treatment. Thosewho arent addicted to alcohol may be able to quit on their own or with the help of friends.

You can find out if youre addicted to alcohol by taking analcoholism assessment quiz. These quizzes help you determine whether you meet the criteria for an alcohol use disorder the medical term for alcoholism, alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse. Thediagnostic criteria for an alcohol use disorder were published in the American Psychiatric Associations fifth editionof the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

You can decide how much help you need to quit drinking based on the results of the quiz.

Reach Out For Support

Quitting alcohol on your own is harder for some than others, but theres no need to go it alone.

If youre having a hard time sticking to your goal or just want some extra guidance, consider reaching out for professional support.

If you feel comfortable doing so, bring up your challenges to your primary healthcare provider. Finding a therapist can also be a great starting point if you arent comfortable opening up to your healthcare provider.

It might also be worth checking out a 12-step program in your area, like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery, to see if it feels like something that might be useful for you.

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Controlling Behavior After An Addiction

Even if your goal was to quit completely, you may decide at some point in the future that you want to be able to occasionally indulge without doing so excessively. This is possible, but it is important to be very clear about what it is you want to do.

For example, if you want to be able to have an occasional drink with friends, then you need to be able to have one drink and then stop.

Many drinkers find it easier to stay completely abstinent than to drink occasionally. If you intend to have one drink and end up having several, you should reassess your goals and what is achievable for you at this time of your life. This might be a new experience for you, and it could be liberating. It could also seem boring and difficult.

Knowing Your Triggers Is Key To Breaking The Alcohol Habit

Amazon.com: Alcoholism Cure

Alcohol cravings can be very intense, particularly up to 6 months after you stop drinking. So, if you want to make alcohol cravings easier to cope with, you should have a routine of natural ways to stop alcohol cravings.

Practice saying no to alcohol in social situations. But, the best way to avoid alcohol cravings is to avoid the people, places, and things that remind you of alcohol. This dramatically increases your chance of achieving and maintaining recovery from alcohol use disorder.

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How To Stop Drinking Without Aa

There are advantages to joining a support group, but if AA is not the right fit for you, there are other options. To begin with, other support groups exist, including SMART Recovery, Moderation Management, LifeRing, Women for Sobriety, and Secular Organizations for Sobriety . There are also online communities, such as Daybreak, and Sober Grid. Each of these options allows you to find allies, people with common goals, and a larger, sober community. None, however, require you to believe in a higher power, or work within the 12 steps.

There are also many options besides abstinence. You dont need to quit completely if that doesnt work for you, nor do you need to white-knuckle it using sheer willpower. Medications now exist that can let you cut back or quit gradually, and reduce your cravings. Not only can these make the process less stressful, they often have a higher success rate than AA or quitting without assistance.

The Sinclair Method is one strong example of this. TSM makes use of naltrexone to control cravings over time, and boasts up to a 78 percent long-term success rate. It doesnt necessarily involve community support, however. According to the American Psychiatry Association Guidelines for treating Alcohol Use Disorder, evidence-based therapy support centered around behavior change is recommended in combination with pharmacotherapy for alcoholism.

Continue Reading: Alternatives to AA

Moderation As An Option

Alcoholics Anonymous and many rehab programs often present abstinence as the only option. However, scientific evidence indicates that this is not the case. In fact, for several decades now, the medication naltrexone has been successfully used to help people cut back and moderate their drinking, without requiring total abstinence. And in general there is sufficient research to suggest that moderation-based programs can be an effective alternative to traditional treatment.

There are several reasons that moderation may work better for an individual than complete abstinence. One may be that a persons drinking problem is mild enough that changing their behavior around alcohol isnt as big a challenge. Conversely, their addiction may be so severe that its best to think about harm reductionfinding the best way to reduce that persons drinking to a safer level for the sake of their health. The goal of cutting back can sometimes feel easier to attain.

Finally, even if your long-term goal is abstinence, moderation can be an effective bridge. Under the Sinclair Method, for example, participants can continue to drink moderately over a long period of time as long as they take naltrexone beforehand. The result of this method is that some people lose interest in alcohol completely, and wind up abstaining.

At the end of the day, alcohol use disorder can be treated through behavior modification, which means that some people can learn to drink moderately.

Continue Reading:

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Natural Remedies For Alcoholism Addiction Treatment

Alcoholism is commonly used term for alcohol use disorder . Treatment of and recovery from this addiction are difficult processes that call for a great deal of steady support.

While it’s not advisable to rely solely on alternative therapies or remedies for that, certain natural approachessuch as meditation, acupuncture, and some herbsmay help enhance your well-being as you work through these stages.

If you’re considering the use of any of the following such approaches, make sure to discuss the potential benefits and risks with your healthcare team.

Be Ready With Concrete Examples Of Why You Think There May Be A Problem

How to Overcome Addiction to SEX, WEED & ALCOHOL

Before seriously confronting someone about their drug or alcohol use, spend some time thinking about the reasons you have for being concerned. Be ready to offer these up as examples when having a conversation with your loved ones. If you say you are concerned but have no solid reasoning, your loved one isnt likely to take you seriously.

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Ways To Recover From Addiction To An Energy Vampire

If you are addicted to an energy vampire or narcissist, you are likely an empath and are highly capable, hard-working, intelligent, compassionate and able to make everything else in your life work expect your relationships. The good news is, there are steps you can take to get your life and your relationships back on track and extricate the energy vampires in your life for good.

  • Admit you have a problem. This may sound like a cliche, but when dealing with addiction you must admit you have a problem. The difference here is that you must admit that the problem you have is that you believe everyone is good. Once you admit that you are in a relationship with a predator who lacks empathy, character, and compassion, you are ready to do what you need to do to avoid being their narcissistic supply.
  • Disconnect from your vampire. As with any other addiction, abstinence is the best solution. In the case of an energy vampire, you must assume they will never change and you must give up on them. Once you disconnect it will take time, but you will develop total indifference. This state is necessary to achieve in order to regain your health and start plugging your energy leaks.
  • Read my book. My book, Dodging Energy Vampires: An Empaths Guide To Evading Relationships That Drain You and Recovering Your Health and Power, gives you all the latest research and information on vampire-empath relationships.
  • Other Resources For Your Loved One In Recovery

    Numerous resources are available for people struggling with alcohol abuse issues, some of which include:

    There may also be recovery resources available in your own community. You may want to inquire with your doctor, any spiritual or religious institutions you belong to, your local veterans administrations, your local gay and lesbian community center, or county or regional healthcare authority.

    Read Also: How Many People Struggle With Addiction

    Overcoming Alcohol Addiction With Medical Assistance

    If you have tried various methods above and have not succeeded in getting out of alcoholism, then you should immediately see a doctor to get effective treatment according to your addiction level.

    Here are some treatment options that you can do to overcome alcohol addiction:

    • Detoxification

    The detoxification program is the first and most important step towards getting out of alcoholism. Detoxification aims to remove alcohol from your system. Detoxification is done at the therapy center or hospital.

    • Behavioral Counseling and Therapy

    Most doctors will recommend you to a counselor or other alcohol addiction treatment program. This program aims to help you learn strategies and ways to overcome the urge to return to drinking.

    Generally, the urge to go old habits gets stronger after you return to the environment. You can do counseling privately or in groups. Joining people who are experiencing the same thing will help you to support each other in overcoming alcohol addiction.

    Cognitive-behavioral therapy , will help you identify feelings and situations that can cause intention to drink alcohol. You will learn how to manage stress and change the thoughts that cause you to want to drink.

    • Drugs

    There are several medical drugs that are used to overcome alcohol addiction. These medicines include:

    *USA Health Articles does not provide health advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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