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Recovering alcoholic reveals the one question that can determine whether someone has a drinking problem Life

struggling with alcohol addiction

It’s vital that you stay safe, take care of your own health, and get the support you need. Help the person address the problems that led to them drinking. If your loved support for those who struggling with alcohol addiction one drank because of boredom, anxiety, or loneliness, for example, those problems will still be present once they’re sober. Encourage the person to find healthier ways of coping with life’s problems and rebounding from setbacks without leaning on alcohol. Don’t expect your loved one to overcome a drinking problem alone. Even if they don’t require medical supervision to withdraw safely, they’ll still need support, guidance, and new coping skills to quit or cut back on their drinking.

Plan for triggers and cravings

Make sure your person is not upset or preoccupied with other issues. Worrying and stressing about your loved one can take a toll on your mind and body, so find ways to relieve the pressure. Eating right, exercising regularly, and sleeping well can all help to keep stress in check. You can also try one of HelpGuide’s guided audio meditations to help you stay calm and focused as you make this challenging journey.

struggling with alcohol addiction

Medications

Through it all, however, be sure to take care of yourself and your mental health. The above mentioned scenarios are referred to as triggers—the people, places, situations, and things that can increase an individual’s risk of relapse. You might run into obstacles along the way that tempt you to drink. Keep in mind the reasons you chose to cut back on or quit alcohol. Maybe you’ve never been interested in logging your innermost thoughts, but journaling can be a great tool to track your feelings as you work on quitting alcohol.

struggling with alcohol addiction

How to approach someone with alcohol use disorder

Hoping the person will get better on their own won’t change the situation. Let the person you care for know that you’re available and that you care. Try to formulate statements that are positive and supportive. Remain calm when confronting your teen, and only do so when everyone is sober. Explain your concerns and make it clear that your worry comes from a place of love. It’s important that your teen feels you are supportive.

struggling with alcohol addiction

Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, trauma-informed care customizes the healing process, understanding that everyone’s journey is unique. That means treatments like therapy, counseling, and group sessions are tailored to each person’s needs. It’s a level of care that’s deeply personal and, quite honestly, necessary. Alcoholism is a term used to describe someone with an alcohol use disorder. Someone with alcoholism has both a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol.

Sex and love addiction has not been officially recognized in the DSM-5, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders used by professionals. The Mayo Clinic notes that it’s sometimes diagnosed as part of other mental health conditions, including behavioral addiction. People struggling with compulsive behavior around love and sex have long been the brunt of sleazy jokes and lurid misrepresentation. TV shows and movies use sad, so-called sex addicts sitting on folding chairs in support groups as punchlines. But cultural stigmas around sex and love 12-step programs are being challenged by a rising generation of young women active in recovery — and on social media. Suggest social activities that don’t involve drinking.

struggling with alcohol addiction

About Mayo Clinic

Your loved one’s addiction may even be so overwhelming that it seems easier to ignore it and pretend that nothing is wrong. But in the long run denying it will only bring more harm to you, your loved one with the problem, and the rest of your family. Often, children, partners, siblings and parents are on the receiving end of abuse, violence, threats and emotional upheaval because of alcohol and drug issues. You can’t control the behavior of your loved one with the addiction.

  • An intervention professional, also known as an interventionist, also could direct an intervention.
  • Signs and symptoms of drug use or intoxication may vary, depending on the type of drug.
  • Mutual-support groups provide peer support for stopping or reducing drinking.
  • The Navigator offers a step-by-step process to finding a highly qualified professional treatment provider.

Seeking professional help can prevent a return to drinking—behavioral therapies can help people develop skills to avoid and overcome triggers, such as stress, that might lead to drinking. Most people benefit from regular checkups with a treatment provider. Medications can also deter drinking during times when individuals may be at greater risk for a return to drinking (e.g., divorce, death of a family member). What kind of treatment does the program or provider offer? It is important to gauge whether the facility provides all the currently available, evidence-based methods or relies on one approach.

What are resources for treating alcoholism?

The groups for family and friends listed in the “Resources” section may be a good starting point. Standing by your friend or family member’s progress during and after treatment is important, too. Even after recovery, your person will be in situations they can’t predict.

  • Don’t lie or cover things up to protect someone from the consequences of their drinking.
  • Like AA, Al-Anon is a mutual-help group for the loved ones of those who struggle with alcohol misuse.
  • Despite manufacturer claims, these are chemical compounds rather than “natural” or harmless products.
  • The growth stage is all about improving and moving forward.
  • Their generation just wants, in every way, to make it better.

Primary care and mental health providers can provide effective AUD treatment by combining new medications with brief counseling visits. When seeking professional help, it is important that you feel respected and understood and that you trust the person, group, or organization to help you. However, remember that relationships with health care providers can take time to develop. Many health care providers can play a role in treatment.