Wednesday, October 3, 2012

How To Approach An Alcoholic



In addition to its numerous health risks, alcoholism is a dangerous psychological disease. Not only does alcoholism pose a heightened risk for heart attack, liver disease and cancer, but increased feelings of depression, anxiety and inadequacy - symptoms that often spur the disease in the first place. Without treatment, alcoholics will often experience a diminished quality of life, in the form of strained relationships, finances, and a general lack of enthusiasm. In order to alter an alcoholic’s destructive path, the individual must be committed to a change. Helping an alcoholic towards this commitment takes a great deal of courage, patience and tact.

1 – Contact an intervention specialist regarding how best to approach the individual in question. In areas where an AA branch is far from reach, you may employ the aid of a public social worker. Obtaining professional help is especially crucial in cases where individuals have discussed or attempted suicide, is in denial, or has a history dealing with mental illness. Even in instances that do not involve these characteristics, getting in touch with a professional addiction specialist can be a wonderful step forward.

2 – Plan an intervention alongside a professional interventionist, while taking care to include close friends and relatives. When it comes to interventions, studies show a heightened rate of success when compared to 1-on-1 encounters.

3 – Prepare and research various facts pertaining to the individual’s behaviors, and how they have affected those surrounding them.  Some common examples may include missed family get-togethers, financial strain, or lost relationships.

4 – Gather your participants for a pre-intervention to discuss the process and goals of the upcoming meeting. Have each participant write out a letter to the alcoholic detailing their personal struggles in regard to the addiction. Discuss treatment plans and potential consequences to implement in case the individual refuses to accept the help being offered. Stress the importance of secrecy leading up to the actual intervention and designate a neutral and non-threatening area to hold it. 

5 – Intervention day. Provide participants with the opportunity to express their feelings. Once the rounds have been made, offer your treatment plan. Ask your loved one for a decision and communicate the consequences that will take place if help is refused. Be calm, firm, and loving throughout. Regardless of the outcome, your life is on the fast track to independence, happiness, and freedom.

8 comments:

  1. The best solution for a drinking or alcohol problem is to find the proper drug or alcohol abuse treatment program. Alcohol Rehab

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    1. Like many people, at the start of the year, I made a resolution to decrease my alcohol intake.

      Drink Less in Seven Days by Georgia Foster has really helped me stick to this resolution. Georgia is a clinical hypnotherapist and alongside the written version of the book, there are also 4 "Hypnosis Hub" recordings that readers are encouraged to access to help them with the program.

      One of the great things about Drink Less in Seven Days is that Georgia (and I"m going to call her Georgia because she kind of feels like a friend) is totally non-judgemental about how much you drink, why you drink, why you feel you drink too much etc. I feel that this is an area where people carry a lot of shame and negative feelings and to have someone who approaches an emotional issue like this with absolute objectivity is helpful in driving the desired behaviours. She's on your side!

      There are two main parts to Drink Less in Seven Days. The first is how your amygdala (the part of your brain that deals with emotions and fear/stress responses) can actually work against your efforts to quit or reduce your drinking. It shows you how to move your decision to drink away from this very instinctive part of your brain to your prefrontal cortex which is the part of your brain that is more concerned with considered decision-making.

      I found this part of the book fascinating, particularly the parts where she spoke about silencing your inner critic.

      However, it was the second part of the book, where Georgia broke down different personality types. what triggers them to drink and how to circumvent these triggers that I found most useful. (Also fascinating, if like me you love a good theory of behaviour and the ability to proclaim "Yes!!!! That's me!"). Because it makes total sense right? If you drink out of social anxiety (which is me a little bit) your methods to success will likely be different to someone who drinks because everyone around you is (also me a little bit).

      The biggest take away for me was starting to understand what triggers my wanting to drink and learning alternative strategies should I decide not to. I think a really important thing about Drink Less in Seven Days is that it is NOT about quitting drinking altogether. It is about cutting down to a level that you are comfortable with, whatever that is for you. And this feels more manageable than quitting altogether.

      The cru of this type of book though is does it work?

      So here's the real deal. I started this program in January. It's now March and I can count the times I have drunk alcohol on one hand. During this time I have been to pubs, bars and restaurants, entertained at home and been entertained at other people's homes so it's not like I have been hiding myself away. I have been around alcohol and people drinking as much as I ever was.

      Will I drink again? Almost definitely. For me, this experiment was never about giving up altogether. And I have far too much fun making cocktails for this to give it up completely! However, I feel that moving forward I will be able to drink in a more mindful considered way.

      Thank you to Georgia Foster for a thoroughly fascinating book that does exactly what it says on the cover!

      Here's a link to The 7 Days To Drink Less Online Alcohol Reduction Program.

      John

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  2. Confronting an Alcoholic about their addiction scares me. I have watched enough INTERVENTION shows to know how they are going to react. I am honestly thinking of contacting an intervention specialist to help me with my friend. And this post gives me the courage to do so!

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  3. #5 is very important :) Quality and affordable rehab centers may help those who's looking for low cost treatment centers.

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