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. You may want to learn if the program or provider offers medication and whether mental health issues are addressed together with alcohol treatment. When asked how alcohol problems are treated, people commonly think of 12-step programs or 28-day inpatient rehab but may have Sober living home difficulty naming other options. In fact, there are a variety of treatment methods currently available. These include FDA-approved medications, behavioral therapy, and mutual-support groups.

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Knowing why you drink is essential, says Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC, a Virginia therapist specializing in addiction treatment and alcohol moderation. Let the person you care for know that you’re available and that you care. Try to formulate statements that are positive and supportive. This will give you a good idea of how much alcohol you’re drinking, the situations in which you drink, and how you could start to cut down. Support is also available for family members in their own right.

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You’ll also be given the relevant contact details for other support services should you need additional support. If your dependency is severe, you may need to go to a hospital or clinic to detox. This is because the withdrawal symptoms will also be severe and are likely to need specialist treatment.

• Build a sober social network – If your previous social life revolved around alcohol, you may need to make some new connections.
• Many people struggle with controlling their drinking at some point in their lives.
• While love alone can’t fix the problem, there are things you can do to support your loved one while protecting your own well-being.
• Recognizing the signs of alcoholism is the first step in determining whether an intervention is necessary.

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This how to treat alcoholism could push them away and make them more resistant to your help. It can cause changes to the brain and neurochemistry, so a person with an alcohol addiction may not be able to control their actions. Two other drugs, gabapentin and topiramate, also interact with GABA and glutamate systems. The FDA approved them to treat seizures, but health care professionals sometimes prescribe them “off-label” for alcohol use disorder. “It can be 30- to 60-day abstinence rates, fewer heavy-drinking days, cutting back on total number of drinks, or even fewer alcohol-related ER visits.”

For 3 to 4 weeks, write down every time you have a drink and how much you drink. Reviewing the results, you may be surprised at your weekly drinking habits. Once you’ve made the decision to change, the next step is establishing clear drinking goals. The more https://ecosoberhouse.com/ specific, realistic, and clear your goals, the better.

Finding or reaching out to other sober people can also help. It’s possible to develop a better relationship with alcohol and make more mindful, informed choices about drinking without total sobriety. What’s most important is to look at your drinking habits and find a way to cut back that works for you. But maybe you’re unsure about quitting completely and don’t want to hold yourself to that goal.

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. At the end of the day, one of the most important tools you have at your disposal is self-compassion. Instead of criticizing yourself for having a hard time or slipping up and having a drink, remember that no one’s perfect. What matters most is your ability to maintain an open, curious outlook as you learn what does and doesn’t work for you. 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.

What Types of Alcohol Treatment Are Available?

• The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you need help finding a mental health specialist.
• Remember to reach out to your friends, family, and other loved ones for support, too.
• A healthcare provider can evaluate the AUD severity and its health impacts, refer you to specialists, and determine the appropriate treatment.
• Learn about your state’s underage drinking prevention efforts and laws ― by reading your state’s report.

Benefits are boosted liver function, higher quality sleep patterns, and a declining risk of alcohol-related diseases like liver cirrhosis and cardiovascular conditions. Environmental control is a key factor in recovery because those who cultivate an alcohol-free space are more likely to remain sober. Overcoming alcohol addiction involves acknowledging its impact, including physical dependency, emotional distress, and strained relationships. Recognizing the need for change and taking structured steps substantially improves outcomes.