Benefits of counseling in treating alcohol addiction

One of the ways to properly treat alcohol addiction is by exploring the perks that counseling provides. When alcohol counseling is in place, the individual will receive the right support and guidance that will make them achieve an alcohol-free life.

It is important to mention that every addict is expected to have a different experience with an alcohol counselor. The reason is that everyone has a different recovery process.

Although, they will still need to go through the normal process of having both individual and group sessions with the counselor, depending on the agreed-upon schedule.

Here are some of the benefits that an alcohol counselor provides

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Information about alcohol addiction

If you want to know everything about alcohol addiction, the counselor is your best bet. They will provide you with enough information to make you understand how alcohol addiction develops.

Similarly, if you want to find out how and why you got addicted, you can explore this path of discovery with the alcohol counselor.

Discover hidden health problems

Not all alcoholics are aware that when you are addicted to substances like alcohol and drugs, you might be unknowingly battling some health problems.

These health problems might be aggravated when you stop taking alcohol. With the help of the counselor, you can uncover some of these underlying health issues that are connected to your drinking.

Create a feasible and structured treatment plan

Another benefit that comes with counseling in alcohol addiction is how they help you create a realistic treatment plan that is peculiar to your needs. This means that no one can use your treatment plan because you are unique.

Provide support all through recovery

If you have no one to support you all through your addiction treatment period, you can always count on the counselor.

The counselor establishes a therapeutic alliance with you that allows you to trust them even if you are just meeting them for the first time.

Signs that a person is alcoholic

Do you want to know if your friend, coworker, partner, etc has a drinking problem? There are some ways that can help you tell if they are die-hard alcoholics or not.

Even though alcohol is often used at events like birthdays, parties, and hangouts, some people abuse alcohol regularly, making them addicted in the process.

Here are some signs that tell you someone is alcoholic.

Behavioral signs

  • When you see someone who takes large amounts of alcohol over a long period, they are likely alcoholics who are dealing with addiction
  • Some of them prefer to take alcohol in private. They don’t like looking over their shoulders when they are drinking. Hence, they value their privacy so much.
  • Alcoholics find it hard to meet up with their important obligations. Some of them become unproductive at work and home. They end up becoming bad parents.
  • When you notice that they keep getting into unfortunate incidences that hurt other people both physically and mentally, they are likely struggling with alcoholism.
  • For some of them, even when the signs are glaring that they need to stop drinking, they don’t have the willpower to quit because they are knee-deep into their addiction.

Physical signs

  • When you approach them most times, you will perceive the foul stench of alcohol on their breath. This suggests that they’ve been drinking for a long time
  • Some of them either experience weight loss or weight gain
  • They experience some notable physical defects like dry skin, brittle nails, and hair, wrinkles, and aging.
  • The strange coloration of their eyes
  • Overall poor hygiene.

When you have confirmed some of these signs of alcoholism, it is important to help them seek help from reputable rehabs to assist them in becoming sober once again.

These rehabs will enable them to acknowledge their alcoholism problem so that they can be receptive to professional treatment.

HELPING AN ALCOHOLIC

An alcoholic is someone who takes alcohol without any restraint or control. They end up getting drunk in the process, and they mess themselves up. The next day, if given the chance, they pick up from where they stop with their alcohol usage.

An alcoholic might either be abusing alcohol or addicted already, but one thing remains certain, they find it difficult to quit alcohol.

An alcoholic cannot be regarded as someone who has a properly functioning mind. The reason for this is, the excessive intake of alcohol has the capacity to remodel the brain, causing it to abnormally function.

Hence, an alcoholic would not have the willpower to think properly because their brain is in the model of remodeling. So, what looks normal to someone who is not an alcoholic, would be abnormal to an alcoholic.

This is one of the reasons why an alcoholic and someone who doesn’t drink alcohol would find it difficult to be on the same page.

Providing help for an alcoholic is not easy because they will not readily want to accept that they have alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction problem.

The mistake most people make when talking to alcoholics is, they treat them with prejudice, instead of exercising ample care and love.

When you show an alcoholic that you care about them genuinely, it becomes easier to convince them to try out a recovery option. Usually, they might be defiant at first, but with time, they will opt for it.

Also, it is important that you are well versed in the knowledge of alcohol abuse and addiction because it makes it easier for you to convince them.

To wrap it up, an alcoholic who opts for treatment is sure to have his or her life back on track. This is assured if he or she accepts their alcoholism problem, and they are willing to put that aspect of their lives aside.

Depending on the severity of the alcohol problem, the individual might be required to remain within the treatment facility, or come for treatment based on a schedule.

EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLISM

Alcoholism is another name for alcohol abuse, and it simply refers to a condition whereby an individual is under the influence of alcohol, and he or she cannot seem to quit.

Not everyone has the tendency to be an alcoholic. There are some people who drink minimally and they can control themselves, while there are others who cannot.

Alcoholism has unpleasant effects on the body and many people are not aware of this. It affects both the physical and mental aspects of an individual. This is why it is always important to seek help when you discover that you are an alcoholic.

Usually, the end results of alcoholism is alcohol addiction, and when it gets to this stage, it is usually very bad because the individual would be unable to quit. The only way to break free from this chronic stage of alcoholism, is to seek help.

Alcoholism affects the internal organs of the body like the brain, liver, kidney, heart, pancreas and the likes. One reason why alcoholics do not know this is because, the short-term damage is usually not evident.

It is only in the long-run that they would realize that much damage has been done to their internal organs, and by then it would be tougher to fight off alcoholism.

Also, alcoholism affects the personal life of an individual. If a chronic alcoholic is in the workplace, it would be difficult for them to fully concentrate on work.

Alcoholics would put their drinking first over their work, and this is why some of them run into debts because they use their salary to fund alcohol abuse.

In addition, an alcoholic would not be able to see properly, alongside with absence of proper coordination in the brain. An alcoholic’s productivity would reduce greatly because it would become difficult for them to focus.

For alcoholics to get better, it is important for them to seek help as soon as possible. So that they will be able to combat it effectively.

HOW ALCOHOL ADDICTION AFFECTS RELATIONSHIPS

Sometimes, alcoholism is said to be the most hazardous drug in the world. It is not usually freely available to people, and it is fully accepted in some cultures and societies. However, this is not the only reason why it is dangerous, the side effects are also known to adversely affect the relationship of the individual.

When it comes to one of the most essential aspect of the life of an individual, it is the relationship which he has with others.

They do not only give him the needed support and companionship; they are also major contributors to the kind of person he would eventually turn out to be. However, with the presence of alcohol, all the benefits of a good relationship are short-lived.

Starting off with trust, it is the needed foundation for building a firm relationship, as it allows two or more people to come to the understanding that they have someone who they can always count on.

Now, when one of the parties happen to be abusing alcohol, it would affect the trust which has been built already. The addict in question would become so consumed with the alcohol, that he would have little or no time for the emotional and physical expectations of the people they love.

When the dependence of the addict on alcohol worsens, he becomes someone who is less reliable, because his mind would be more occupied with other things, which majorly includes the use of alcohol. If care is not taken, it could cause conflict and friction in the relationship, as other normal individuals would be forced to distance themselves from the alcohol addict.

Communication too, is also likely to be affected, because it is a primary ingredient needed in building a good relationship. Alcohol can make someone to forget important discussions, and supposed meetings.

It could induce arguments at any point in a conversation, and it could make the individual violent towards the other. Hence, it could adversely affect the communication level between both parties, thereby affecting the relationship.

Conclusively, alcohol can also cause sadness, frustration, anger and other emotional vices for both parties. Alcohol addiction is a disorder which must be combatted and resolved promptly.