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The results of the assessment can offer initial guidance to the drinker about what treatment to seek and help motivate the problem drinker to get treatment. Individuals with drinking problems improve their chances of recovery by seeking help early. Spouses and children of heavy drinkers may face family violence; children may suffer physical and sexual abuse and neglect and develop psychological problems. Women who drink during pregnancy run a serious risk of damaging their fetuses. Relatives, friends and strangers can be injured or killed in alcohol-related accidents and assaults. Genetic factors make some people especially vulnerable to alcohol dependence.

What to look for in an app to stop drinking alcohol

Your counselor can assist you with coming up with alternate coping strategies. Ones that how to overcome alcoholism don’t involve alcohol will actually help you in more ways that you probably realize.

You might reach for alcohol when you’re really just thirsty, says Crews. Drink a cup of soothing tea or a tall glass of water before you imbibe—once your thirst is quenched, you may not feel the need for as much—or any—alcohol.

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A number of these therapies, including cognitive-behavioral coping skills treatment and motivational enhancement therapy, were developed by psychologists. Additional therapies include 12-Step facilitation approaches that assist those with drinking problems in using self-help programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous . Once people begin drinking excessively, the problem can perpetuate itself. Heavy drinking can cause physiological changes that make more drinking the only way to avoid discomfort. Individuals with alcohol dependence may drink partly to reduce or avoid withdrawal symptoms. Problem drinking has multiple causes, with genetic, physiological, psychological,and social factors all playing a role. Not every individual is equally affected by each cause.

However, it is possible to pull yourself out of the snares of alcohol addiction. If you feel comfortable doing so, talk about your challenges with your primary healthcare professional. Finding a therapist can also be a great starting point if you’re uncomfortable opening up to your healthcare professional.

Online Therapy Can Help

The above groups for family members of alcoholics, as well as traditional therapy options, may help support you. There is even a branch of recovery coaching geared towards caregivers. The better you feel, the better you’ll be able to care for someone else. Alcoholics Anonymous and many rehab programs often present abstinence as the only option.

It’s normal for the readjustment period to take time, and for people to encounter speed bumps along the way. Assume that for several months to a year you will need to focus on this process, and continue to problem solve as you go along. It’s important to remember that it takes time to develop alcoholism, and it takes time to recover from it. There is no way to completely prevent these symptoms if you quit abruptly. Your best bet is to have medical supervision to keep you safe. Doctors sometimes prescribe sedatives like benzodiazepines to ease the symptoms, as well as gabapentin and baclofen. Gabapentin can help prevent seizures, and baclofen can temporarily replace alcohol in some parts of your brain.

Alcohol Counseling

Through the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry patient resources portal, individuals can locate specialists near them and see their accreditations. There’s also a list of topics – psychiatry, types of addictions and mental illness – that patients and families can learn more about. Similar to AA, Secular Organizations for Sobriety offers meetings that alcoholics can attend in order to get and remain sober. There are a variety of SOS meetings that take place in cities across the United States, as well as online groups. In addition to helping recovering alcoholics, there are SOS groups that support those overcoming drug abuse and compulsive eating disorders. The Recovery Village was founded to address an unmet need to provide treatment for substance abuse with underlying mental health issues. Using one or more of several types of psychological therapies, psychologists can help people address psychological issues involved in their problem drinking.

Alcohol can be a detriment to your body in many ways. Even drinking moderately can sometimes leave you feeling unwell, groggy, or hungover. Spending time with people who understand what you are experiencing can be healing. You can also learn from what others have done to achieve sobriety to guide your journey. Self-reflection helps determine if you need to stop drinking. If you have to ask, “Am I an alcoholic?” you most likely are. Alcohol use disorder affects around 14.5 million people in the U.S.