How to help a person with alcoholism? 13 Keys

Beyond therapy, the friends and family of an alcoholic person can help a lot.

Alcohol consumption is a socially accepted phenomenon that has been part of many cultures since ancient times. However, many people consume alcohol excessively and over a long period of time and end up becoming dependent on this substance: we are talking about alcohol dependence or alcoholism.

This situation has serious repercussions for the subject, and can generate serious health problems or even lead to death. It is something dramatic that many families observe in one of their members, not knowing how to act. How to help an alcoholic? In this article we will discuss a series of general guidelines that family and friends may find relevant and useful in addressing the issue.

Reminding concepts: what is alcoholism?

It is considered alcoholism the addiction to the alcohol, that is to say, the acquisition of both physical and psychological dependence to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The body needs larger quantities of the substance in order to consume it. The organism needs larger quantities of the substance to notice the same effects, while its absence generates powerful symptoms typical of a withdrawal syndrome, such as dysphoria, agitation, convulsions and other types of alterations. It is consumed in such a way that a great amount of time is invested in obtaining alcohol or other relevant activities or areas of life are neglected or deteriorated.

This is a situation in which the subject loses control over consumption, which is much greater than intended and is carried out despite the knowledge of possible aversive consequences both for the subject and his or her environment. However, there is often a desire to cease consumption and one or more (unsuccessful) attempts may have been made. In spite of this, they often deny the existence of dependence.

Uncontrolled and frequent alcohol consumption can have dramatic consequences.It can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, fatty liver or even kidney dysfunction. Damage to these organs can be irreversible and lead to the need for a transplant or even death due to the destruction of these tissues. The alcoholic is frequently intoxicated, being usual the presence of lacunae and loss of consciousness. In some cases, the subject may reach ethyl coma or even death due to cardiorespiratory arrest.

Behavior is also altered, ranging from aggressiveness to extreme passivity, and it is not uncommon to engage in risky behavior while intoxicated. Socially, they may suffer abandonment from their environment or cause great suffering to those around them.

Helping an alcoholic: some basic guidelines

Families and close environment often do not know what to do to deal with the problem.often blaming the subject or pretending not to know or justifying his behavior. But such behaviors do not help the patient but in fact can complicate his condition. That is why we will now review some guidelines to help an alcoholic, both to make him see his problem and to facilitate its solution.

1. The environment must recognize the problem

First of all, although it may seem logical, the first step to be taken into account is to not to justify or ignore the behavior and excessive consumption of the subject with alcoholism.. The subject suffering from this disorder or disease (but not vice, something important to keep in mind) consumes alcohol in a way that is dangerous and has a large number of short and long term consequences. This fact, as well as the fact that it is a disease or disorder and not something that the subject does for the sake of it and over which he/she has total control, must be understood and understood by his/her close environment.

It is important to keep this point in mind, whether the subject is able to identify and recognize his or her problem or not.

2. Approach the subject in a moment of sobriety.

A seemingly logical aspect, but one that can be difficult to take into account when the subject arrives intoxicated and behaving irrationally, is to deal with the subject at a time when the subject is sober. Dealing with the subject in a state of intoxication will not have the same effect.The subject will not be in a condition to reflect, and may easily forget what has been said, or may even respond aggressively.

3. Adopt a helpful and non-blaming position

It can be easy that the frustration and pain caused by the condition of our friend, partner, family member or loved one, or by his or her behavior or perceived lack of intention to change, pushes us to blame him or her for the situation. This fact does not help the subject, but can generate reactance and the existence of conflicts that in some cases can even push the affected person to drink more to avoid the discomfort.

It is not a matter of pretending that nothing is wrong, but of addressing the but to address the issue in a straightforward but empathetic manner that that allows you to approach the subject in a proactive and collaborative manner. It is also important to keep in mind that one should not be condescending or start from a position of superiority, something that will also generate reactions.

4. Watch how you communicate

Linked to the previous point, we must bear in mind that this is a very complex situation. We need to be able to express our feelings about the situation that our loved one is going through, and it is useful to include ourselves in this situation.It is useful to include ourselves in the sentences.

Concern, if it exists, should be expressed and it is often useful to mention some of the behaviors that you find worrying. Express yourself with empathy and try to seek dialogue, asking the reason for some behaviors without being excessively demanding.

5. Maintaining some degree of control

The subject with alcoholism is someone with profound difficulties in controlling alcohol intake, and this loss of control is the most defining feature of this disorder. While it is not a matter of exercising continuous control over every gesture they make, it is advisable to maintain some degree of control over their situation. One of the ways to do this is through money management, so that you can control your money.In this way, it is possible to control the amount that the subject carries and what is spent, and even on what, depending on how. It is true that the person can get money from other sources or even be invited, but this management is very useful and limits the possible purchase of alcohol.

6. Avoid exposure to stimuli that generate the response to drink.

Humans are used to doing certain things in certain places. While it is possible to drink anywhere, preventing the alcoholic from being exposed to situations or environments that facilitate alcohol consumption is very useful. For example, bars, nightclubs or parties are environments where drinking alcoholic beverages is common.

Also, do not drink in front of the person. This would make the subject think about alcohol and at the same time send a contradictory message: I want you to stop drinking but I do drink.

7. Take into account the possible role we play in the addiction.

Generally when we talk about alcoholism we tend to think of the subject in question as the one with the problem. However, sometimes the environment itself favors or has some kind of role that makes it easier for the subject to resort to consumption. An example of this is the aforementioned blaming, situations of abuse or abandonment, or even excessive paternalism.

8. Seeing professionals

Alcoholism is a serious condition, a chronic disorder whose existence can be life-threatening for the sufferer.. That is why it is essential to go to some kind of professional in order to treat the different elements that condition and maintain alcohol consumption. In extreme cases, it can be very useful to go to a detoxification center (in some cases it may even be required at the judicial level, although it is advisable to make the person understand the need to go).

In this sense, it is advisable to take an interest and participate actively in therapy, so as to learn to relate to the subject and the symptom and to acquire guidelines for action as well as providing social support to get out of a situation that, to say the least, lasts. It is also very useful in order to make the subject reflect and motivate him/her to change.

9. Support their progress

Simply recognizing alcoholism is already a very hard step for someone with this disorder. Y the process of cessation is a long one (important: do not stop cold turkey unless medically monitored because of the possible emergence of potentially fatal withdrawal syndromes, such as delirium tremens) and complex, having to deal with different behavioral and cognitive aspects. Social and environmental support is a good prognostic factor and a stimulus to progress in treatment.

10. Encourage him/her to attend support groups

Alcoholics Anonymous is an association created with the purpose of serving as a support group in order to solve alcoholism problems and generate a recovery, while allowing the subject to meet with others who have alcoholism problems. the subject to meet with others who have gone through the same situation.. In these meetings the person will be able to freely express those elements and aspects that he/she does not want or can tell us about his/her experience and contrast his/her experience with that of others.

12. Pleasant activities incompatible with drinking

One way to help a loved one to stop drinking, or to maintain the changes with treatment, is to explore and use with him or her activities that are pleasant and that are not compatible with alcohol consumption. It is about learning to have fun without the need for drunkenness..

13. Relapse prevention

This is a fundamental aspect of all addictions. Treatment can be successful, but the existence of different stressors or situations can lead to a relapse into alcoholism. That is why, as is already done in therapy, we must take into account the need to work on its prevention with elements such as those in the previous two points.

And from therapy?

The aforementioned refers to ways of helping the alcoholic from the family or friend context, being the social support towards alcohol withdrawal one of the most important elements to maintain and generate the perception and motivation for change. But But also in psychological therapy, different methods are used to help the alcoholic to to help the alcoholic to stop drinking, as well as to control craving. In fact, it is important to be able to attend therapy, given the high stakes involved.

Broadly speaking, therapy focuses first and foremost on gaining awareness of the problem. The treatment is then followed by reflection on the pros and cons of the drinking behavior, reinforcement of motivation to change and action through various technical programs (including community reinforcement approach, marital and couple therapy, cue exposure therapy with response prevention, contingency management, coping and social skills training, controlled drinking programs) and finally maintenance of these changes with relapse prevention programs.

During treatment, techniques from a Wide range of theoretical perspectives can be used, the most common being cognitive-behavioral, systemic and humanistic. It is also common to use substances such as disulfiramwhich generates unpleasant effects in the organism by interacting with alcohol in such a way that its consumption acquires an aversive effect.