The Wrong Way To Deal With Alcohol Abuse

There are an estimated 25,000+ alcohol-related deaths in the United States each year. In other words, thousands lose their lives by way of accidents, homicides and other alcohol-related situations.

It is extremely important to analyze effective alcohol rehab strategies and key components. Conversely, it is considered equally important to look at the wrong ways to deal with alcohol abuse (of which there are many). Failing to act or acting incorrectly in the presence of alcoholism can mean a life.

Alcoholism And Social Drinking

The first step to treating alcohol abuse is recognizing that there is a problem or a dependency present. Because drinking is such a socially accepted activity, this can be hard. Look for signs of alcohol tolerance, addiction or abuse in yourself and others.

Some signs of alcoholism include:

• Drinking at odd hours, or alone
• Smell of alcohol consistently on the person’s body/breath
• Physical discomfort or illness upon cessation of drinking for a few hours
• Requiring excessive amounts of alcohol to feel drunk
• Requiring alcohol to get “loosened up” or to feel comfortable
• A look of physical wear or sleeplessness, as is caused by heavy alcohol consumption

Further, you will likely see an alcoholic drinking much more than the rest of the people in a group. Physical tolerance to alcohol causes you to “need” excessive and heavy levels of alcohol to feel drunk or even just normal. The body struggles to adapt to being flooded with a tsunami of toxic alcohol by becoming dependent on it instead—predisposing alcoholics to liver damage, alcohol poisoning and other life-threatening conditions.

What Not To Do As The Onlooker

As an onlooker, it can be difficult to sit and watch your loved one throw their life away because of an alcohol problem. The wrong way to deal with alcohol abuse as a loving friend or family member, is to do nothing at all.

Further, do not enable your loved one to continue abusing alcohol by providing money or alcohol to them. This may seem an obvious point, but many family members become shocked and worried that they might lose their loved one forever and so cater to the every demand of the alcoholic.

Talk to your loved one above his/her problem. Gain understanding and learn where their head is at, and this will help you to help them in overcoming their problem.

Alcohol Treatment: Key Components

Underlying Issues
Alcoholism is an individual problem. As such, the underlying causes and issues for an alcohol dependency problem are equally as personal. In alcohol treatment, counselors push alcoholics to locate these key underlying problems which may have led to the substance abuse to begin with.

Making Amends
Your history of poor choices as an alcoholic may have burned some bridges and hurt others around you. Take the time in alcohol treatment to make amends for these past mistakes, in an effort to regain the trust and support of loved ones.

Re-learning Life Skills
Seize the opportunity to learn (or learn again) life skills, such as communication, planning, organization, time management, etc. Having these skills firmly in place will help you to settle in once back at home.

Building a Future
Rather than dwell too long on past mistakes, focus on now and tomorrow, and what the future holds. Establish new, creative hobbies and make friends out of those who are likeminded, living alcohol-free.

Whether you are an alcoholic yourself, or you are the loved one of someone who is struggling, do not wait to get help.

Contact a professional today and work out a plan for recovery. You’ll be glad you did.