Alcohol and substance disorder occurs when a person cannot control how much you drink. They are likely to have trouble dealing with emotions when not drinking. More often than not alcohol abuse disorder is referred to as brain disease, as alcohol changes and influences the brain chemistry. Trying to overcome this disorder by one’s self becomes difficult and impossible. Treatments should be a steady procedure, well supported by family and friends.
Alcohol and substance abuse treatments include the following:
1. Start with your doctor
Alcoholism is primarily an alcohol abuse disorder. In some cases, it might be mild, whereas, in others, they may be abusing alcohol, but may not be dependent on it. You should consult a doctor if you-
- Always feel like you need to drink
- Cannot control how much you should drink
- Always feel bad when you cannot drink
Discuss your goals with your doctor when you are planning to overcome alcoholism, and based on that alcohol and substance abuse treatments can be planned. In some cases, your doctor is likely to refer you to an expert who can help you in your treatment.
2. Treatment options
The treatment options highly depend on your current situation and the goal you have set for yourself. In most cases, people like a combination of treatments instead of one specific treatment. Based on your health condition, the treatment procedure can be residential or inpatient. If the treatment procedure is done outpatient basis, the patient can live at their home normally and visit the center at the time of treatment.
3. Detox
Detox is important and a key step for people who have more than one alcohol and substance use disorder. The goal of this procedure is to stop drinking and give your body the required time to eliminate alcohol and other abusive substances. To complete this procedure successfully, it usually takes a few days or maybe even weeks.
4. Consulting a therapist or a counselor
In alcohol and substance abuse treatments, controlling drinking is just one step in the process. In addition, you need to learn and acquire skills and strategies to cope without alcohol in your daily life. To do this, you need to go to a psychologist or a counselor who can help you out. They will be able to help you with the following:
- Working towards changing the behavior that provokes you to drink
- Dealing and coping with stress and other similar triggers
- Building a powerful support system
- Setting goals and achieving them
5. Medications
Remember that medicines alone cannot cure alcohol abuse disorder, but they can help in the recovery process along with the alcohol and substance abuse treatments mentioned above. Regular medication primarily makes drinking less enjoyable for you. Medicines prescribed in various other conditions such as pain, epilepsy, and smoking can help in alcohol abuse disorder. However, it is very important to consult your doctor before taking any medicine.