How To Talk To An Alcoholic About Their Drinking

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It Can Be Beneficial To Learn How to Talk to An Alcoholic About Their Drinking

If you are concerned by a loved one’s alcohol consumption, it is helpful to learn how to talk to an alcoholic about their drinking.

Chances are that you are worried about your loved one’s health and well-being, and you may even be concerned that they will not survive if they continue to drink.

Ultimately, you probably want your loved one to go to rehab so they can recover and lead a productive, healthy life.

Knowing how to talk to an alcoholic about their drinking can increase the likelihood that your loved one will accept help and make the decision to go to rehab for alcoholism.

Learning About Alcohol Addiction Is The First Step In How To Talk To An Alcoholic About Their Drinking

If you want to know how to talk to an alcoholic about their drinking, it is important to first learn the ins and outs of alcohol addiction. The clinical term for an alcohol addiction, according to the National Institutes of Health, is an alcohol use disorder. Put simply, when a person becomes an alcoholic or develops an alcohol use disorder, they lose control over drinking, even when alcohol abuse causes serious problems.

It is helpful to understand that alcoholism is a chronic brain disorder, meaning that it requires treatment or rehab just like other health conditions. If your loved one has an alcohol use disorder, they will show symptoms of this condition. These include strong cravings for alcohol, withdrawal when alcohol use is reduced or stopped, and unsuccessful attempts to cut back on alcohol consumption.

A person with an alcohol use disorder may also continue to drink despite the fact that alcohol abuse is causing medical problems or contributing to difficulty fulfilling duties at work or home. Knowing this information can help you to approach your loved one effectively when encouraging them to go to rehab for alcoholism.

Tips For How to Talk To An Alcoholic About Their Drinking

Once you understand that alcohol use disorder is a legitimate medical condition that requires rehab, you can be more effective when deciding how to talk to an alcoholic about their drinking. Some tips for how to talk to an alcoholic about their drinking include remaining empathetic and non-judgmental, avoiding placing blame upon the alcoholic, and being ready to explain that alcoholism is a brain disorder that can improve with rehab.

It is important to approach your loved one from a place of care and concern. Express your worries and communicate that you will support them in the decision to seek rehab for alcoholism. Be careful not to argue, and remember to validate any concerns your loved one has.

One of the things to remember is that your loved one may be ashamed or hesitant to accept that they have a problem with drinking. Be prepared to listen to your loved one’s worries about seeking alcohol rehab and express to them that you understand it can be difficult to make the decision to seek help.

What An Alcoholic Can Expect From Rehab

Beyond using tips for how to talk to an alcoholic about their drinking, it is helpful to know what your loved one can expect when they go to rehab for alcohol abuse. As the National Institutes of Health explains, treatment for alcohol addiction usually involves behavioral strategies like counseling, as well as self-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous.

In addition, some people may take medications, such as Naltrexone, to help them reduce heavy drinking. The goal of counseling interventions in alcohol rehab is to help people develop strategies to reduce their drinking and cope with stressors or triggers that might lead them to drink. A specific type of counseling called cognitive behavioral therapy can help people to develop these strategies.

Ultimately, it is important to remember that no single treatment approach will work for everyone, and an effective alcohol rehab program should create individualized treatment plans for every patient. When thinking about how to talk to an alcoholic about their drinking, be prepared to explain to them what they can expect from rehab: an individualized treatment approach, counseling and group treatments, and perhaps medications to help them recover.

Other Considerations For How To Talk To An Alcoholic About Their Drinking

There are other factors you should consider when wondering how to talk to an alcoholic about their drinking, including the impact of alcohol withdrawal. When someone has been drinking heavily enough to develop an alcohol use disorder, they are likely to experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking.

According to experts, mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms include sleep problems, tremors, anxiety, upset stomach, and headache. In more severe cases of alcohol withdrawal, an alcoholic may experience seizures or a life-threatening condition called delirium tremens. Since alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable and even fatal, your loved one may be fearful of sobriety.

During your discussion, it is important to help your loved one understand that an alcohol rehab can provide them with a detox program, where they will receive medical care and support, and perhaps medications, to keep them as safe and as comfortable as possible while their body goes through alcohol withdrawal. This may ease some of their concerns about giving up drinking.

California Alcohol Rehab

If you would like to talk to your loved one about California alcohol rehab, Resurgence California, located in Orange County, is an expert in the treatment of alcohol addiction. We offer alcohol detox as well as inpatient and outpatient treatment services. If your loved one chooses Resurgence California’s inpatient program for alcohol rehab, they will stay in a home-like setting, with close access to area beaches and outdoor shopping centers.

They will receive an individualized treatment plan tailored to their unique needs, and they will participate in individual and group counseling, educational workshops, and therapeutic outings. At Resurgence, we believe in promoting wellness in every aspect of a person’s life, so your loved one will also have opportunities to participate in physical exercise, yoga, and meditation while in alcohol rehab. In addition to all of these benefits, Resurgence California is a dual-diagnosis treatment center, meaning we are qualified to treat patients who have both an addiction and a mental illness.

Free Insurance Verification for Rehab

Covering The Costs of California Alcohol Rehab

Once your loved one decides to seek treatment for alcohol abuse, they have to consider how they will pay for rehab.

Fortunately, Resurgence simplifies the process of paying for California alcohol rehab with our free, confidential insurance verification program.

Give us a call or visit our website to provide us with your health insurance information, and we will inform you what rehab services your plan covers, as well as how much you can expect to pay out of pocket for treatment.

We will also communicate with your insurance provider on your behalf during your stay in alcohol rehab.

If you do not have insurance, we will work with you to create a payment plan.

Contact us today to learn why Resurgence California is a premier dual diagnosis treatment center.

Sources:

1) https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-use-disorder
2) https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-help
3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441882/