If your loved one is experiencing symptoms of alcoholism or alcohol addiction, it’s important to help him or her before it’s too late. Alcoholism is a progressive disease, so people have a much better chance of recovery in the early stages. The mistake that many families make is just waiting for the person to get better. In most cases, the person is going to need some type of intervention in order to get help.
Symptoms of Alcoholism Include Denial
You can’t simply wait for your loved one to go get help because they’re dealing with a powerful mental illness. When someone is suffering from alcoholism, his or her brain is hijacked by the illness. The part of the brain affected by alcoholism is responsible for self-awareness. Not only that, but this part of the brain also helps with some of the following:
- Emotional regulation
- Attunement
- Impulse control
- Empathy
- Logical decision making
Alcoholism is an Illness
It’s very difficult to help someone with alcoholism and see him or her as a sick person. Unlike any other illness, alcoholism often causes a person to be physically or verbally abusive. He or she may also neglect relationships with friends, family, and children. Even though the person is sick, it’s the family who is in the best position to help him or her seek treatment.
Interventions can be very difficult, and you should always consult an addiction specialist before trying to stage an intervention. An informal intervention is something you can try, but it typically only works when a person is in the early stages of alcoholism. This type of intervention is when you discuss the person’s drinking problems and ask him or her if he or she has considered addiction treatment services. It may seem silly, but some people never consider treatment as an option, even if he or she is ready for help.
What is a Formal Intervention?
If your loved one is showing clear symptoms of alcoholism, you should have an addiction specialist or interventionist help you with a formal intervention. This is an intervention where the loved ones of the person sit him or her down in private. The family draws clear boundaries with the person to try to make him or her get help. Emotions can run high in this situation, which is why it’s good to have some type of mediator.
If your loved one is ready to get help for his or her alcohol addiction, Silver Pines Treatment Center can help. We take a holistic approach when it comes to treating addiction, resulting in great success. Our staff specializes in trauma and family therapy as well as dual diagnosis treatment.
Don’t hesitate. Help your loved one today by giving us a call at 267.209.7313.