Seeing a loved one, be it a friend or a family member, struggle with AUD or Alcohol Use Disorder can result in you feeling helpless, overwhelmed, and frustrated. However, support from your end can act as the catalyst that motivates them to reclaim their health.
When it comes to the most effective steps to helping an alcoholic loved one find recovery, compassionate communication, establishment of rigid boundaries, and connecting them with outpatient medical care that is evidence-backed are some of the most prominent tactics.
Here is a detailed guide to seamlessly navigating this tough journey, properly understanding the disease of addiction, and guiding your loved one toward long-lasting recovery. Let us dive right into it.
Understanding What is AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder) as a Medical Condition
Before starting off a conversation, it is important to properly understand what your close one is experiencing, both physically as well as psychologically. AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder) refers to a chronic brain disease. Prolonged consumption of alcohol fundamentally changes the chemistry of the brain, particularly targeting the production of dopamine and reward center.
Over the passage of time, the brain needs alcohol just to feel “normal”. If the person stops drinking abruptly, they tend to experience intense, sometimes dangerous symptoms of physical withdrawal.
Key Takeaway: Your close one cannot simply “decide” to stop drinking sheerly by using willpower once. Seeing AUD as a psychological condition aids in the removal of stigma and permits you to approach the situation with proper empathy and not anger.
7 Steps to Aiding a Loved One Suffering From Alcohol Use Disorder
1. Educate Yourself On Treatment Options that are Evidence-Based
The landscape of addiction medications has significantly evolved. Numerous families assume that getting into a 30-day inpatient rehab facility is still the only path to follow in order to get sober. However, this is a major misconception. Today, outpatient MAT is deemed to be the gold standard for numerous patients.
Familiarize yourself with modern-day medical treatments so you provide concrete solutions. For instance, medications approved by the FA such as Vivitrol can majorly minimize alcohol cravings and block alcohol’s pleasurable effects. Knowing that they can get treatment while still staying at home and maintaining their jobs can help make your loved one much more receptive to obtaining help.
2. Select the Correct Time, Place, and State of Mind
Timing is deemed everything when it comes to discussing substance use. Never attempt to have a very serious conversation regarding treatment when your loved one is still under alcohol’s influence or actively hungover.
- Ensure Sobriety: Do not bring up the conversation until the concerned party is fully sober so they can properly process the conversation with a clear state of mind.
- Ensure Privacy: Opt for a quiet, calm, and private environment, completely free of distractions or an audience.
- Manage Your Emotions: Get into the conversation when you are feeling calm and grounded, and not immediately after an alcohol-related incident, i.e., when tensions are elevated.
3. Communicating Using Compassionate “I” Statements
Defensiveness is known to be a very common addiction symptom. In order to prevent the conversation from converting into a full-fledged environment, avoid accusatory terms or language such as “You are ruining your life” or “You always drink too much”.
Instead, leverage “I” statements that focus on your feelings and certain observations, such as “I love you and I am worried about your health when I see you drinking every night.”
4. Stop Enabling & Set Healthy Boundaries
There is a very profound difference between supporting the recovery of someone and actually enabling their addiction. Enabling takes place when you protect the person from the natural results of their drinking. This can include:
- Calling in sick to work or school/university on their behalf.
- Paying legal expenses or bailing them out of fiscal trouble caused due to drinking.
- Making excuses for their bad behaviour to friends and family members.
To really help someone, you must establish as well as enforce strict boundaries. Let them know what behaviours you will no longer justify, tolerate or cover up. Establishing boundaries is not a form of punishment; it is a crucial act of your self-preservation in addition to being a necessary wake-up call for them.
5. Address Co-Occuring Mental Health Conditions
Alcohol usage is very rarely an issue that is isolated. Numerous individuals drink to self-medicate hidden emotional pain, trauma, anxiety, depression, or even PTSD. This is referred to as a dual diagnosis.
When suggesting options for treatment, shed light on the vitality of finding and choosing a clinic that provides comprehensive behavioral healthcare in addition to medical intervention. LCAC (Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselors) can aid your close ones process their trauma and in turn develop health coping mechanisms. This ensures that the root cause of the substance use gets treated.
6. Offer to Assist with the Logistics of Treatment
The prospect of getting hold of a doctor, navigating the insurance procedure, and scheduling appointments can often feel insurmountable to almost anyone battling an active addiction. You can provide tangible support by:
- Researching localised, Board-Certified Addiction Medicine clinics.
- Authenticating their coverage health insurance.
- Offering to take them to their first-ever appointment and sit in the lobby or waiting room.
7. Practice Self-Care & Seek Family Support
You cannot pour from a cup that is empty. Loving an individual suffering from AUD takes a major emotional toll. It is very important that you cannot control their actions or push/force them into a recovery program. Prioritize your own mental health by attending support groups, seeking solo or individual therapy, and maintaining your own set of hobbies and friendships outside of the crisis.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. How do you get a loved one to realize they require help for alcohol use?
A. It is not possible to force an epiphany, but you can aid them by guiding them towards realization by permitting them to experience their drinking’s natural consequences. Avoid making excuses for their negative behaviour, honestly communicate all your concerns with the help of “I” statements, and present them with properly accessible, outpatient medical solutions as opposed to harsh ultimatums.
Q. Can an AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder) get treated without physically going to an inpatient rehab?
A. Yes. Although inpatient care is compulsory for certain individuals, highly-effective outpatient care permits patients to properly recover while still maintaining their day-to-day lives. Clinics that specialize in Addiction Medicine leverage MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment) – like Vivitrol injections, paired with clinical counseling in order to successfully treat dependence on alcohol in the case of an outpatient setting.
Q. What is the main difference between enabling and providing support to someone suffering from an alcohol addiction?
A. Supporting an individual involves actions that fully encourage their health as well as recovery, like driving them to doctor appointments, providing a listening ear, or researching renowned treatment centers. On the other hand, enabling includes actions that safeguard the individual from the negative consequences of their drinking, like paying debts related to alcohol or lying to their employer.
Compassionate, Outpatient Care by AllianceMD
Taking the foremost step towards recovery takes exceptional courage. AllianceMD’s Board-Certified Medicine Physicians offer stigma-free, outpatient MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment) and Counseling – facilitating your loved ones to heal fully without pausing their career or letting go of their family.
We ensure top-notch care is accessible by providing same-day and early appointments. Moreover, we accept virtually every major insurance plan. To conclude, your loved one does not need to fight AUD alone. Get in touch with us today to schedule a no-obligation, confidential appointment!