If you struggle with alcohol, you’re not alone. Nearly 80 percent of adults in the United States will drink at some point in their lives, and many of those people might have a problem with it. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you do. Alcoholism is a disease that affects your brain chemistry and can eventually overtake your entire being if left untreated.
In other words, drinking in moderation is OK as long as you don’t develop an addiction to it. If you do, then it’s time to take action. Thankfully, many effective interventions can help you stop drinking alcohol once and for all. So how do you begin? Read on to learn more about what works when it comes to alcohol intervention.
Treatment Works For Alcohol Addiction
Many people believe that Alcoholics Anonymous or some other 12-step program is the only way to treat alcoholism. While these programs can be beneficial in some cases, they’re not always the best approach, they’re often harmful to others. AA and similar programs rely heavily on spiritual and religious concepts.
As a result, they often alienate people who don’t believe in a higher power, this can make it extremely difficult for people who don’t have a preexisting relationship with a substance in their lives. These programs also place a high degree of emphasis on shame and guilt. Although guilt is a normal part of the human experience, it becomes a problem in someone dependent on a substance.
Shame is the root cause of many addictions, including alcoholism. If you suffer from alcoholism, you should find a program that addresses both your individual needs and the underlying causes of your addiction. While it may be helpful to join a 12-step program, it’s also important to find a way out of it. You should also seek treatment that understands the role of shame and guilt in your condition.
Talk Therapy Is Effective Too
While interventions are the best way to go, you might also consider talking to a therapist. The goal of therapy isn’t to cure you or force you to stop drinking. Instead, your goal is to help you gain insight into your condition, come to an understanding of why you drink and find healthy coping mechanisms. There are many benefits to cognitive behavioral therapy, a common form of talk therapy. Some of them include:
- It can help you identify and eliminate unhealthy thoughts that lead to drinking. This can help you avoid relapse.
- It can help you identify and change the feelings that lead you to drink. This can help you avoid relapse.
- It can help you identify and change your actions that lead to drinking. This can help you avoid relapse.
- It can help you identify and change your environment that leads to drinking. This can help you avoid relapse.
Learn About The Factors That Lead To Addiction
It’s important to understand the factors that lead to addiction. This includes understanding your factors and identifying the factors that may be leading to your loved one’s addiction.
- Genetics – While you can’t control who your parents are, can control your genetics. If you have a hereditary propensity to alcoholism, there are healthy ways to control it.
- Environment – The environment can play a significant role in whether or not you develop an addiction. If you’re around alcohol often, you may develop an addiction.
- Psychological Trauma – Addiction can be the result of childhood psychological trauma, such as sexual abuse. Trauma can induce addiction as a means to cope with anxiety and/or sadness.
