Research shows that over 22 million Americans suffer from alcohol use disorder (AUD), easily one of the most common diseases. Therefore, medical services from across the nation specialize in helping patients who have this problem.
AUD patients can be supported in many ways, though, to support their future physical and mental wellness. Whether you’re a patient, a loved one looking to make an intervention, or a healthcare company in this field, doesn’t matter. Understanding which treatments can provide the best support for immediate and long-term results is vital. Here are six of the best.
#1. Medical Detoxification
Sobriety is a lifelong battle, but the best approach is to take it one day at a time. For most people who are battling an alcohol addiction, the initial phase is the hardest by far. This is largely due to withdrawal symptoms, which can cover mental symptoms like anxiety as well as physical symptoms including nausea.
Detoxification specialists like Legacy Healing Center allow patients to receive comprehensive support through this challenging phase. In addition to managing symptoms through methods like medications and therapy, it puts patients in an environment in which access to substances is killed. Luxury rehabs can be followed by outpatient services and aftercare support.
Companies offering detoxification and rehab can extend their services to other forms of substance abuse too. While it doesn’t guarantee lifelong sobriety, many studies have shown a positive correlation that underlines the positive impact it has on patients. Crucially, the managed environments additionally keep patients out of danger in the difficult detox phase.
#2. AA Support Groups
While getting sober is a personal journey, patients do not have to face it alone. As well as providing supervised rehab and detoxification, healthcare facilities can run AA support groups or other community activities for recovering addicts. This type of ongoing service is an ideal follow on from both inpatient and outpatient care.
The psychosocial benefits of support groups have been proven time and time again. Patients immediately get to see that they are far from alone while many also enjoy the routine. When combined with tracking progress and the opportunity to pick up tips from other members, it is a tool that can help attendees for life.
Local in-person meetings are the most effective. Nevertheless, healthcare teams can additionally hold online alternatives with video conferencing. It can be a particularly effective option for rehab centers and retreats that take in out-of-state patients. Whether a standalone service or incorporated into care, its impact can be huge.
#3. Mental Health Counseling
The effects of alcohol usage disorder are noticed in a physical sense, but they also leave a massive imprint on the patient’s mental wellness. Moreover, alcohol dependence is often rooted by mental health battles. Therefore, mental health counseling services are one of the most valuable treatment types for patients.
Mental health counseling can manifest itself in many ways. Healthcare teams offering cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) are a common feature in AUD treatments. This can teach patients to rewire their brains in a way that makes them far less vulnerable to relapses and destructive behaviors. In other words, they’ll be better equipped for the war ahead.
Empathy, understanding, and a personalized approach are key attributes that mental health counselors must provide. When they do, patients stand reap the full rewards of counseling, which can extend to dealing with past trauma, regardless of whether it’s an intense short-term course or an ongoing service that includes regular sessions.
#4. Medication
When a patient has been dependent on one substance, the thought of introducing another may sound counterproductive. After all, prescription drug disorders are very common. Nevertheless, medications that are used correctly may be the ticket to prevent relapsing as part of an ongoing medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
The most commonly used prescription drug is Naltrexone, which may be used in pill form or as an injectable. It actively blocks the receptors that trigger the brain to crave alcohol. In turn, this kills cravings. While it doesn’t prevent issues like addicts giving into peer pressure, the feelings of wanting or needing to drink when alone become greatly reduced.
In cases where alcoholism is part of a dual diagnosis, medications to manage co-existing mental health issues are vital too.Treating anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder provides a far stronger foundation for keeping the appeal of alcohol under control. Healthcare teams that prescribe and administer prescriptions well can change patient lives for the better.
#5. Lifestyle Therapies
When thinking about alcoholism, most people picture a drunk. However, there are plenty of high-functioning alcoholics, as well as millions who have developed problematic relationships with alcohol that have yet to develop into full dependency. Early interventions can make all the difference, and this is another area where healthcare teams can thrive.
Experts can provide an extensive range of therapies to support patients who have dangerous relationships with alcohol. Diagnosing the problem and the root causes of it will open the door to a range of treatments, including those mentioned above. In many cases, lifestyle therapies that aim to restructure and repurpose the individual’s life are the best option.
Fitness and sleep hygiene support are two great examples. Healthcare teams may also focus on repairing vitamin and mineral deficiencies caused by heavy alcohol consumption, especially if the person has been drinking recently. For early stage interventions, a focus on this type of care can make all the difference.
#6. Family Support
Finally, alcoholism isn’t an issue that only impacts the individual. It often takes a toll on loved ones, who have to witness the changes in the addict’s physical and mental wellness. In many cases, the user’s poor decisions additionally lead to financial woes and a host of related problems. Providing a support network is exhausting, but who is there to support them?
It is another service area in which healthcare experts can make a difference. Experts like Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families are a great example. Guiding families through getting an addict the support they need, as well as the transitional phase as a loved one, is a valuable service that helps millions of people indirectly impacted by the disease.
Family support services can also include therapies or even forms of respite. It helps families rediscover themselves while also empowering them to keep giving the recovering addict whatever support they can. From the addict’s perspective, it can remove a source of guilt and shame too. For that reason, it is one of the best treatments of all.