Sobriety and recovery will seem a lot less daunting if they have a starting point. Be ready to direct them to a treatment program you think may be a good fit or to online resources. There is a wealth of information about recovery, and it can be overwhelming to decide where to start in the early stages of sobriety.

Educating Yourself on the Disease of Addiction

Choose a quiet environment rather than a noisy public place. After drinking too much, a friend or loved one may experience a hangover. support for those who struggling with alcohol addiction It is best to give them some time to rest and feel better before talking about their drinking issue.

• Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website.
• By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism.
• You are not your loved one’s therapist or AA mentor, so don’t try to take on those responsibilities.
• It’s often a reality that grows more concerning with every downed glass.

When does alcohol use become a problem?

Binge drinking causes significant health and safety risks. It’s natural to want someone you care about to stop drinking so heavily. Odds are, your desire is no secret, either — which is why you should be wary if that person tries to “trade” a change in addictive behavior for something. Talking to an addiction counselor can help you better understand the situation and work through your feelings. Programs like Al-anon, Alateen and Families Anonymous offer opportunities for emotional support.

Starting with a Primary Care Provider

These medications are prescribed by a primary care provider or other health care provider and may be used alone or in combination with counseling. In these difficult times of the global pandemic, economic uncertainty, and high unemployment, many people are drinking more than they used to in an attempt to relieve stress. While it’s easy to understand, that doesn’t make it less of a concern. Consuming alcohol to cope with stress, deal with difficulties, or to avoid feeling bad, may be a sign that your loved one’s drinking has become a problem. Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don’t recognize that they have a problem.

Recovering alcoholic reveals the one question that can determine whether someone has a drinking problem

We usually experience setbacks along the way, learn from them, and then keep going. Acceptance- and mindfulness-based interventions increase awareness and acceptance of present-moment experiences. Mindfulness-based skill-building strategies promote flexible, rather than autopilot, responses to triggers that can prompt drinking. 12-step facilitation therapy is an engagement strategy used in counseling sessions to increase an individual’s active involvement in 12-step-based mutual-support groups. Professionally led treatments include behavioral treatments and medications.

Best Medical Alert Systems of 2024 Chosen by Testers

Understanding the available treatment options—from behavioral therapies and medications to mutual-support groups—is the first step. The important thing is to remain engaged in whatever method you choose. How does the program or provider handle a return to drinking? Setbacks can be common, so you will want to know how they are addressed. For more information on a return to drinking, see An Ongoing Process.

• Offer your support along each step of the recovery journey.
• Al-Anon and Alateen – Support groups for friends and families of problem drinkers.
• If you’re concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person.

“Same with my friendships, I couldn’t be there for my friends in the way they needed me to. That’s something I’ve really been working on since I got sober.” “My relationship has now healed, but I wouldn’t be in my marriage if I was drinking. “I was drinking two to three bottles of wine a night, sometimes four, and even more on the weekends. “I first started drinking at 18 and immediately jumped into the party scene,” Laura tells Tyla.