Alcohol Addiction Family Support
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Family Therapy and Referrals

How Addiction Affects The Family
Family and friends therapy is very often seen as an important tool used in an intervention which can help in maintaining a change. In many cases, relationship difficulties can be a contributing factor in excessive alcohol use, but alcohol misuse may also greatly contribute to deterioration in personal relationships. Friends and family often play a critical role in helping to motivate addicts to stay on track and complete their treatment programmes.
It is worth stressing that it is completely normal to feel very anxious and panicked when the reality of addiction in a loved one becomes apparent. It is also very hard to know how to approach these people in a supportive and loving way, especially when they seem very intent on pursuing incredibly self-destructive, and often outwardly destructive behaviour.
Addiction therapy very often focuses heavily on the addict but it is likely that their addiction will have profound effects on the people closest to them. Family members and friends can find it difficult to stand by an addict when they are seemingly not receiving the same love and support back from the person as they are giving them. Addiction is not something which can be cured easily and many addicts refuse to admit that they have a problem. The problematic issue when family and friends begin to pull away from the addict is that in abandoning them it can negatively affect their chance of getting clean.
Oftentimes, and in many situations, communication might have begun to break down, so when an addict decides to take action and seek help, they may find that reaching out to family and friends might seem impossible. It is, in fact, more important than ever that family or friends intervene immediately at this stage.
Your ongoing support for your loved one is incredibly important, and you can actively become involved with their recovery process:
• Encouraging them in seeking professional help with alcohol addiction counselling.
• Becoming more educated in relation to addiction and involving other family members or friends in this.
• Start creating a stable and sober home environment.
• Attending your own therapy sessions to learn how to cope with an addict and to set realistic boundaries with them.
• Address any personal behaviours that could be contributing to your loved one’s addiction.
Some activities you can take part in are:
• Take a look at our articles on-site to help you identify the signs and symptoms of excessive alcohol use.
• Observing the person’s behaviour closely over a period of days or weeks to understand what leads you to think they may have a problem.
• Note any changes or strange behaviours the person may be exhibiting and share these with other family members and friends to help determine how they see the situation. Sometimes it is easier for those outside the immediate home or social group to notice red flag behaviours.
• Get in contact with an alcohol abuse professional. Describe the person’s alcohol use pattern to see whether they would deem it an issue. Remember to provide details such as the alcohol in question, how much and how often they are using. It is important to give them an estimate of how long the abuse has gone on, any negative repercussions that have arisen from it and the person’s responses to any discussion or challenge they have received about their alcohol misuse.
• Trying to persuade your loved one to seek help or follow a detox programme.
Why choose our services?
• We offer free advice on how you can best help your loved one.
• We can provide immediate admissions to one of our clinics or at home alcohol detox programmes.
• Family therapy and counselling can be arranged rapidly to help you with providing support to your loved one.
Typically, addicts are much more equipped to work on recovery if their excessive alcohol use problem is detected and faced early on. Any friend or family member can make a referral for a loved one to our services, all you need is their consent to do so. We can help you sort out the rest with a phone call. We offer immediate at-home detox programmes.
If you feel a friend or loved has an addiction problem you can contact us for advice at any time. Our trained counsellors will be able to help you recognise and understand the nature of their excessive alcohol use problem and promote strategies of how you could cope.
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Alcohol Addiction FAQ's
Where can I find my nearest rehab centre?
We offer locations for alcohol rehab centres nationwide, call our team on 0333 444 0434. They will be able to advise you on treatment options available in your area.
How soon will you be able to get me into rehab?
This all depends on your personal circumstances. We ask that you contact our team on 0333 444 0434 so that we can fully understand your situation and needs.
We’ll talk you through a short telephone questionnaire designed to help us provide you with the best possible care.
We then set a date and time for your admission and you can look forward to a new start in life.
Could my mental Health be linked to my addiction?
Absolutely yes, so many people are not even aware they have a mental health problem and many people don’t make the connection in children and mental health. The alcohol can become a ‘solution’ for a persons mental health. At the start it will seem as if the alcohol is quieting the mind, but in time as the addiction progresses it will only add to any mental health problems the person has. It is also difficult to diagnose a person with mental health while under the influence of alcohol.
Is it true that alcohol affects sexual performance and harm an unborn babies?
As well as being directly related to many serious diseases, drinking large amounts of alcohol can also lead to poor sexual performance, and it can harm an unborn baby. If you have an alcohol related problem, there are many ways in which you can get help to reduce your drinking, and there are also many services that you can use that will help you stop altogether. Definition The problems associated with alcoholism, or alcohol dependence, are wide ranging, and can be physical, psychological, and social.
Is rehab a cure for addiction?
There is no definitive cure for addiction. However, rehab can provide patients with the skills needed to successfully manage their addiction and remain sober. Recovery from addiction is never over and patients will need to work on their ability to avoid relapse for the rest of their lives. A high quality addiction rehab programme sets patients up for this process.
Am I an alcoholic? What is the difference between casual drinking and alcohol addiction?
Most people can enjoy a casual night out with friends, have one or two drinks and then stop, and they might not drink again for several days. They enjoy a drink, but they don’t NEED it.
If you feel that you would like to talk to one of our experts and see how we can help you, call us on 0333 444 0434.