How Can I Help an Alcoholic Loved One in Denial?
If a loved one is an alcoholic in denial about the fact of their disorder, it can present unique challenges to getting them help. Alcoholics will typically feel shame and other negative emotions as a result of their disorder, and they can also experience co-occurring mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression. In general, you should avoid arguing with them, offer clear solutions when you can, and refrain from enabling their addiction. Because an alcoholic in denial can be difficult to communicate with, It’s often a good idea to seek professional help from a treatment center like Beachway Therapy Center
What Are the Symptoms of Alcoholism?
Individuals suffering from alcoholism present with a wide variety of symptoms, some of which they may choose to ignore or consider as simply part of the experience of drinking alcohol. Some of the most prominent symptoms of alcoholism are discussed below.
Spending a lot of time drinking and feeling sick from alcohol
Individuals who spend a large amount of time drinking are displaying one of the most common symptoms of alcohol. Even if drinking occurs in more socially accepted periods — for instance, the late evening — this can still be a symptom.
Time spent looking for or acquiring alcohol can also be part of this symptom, as well as recovery times when the individual feels sick as a result of their alcohol exposure — whether that includes withdrawal symptoms or symptoms associated with hangovers.
Drinking even though it causes issues with loved ones
Continuing to drink alcohol even when it leads to serious problems in an individual’s personal relationships — whether they’re professional, personal, or familial — is a common symptom of alcoholism. At some level, the alcoholic’s craving for alcohol appears more important than a healthy relationship with their loved ones, a clear sign that the brain and its decision-making faculties have been impacted by prolonged alcohol exposure.
Continuing to drink despite feeling depressed or anxious
Alcoholism often produces mental health disorders in individuals afflicted by it. These co-occurring disorders can feed off of one another, with the alcoholic continuing to drink alcohol to mask the symptoms of anxiety and depression that they’re experiencing. If this behavior becomes routine, it’s viewed as a symptom of alcoholism.
Experiencing anxiety, irritability, sleep problems, depression, nausea, sweating, and other withdrawal symptoms
Alcoholism produces a wide variety of negative symptoms in individuals, including anxiety, irritability, depression, nausea, sweating, and sleep problems. If an individual experiences these symptoms, it’s typically a sign they’ve developed alcoholism. Drinking to avoid these symptoms is also a symptom of alcoholism and a sign that the individual’s body is now reliant on the regular intake of alcohol to function.
How to Treat Mental Health and Alcoholism
Understanding the nature of a dual diagnosis is an important first step in treating mental health and alcoholism. At Beachway, we know it’s important to understand an individual’s full, unique situation. In many cases, an underlying co-occurring disorder could be partially responsible for a person’s struggle with an addiction to alcohol and can lead them to experience feelings of shame that cause them to hide their addiction. Co-occurring disorders such as alcohol-induced depression or anxiety can make it extremely difficult for someone to fully overcome their addiction, and if not properly treated, it could repeatedly end in relapse.
Treating mental health and alcoholism requires a holistic approach. At Beachway, our treatment center offers both traditional and specialized rehabilitation programs, as well as unique therapy options like art therapy, recreational therapy with activities such as kayaking and horseback riding, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Inpatient and outpatient services are available to help patients both here on campus as well as at home.
Learn More about Alcoholism and Dual Diagnosis Treatment at Beachway
Although dual diagnosis can seem like a disconcerting experience, it can be a valuable step in finding the treatment option that’s best for you. At Beachway, we understand how co-occurring conditions can play off of one another, including the ways alcohol can induce depression. Our full-service alcoholism rehab treatment center takes a holistic approach to your mental and physical. If you’re interested in seeking treatment for your alcoholism, contact us today.