How Substance Abuse Affects the Ones you Love
Many addicts won’t understand the emotional burden of loving someone with a substance abuse problem. They will rationalize their behavior with the idea that it won’t affect anyone since it’s “their problem”. This mentality is just another negative aspect of addiction, but with the right help, it can be treated.
Interventions are one of the best ways to show addicts how their actions affect their loved ones. These group confrontations made up of friends and family represent how much they care for the addict and will come together to provide support. A strong sign of support to improve their lives might be just what someone needs.
Counseling is a cornerstone of substance abuse treatment for most individuals. Individual and group counseling can help you live a clean life, however, finding the right counselor is crucial for your progress.
Your doctor should be able to recommend someone who can work with you. Substance abuse counselors work in a variety of settings, from hospitals to private counseling centers. Your primary care physician may even be able to refer you to an emotional wellness professional who can help treat your physical symptoms as well as offer you advice about your emotional problems.
You should go into your initial consultation with a qualified professional to ask questions about the program you are considering and your current substance abuse. You may also be asked about your family history of substance abuse and any medical issues that may need to be addressed. Therapists need to have a good understanding of someone to offer their best help.
During treatment, you should have someone close assist you and/or encourage you during the process. Family members and friends can provide support by helping you to set realistic goals and reminders to stay on the path to recovery. Group therapy sessions with a professional may also lead to a path of success.
The counselor will help you develop a treatment plan that will be suited to your needs. The first step is to determine which treatments are most applicable to your situation, such as individual, group, or family therapy.
Once a treatment plan is developed and a mental health professional is hired to oversee it, treatment will proceed. A substance abuse rehab clinic will usually treat addicts for substance abuse (including alcohol addiction) in one of two ways; inpatient or outpatient. Individuals suffering from substance abuse will be admitted into the facility and treated in a certain way depending on their diagnosis and severity of the condition. Some individuals may require inpatient treatment, while others may require outpatient services. However, it all depends on the needs of the patient and the capacity of the substance abuse treatment center.
Inpatient treatment is usually reserved for those that require a more supportive environment and intense counseling than outpatient. If you do not have the means to afford inpatient treatment or if you are only interested in continuing with outpatient services, outpatient substance abuse treatment may be your best option. Outpatient services allow you to stay at home and receive counseling without having to make a weekly or monthly commitment to the facility. In this type of program, group therapy can be scheduled during the same time each week, or it can be a flexible commitment. Treatment can last for as long as needed.
Standard outpatients meet twice a week while more intensive outpatients may meet three or four times a week. These are almost always group therapy sessions designed for continuing care or relapse prevention. Evidence-based practice illustrates that this is a more effective counseling method for addiction treatment.
Your treatment may include a combination of inpatient and outpatient services. The duration of therapy often varies between programs. The goal of substance abuse treatment is to get you back to a normal and healthy life as quickly as possible.
However, keep in mind that it will take time, even after finishing treatment, to achieve a life where you feel healthy and normal. You must commit to making healthy lifestyle choices and learn how to manage your mental health.
For more information on inpatient and outpatient procedures or other forms of therapy and substance abuse help, visit the rest of our website, or give us a call today at 203-667-7526. We’re always happy to answer any questions you might have regarding our forms of care and treatment.