Finding yourself unable to control your alcohol or drug consumption is a terrifying realization to come to.
What started as curiosity often turns into addiction. You may feel there is no way out.
You are not alone.
Each year millions of people seek out alcohol and drug counseling in the United States alone. This type of treatment is widely available across the globe and is available to you in your time of need.
It’s not always easy to ask for help—but thanks to quality counseling, requesting assistance could be the hardest step of your journey. Make a decision and you can be well on your way to finding solutions.
Here is everything to keep in mind when seeking out this kind of council.
Counseling Explained
For most people, alcohol counseling is the first step in their decision the better their lives. It’s the starting point of most journeys to sobriety.
Counseling involves targeted, systematic programs created around the abused substance in question. The level of counseling necessary will vary from person to person, depending on the severity of their addiction.
Some people will benefit from just a few verbal sessions of counseling with a qualified caretaker. Others might need more extensive and invasive methods of treatment involving detoxification & rehabilitation.
More often than not alcohol and drug counseling can be obtained free of charge via community centers & church programs. Other higher end forms of counseling can be found at targeted treatment centers at a fee.
Who Needs It?
Ultimately there is no definite line where someone suddenly qualifies for drug or alcohol counseling. It’s extremely subjective and can either be identified by the person in question or by concerned friends & family members of abusers.
That being said, there are certainly some signs to look out for that can indicate a potential problem. If you experience one or more of the following you might need to seek out some help.
Blacking Out
If you often wake up after a night of drinking or drug use with no recollection of what went down, you probably have a substance abuse problem.
Blacking out is a sure sign that you’re unable to control your substance intake after a certain point. You fail to pace or portion your intake so much so that your body loses consciousness. That seems to be the only thing that stops you from consuming more.
Cravings
You should never find yourself craving alcohol or drugs during normal activities such as work. Cravings that consume your normal thoughts are a sign to beware of. Be vigilant and discern which scenarios appear to cause this craving within you. Avoiding those situations can help until you find the help you need.
Funding The Habit
If you find yourself willing to do whatever it takes to fund your next hit or drink then you probably need counseling. This is an early sign that there is an abuse problem. As this develops it could lead to stealing or selling goods for extra cash, so taking action before it gets worse is vital.
Negative Feedback
Take note of the commentary that comes from the people around you after or during the use of drugs and alcohol:
- Are there comments of concern?
- Are people slowly distancing themselves from your behavior?
- Do they joke about your behavior?
These are sure signs that not only are others noticing your problem. They may even be unwilling to be around you. Counseling would be highly beneficial before you lose those who matter most.
Types of Programs
When it comes to alcohol and other drug programs there are usually two types of treatment styles available:
- In patient programs
- Out patient counseling programs
Either one could be beneficial to you depending on the nature and severity of your problem.
Outpatient Counseling
This treatment is targeted at the less severe cases in which the patient still has the ability to negotiate free will and scheduling.
The program can range between weekly sessions to daily sessions with a variety of exercises contained in each.
Sessions can also be private or group oriented. While admitting to a problem in front of others can be overwhelming it’s sometimes the power in numbers that can pull you through. Don’t be deterred by group style drug and alcohol counseling.
Advantages of outpatient counseling include:
- No need to take time off work in order to get help
- Return home to your family each night to enjoy a sense of comfort
- Flexible hours and scheduling
- Positive results over dedicated periods of time
Inpatient Counseling
This form of drug and alcohol counseling takes place inside a specialized medical institution. Patients are given 24/7 care including meals, housing and even recreational activities. While inside they’ll be part of structured treatment programs in order to get control over their substance abuse.
This kind of counseling is targeted at the more severe cases of drug and alcohol abuse in which the patients find themselves incapable of being in the outside world free of temptation.
Inpatient counseling is either long or short term. This will be determined by a qualified team of professionals in order to get the best results for the patient.
Some advantages of inpatient counseling are:
- 24/7 care and help if needed
- Full removal from the outside world and the temptations
- Less risk of relapse
- Treatment from a variety of professionals as opposed to just one
[Conclusion]
Substance abuse isn’t something you have to face alone. Alcohol and drug counseling are methods that have helped many before you & will continue to do so for years to come.
Take the initiative of seeking help before it’s too late.
You are not alone.
