Alcoholism is a mental illness that leads to the breakdown of the personality. Addiction specialists, psychiatrists and psychotherapists are involved in its treatment.

The treatment of alcohol dependence has several stages. The first stages aim to stop alcohol consumption and remove toxins from the body.

Doctors take the following steps:

  • The toxic products of alcohol metabolism are removed from the patient’s body.
  • The body’s natural metabolism is restored.
  • The internal organ systems are stabilised to support the body’s natural vital processes.

All these measures must be therapeutic rather than psychological. There is no way to guarantee with any certainty that the patient will not go into withdrawal. The patient then again feels an overwhelming urge to drink, becomes severely physically ill, and the risk of relapse during this period rises considerably.

The main symptoms of alcoholism:

  • An overwhelming desire for the next drink;
  • Loss of control over drinking;
  • Drinking in the morning to relieve the after-effects of the previous day’s drinking;
  • Withdrawal symptoms (sleep disturbance, sweating, anxiety, nervousness, dilated pupils);
  • A focus on drinking to the exclusion of everything else.

Treating alcoholism is a demanding process that takes around 1.5–2 years. Treatment consists mainly of psychotherapy, both individual and group therapy.

Depending on the situation, treatment may be outpatient, inpatient or in a closed ward. For some people psychotherapy is enough; others need a course of treatment for alcoholism.

Alcoholism treatment

Popular myths about alcohol:

  • The desire to drink is always justified by some occasion. Yet any occasion can be celebrated without alcohol.
  • Many people believe alcohol can cure shyness. However, it breaks down the psychological barrier only for a short time.
  • Some people believe that drinking helps them cope with stress or solve personal problems.
  • Alcoholism often begins with a daily intake of 50 g of alcohol. Today, doctors even question the benefits of red wine.
  • Many people with a dependence drink out of helplessness, believing there is nothing they can do about it. This is another common misconception.

How should you manage your relationship with someone who has an alcohol problem?

  • The person who drinks must solve their problems themselves.
  • Your attitude towards alcohol should remain consistently negative.
  • Be open about the fact that someone close to you has an alcohol problem.
  • The person with the alcohol problem should be given objective information about their illness.
  • And finally: if you are not yet seeing a psychologist or psychotherapist, do so without delay. As the saying goes, “Two heads are better than one.”

Avoid self-treatment, as it can have serious consequences. Often a person wants to change but lacks the willpower. It is a good sign when the person with the dependence agrees to see a specialist, who will prescribe treatment and select methods of overcoming the dependence that suit that particular person.