“Why do I need alcohol abuse counseling?” It’s a painful question, both to ask and to answer. But it can also be helpful — a signal that someone has hit bottom and may be ready to seek professional help. At a minimum, the question of “why do I need alcohol abuse counseling” presents an opportunity to engage in an important and frank conversation.
Alcohol abuse counseling isn’t easy for the person addicted to go through, nor is it for their friends and family. The goal of counseling is to provide individuals with the tools they need to live a happy, healthy, and alcohol-free lifestyle.
The problem is significant nationwide. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates that more than 14 million people struggle with an alcohol-use disorder. Knowing the signs that someone needs alcohol abuse counseling can help save lives.
How is Alcohol Abuse Diagnosed?
If you could just take a blood test, the answer to the question “why do I need alcohol abuse counseling” would be easy. Instead, it requires a careful assessment involving trained medical professionals. When you reach out for help, you’ll be assessed from behavioral, mental, and physical angles. Alcohol abuse manifests with some specific physical symptoms primarily sprouting from having developed a tolerance or dependence
Your doctor is likely to start with a qualitative interview about your habits, including how much you drink, when, and how. The doctor may also want to talk with family members. Then you’ll complete a physical exam. It may include blood tests. While there is no specific marker of alcohol abuse, the Mayo Clinic says certain patterns in the results can point to a problem. The final step will likely be a psychological assessment, including a review of the characteristics of alcohol abuse in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Then treatment begins.
Why Do I Need Alcohol Abuse Counseling?
Counseling for alcohol abuse isn’t intended as a punishment. Rather, the purpose is to help you restore sobriety. But when you’re in the throes of an addiction, it’s hard to look at yourself and your habits dispassionately.
The observations of those who love you can be the linchpin of moving forward. The signs that it’s time for professional counseling include:
- Uncontrolled drinking
- Missing work
- Relationship problems with friends and family
- Withdrawing from social activities to drink
- Showing withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating or shaking
- Bloodshot eyes
- Strange odors
Effects of Long-Term Alcohol Abuse
While many people enjoy a glass of wine or beer from time to time, when drinking becomes excessive, it can cause significant long-term health problems.
The most well-known of these are problems with your liver. Alcoholics commonly face cirrhosis of the liver. But you can also experience cardiac difficulties, interfere with pancreatic function, and damage to nerves and the brain. Excessive drinking has also been linked to cancer.
The long-term health problems of excessive drinking are one of the main reasons to consider alcohol abuse counseling.
Treatment at Right Step
Alcohol abuse destroys lives. If you’ve been wondering, “why do I need alcohol abuse counseling?” then let Right Step Houston give you the answer. Our caring and experienced clinical team is ready to help you reclaim your life from alcohol. We provide group and individual counseling and therapy in a home-like setting on both an inpatient and outpatient basis, with a focus on empowering recovery approaches and developing coping skills. Our programs are many, ranging from medical drug detox and inpatient drug rehab to addiction therapy programs and aftercare programs aimed at preventing relapse. Contact us 1.844.768.0169 today to schedule a confidential assessment.