Patients who abuse alcohol often use stereotypical excuses and justifications to avoid an initial verification consultation. For many, talking to a professional creates fear – both of admitting to the problem and of changing their current ways of coping by drinking alcohol. Sometimes fears turn into excuses to delay this step.
One of the most common excuses is: “I’m not an addict, I can stop drinking whenever I want.” This belief is sometimes a common defense mechanism to avoid admitting the problem to oneself. For people who can really control their drinking, this is not a problem, but if you find yourself repeating this argument, you might want to ask yourself, what is stopping you from trying to reduce your drinking or take a break? A consultation is just the thing to answer this question and take a closer look.
Another justification for avoiding contact with a professional is the phrase “I don’t need any help, it’s just a temporary thing.” Often this argument stems from the need to justify one’s drinking by looking for “occasional” reasons that “…require…to drink…”. – difficulties at work, stress, personal problems. Meanwhile, specialists know that addicts often look for external causes for their drinking, believing that once the situation changes, the problem will disappear on its own. More often than not, however, the problem doesn’t disappear, and drinking alcohol only delays it for later. A consultation allows an honest assessment of whether the drinking is actually a temporary phase or a symptom of deeper difficulties.
Contact with an addiction therapist is often a groundbreaking, inspiring and important step towards understanding the problem and taking effective action. At IN-MED Center, we provide support based on proven methods, where a highly experienced addiction therapist helps clients and their families better understand the nature of the addiction, determine the level of severity of the problem, and establish an individualized treatment plan.
Initial examination of the patient
During the first visit, the therapist conducts a detailed conversation to assess the person’s current drinking pattern and how deeply drinking is harnessed to deal with feelings. Key elements include understanding what role alcohol or psychoactive substances play in that person’s life, how alcohol affects daily functioning, health, relationships and work. This stage allows the therapist to better understand the context of the problem and to understand the individual factors contributing to addiction.
Based on the interview, the therapist conducts a verification of the degree of addiction, assessing both the level of physical and psychological dependence. Standardized diagnostic tools, such as the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) Questionnaire for alcohol dependence or diagnostic tools to help identify psychoactive substance use, may be used in this process. This approach helps create a complete picture of the patient’s condition, which is crucial for further treatment.
In a kind and non-judgmental way, the therapist helps people understand how the mechanism of addiction works, what changes occur in the brain and body, and what the consequences are for physical and mental health. Education can often be helpful, as many people are unaware of the consequences of addiction and its long-term impact on their lives.
Later in the meeting, the therapist works with the patient to set realistic, achievable therapeutic goals. For some patients, this may mean complete abstinence, for others it may mean risk reduction and reduced substance use. It is important that the goals are tailored to the patient’s capabilities and reflect his or her willingness to make changes. Based on the results of the initial consultation and verification of addiction, the therapist helps create an initial treatment plan tailored to the patient’s needs. This plan can include a variety of treatment modalities, such as individual therapy as the only treatment or combined closely with regular attendance at AA meetings.
Benefits of consulting an addiction therapist
Many people struggling with aggravated alcohol abuse find it very difficult to realistically assess their situation. A consultation with a therapist allows you to get an objective assessment and help you map out ways out of your addiction. Therapists at the IN-MED Center rely on years of experience and specialized knowledge that can provide the most optimal form of help.
Addiction is a challenge that often brings with it feelings of shame, loneliness and helplessness. An experienced therapist becomes a kindly supportive person who helps the patient regain a sense of control over his or her own life. During consultations, patients learn techniques for dealing with stress, anxiety and situations that trigger the desire to relapse.
Addiction often leads to problems in family, friendship and professional relationships. During therapy, patients have the opportunity to better understand how their addiction affects those around them and what steps they can take to repair or improve these relationships.
Esperal inlays
It is worth mentioning that a significant number of alcohol abusers try to use Esperal implants offered in numerous places in Warsaw. In this text, we just want to briefly point out the negative aspects resulting from their use.
Alcohol inlays, known as Esperal (disulfiram),is an archaic and ineffective method of coping with drinking, nevertheless still unfortunately often used. Its use causes a number of problems:
- First of all, Esperal implants can delay getting proper treatment. Patients enter into the mistaken belief that simply suturing an Esperal is enough to cure their drinking problem. This false sense of security can lead to a delay in making contact with a professional addiction therapist. These individuals may neglect other forms of therapy, believing that the implant solves their problem
- Side effects: Esperal can cause serious side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, tachycardia and allergic reactions. Some patients may also experience depressive states or psychosis, further complicating the treatment process
- Esperal implantation does not cure the causes of addiction or eliminate the psychological aspects of the alcohol problem. Patients may avoid confronting the emotions and problems that contributed to their addiction, which can lead to further aggravation of the problem. Without proper psychological therapy, addicts may return to drinking after the esperal is terminated.
- Practice shows that once the esperal has been discontinued (which lasts from several months to a year), patients are at risk of relapsing into addiction. Experienced addiction therapists say that after the first esperal implantation, abstinence lasts a year, after the second six months, and after the third just a few weeks.
When is a detox necessary?
IN-MED center does not conduct any detoxification, but there are situations in which the so-called detox may be necessary:
- Withdrawal symptoms: Individuals presenting for an initial consultation may require detoxification if they are experiencing severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as shaking, sweating, anxiety, confusion, hallucinatory sensations or seizures. Detox allows alcohol to be safely removed from the body and relieves these symptoms.
- Before starting treatment: For patients with severe addiction, detoxification may be the first step before seeking further psychological therapy. This allows the patient’s mental and physical health to stabilize.
Why take advantage of consultations at the IN-MED Center
Our team of therapists and doctors are specialists with extensive experience in working with addicts. With the right credentials and an empathetic approach, we are able to provide support tailored to each person’s needs. We have the resources and expertise to effectively support both those in the early stages of addiction and those struggling with chronic addiction.
We invite anyone who needs help with alcohol and substance abuse to come to the IN-MED Center for a consultation. Our consultations are also aimed at loved ones of addicts. We realize that the support of the immediate environment is crucial to the success of therapy.
