Do you think someone you care about needs help with drinking? Understanding how to know if someone needs rehab can be hard. But it’s one of the most important choices you might face.
Alcohol rehab is not the end of the world. It might feel scary to the person going to get help, as it’s a big change in their life.
Learning the signs someone needs alcohol rehab will allow you to find the right help and support for your loved one. There are steps to take before rehab starts. These include getting checked by a doctor. When you know the signs of alcohol addiction, you can help your loved one better.
Signs Someone Needs Alcohol Rehab
How to know if someone needs rehab means looking at how they act and live. The signs of alcohol addiction start small. This makes them easy to miss at first. Spotting alcohol problems early helps treatment work better.
Changes in how they act when someone needs alcohol treatment:
- Drinking becomes more important than work, family, or friends
- They try to drink less but can’t keep it up
- They keep drinking even when bad things happen, or when money is limited
- They stop taking care of how they look
- They hide their drinking from others
- Their mood changes when they drink or don’t drink
Physical signs:
- Shaky hands, especially in the morning
- Sweating or feeling sick when not drinking
- Need more alcohol to feel the same way
- Feel bad when trying to stop drinking
- Get hurt or have accidents more often
Emotional and social signs:
- Staying away from family and friends
- Stopped doing things they used to enjoy
- Fighting with others about drinking
- Money problems from buying alcohol
- Getting in trouble with the law
Types of Alcohol Help Available
If someone you love has a drinking problem, there are two main ways to help them. These alcohol treatment options work in different ways. Each one is good for different people.
Hospital-Style Alcohol Rehab
This type of help is the strongest. The person lives at the treatment centre, and has access to medical support all day and night. Treatment lasts roughly a month, with longer stays available.
Good things about staying at a treatment centre:
- Multi-disciplinary medical team providing round-the-clock care
- No alcohol available, but healthy eating and drinking options instead
- Evidence-based therapy and counselling
- A strong recovery community
- Focus on getting better for as long as is required
Who should stay at a treatment centre:
- People who drink a lot and need 24/7 support
- People who tried other treatment but it didn’t work
- People who also have mental health concerns that require support
- People who don’t have a safe home to go to
How to Help Alcoholic Family Member
Talking to someone about drinking is hard. You need to pick the right time and place. How to talk to someone about drinking problem works best when you show love, not anger.
Best ways to talk to them:
- Pick a time when they are not drunk
- Tell them exactly what worries you
- Say how their drinking hurts you and others
- Offer to help instead of making threats
- Have information about alcohol treatment options ready
- Think about getting professional help with alcohol intervention strategies
What Good Treatment Should Include
Any programme should help the person understand why they drink. It should also help them stop drinking and learn new ways to cope.
What good alcohol rehab should have:
- Holistic approach to recovery
- Safe, medically supervised detox manage withdrawal
- One-on-one therapy for personal problems
- Group talks with other people in recovery
- Family therapy to strengthen relationships
- Learning how to stay sober
- Plans for help and relapse prevention after treatment ends
Alcohol Rehab
Want help finding the right alcohol rehab for your loved one? Find out more about treatment today.
Supporting Someone in Alcohol Recovery
The goal is to support a loved one during their recovery long term. Getting better takes time, but having support helps people support people to stay sober.
Ways to help family members struggling with addiction get better: Learn more about drinking and the trigger that affect your loved one. Go to family therapy when they ask you to come. Make your home a place with no alcohol in it. Help them join support groups with other people in recovery. Be patient because recovery takes time and has ups and downs. Celebrate with them when they do well and reach important goals.
Making home good for recovery:
- Take all alcohol out of the house
- Plan fun things that don’t involve drinking
- Meet other families dealing with addiction
- Take care of your own health and feelings
- Set rules but still show love
When to Stage an Intervention
Sometimes people won’t admit they have a problem. They might say no to getting help. When this happens, you might need professional help. Knowing when to stage an intervention can make the difference.
People who know about alcohol intervention strategies can help. They plan special talks with your loved one. These talks help convince them to get treatment.
Moving Forward with Hope
Learning how to know if someone needs rehab can feel scary. But it’s the first step to helping your family heal. With the right alcohol treatment programme and support, people can get better. Many people stop drinking and live happy lives.
You can’t force someone to get help. But you can give them information and support. You can be there when they’re ready to try. Remember to take care of yourself too. Alcohol problems affect the whole family, not just the person who drinks.
At Smarmore Castle, family therapy is provided as part of a patient’s treatment. This means that you can learn more about your loved one’s journey of recovery and find more support for yourself.
Treatment for Loved Ones
Learn more about how to support a loved one to access treatment.
