If you or someone you love has a problem with alcohol, you already know how disruptive and potentially life-changing it can be. If the problem has progressed to full-blown addiction, it’s often necessary to get treatment to help the addicted person manage their condition and regain their mental health. However, it may be tough to decide what type of treatment is the best for their (or your) specific situation.

Here is more information on different types of treatment for alcohol addiction and how to choose the best one for your needs. 

What Are the Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction?

Are you wondering if you or someone you love is addicted to alcohol? Here are some of the common symptoms that might indicate that treatment for alcohol addiction is warranted:

• Drinking in isolation.
• Experiencing mental or physical symptoms when not drinking.
• Missing obligations such as school, work, or family events due to drinking.
• A marked decline in personal hygiene or appearance.
• Extreme mood swings.
• Lapses or gaps in memory after drinking.
• Not being able to stop after having one or several drinks.
• Needing more and more alcohol to have an effect of getting buzzed or drunk.
• Getting depressed or experiencing anxiety related to the drinking.
• Getting upset or defensive when someone questions your drinking.

If you or someone you love is experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it’s likely a good idea to seek treatment. Seeking treatment is crucial if you or your loved one is blacking out consistently due to alcohol consumption, are having problems with the law such as multiple DUIs, or are unable to complete daily living tasks due to alcohol consumption.

What Types of Treatments Can Be Used for Alcohol Addiction?

Fortunately, there are multiple treatment options when it comes to treatment for alcohol addiction. They include:

• Behavioral therapies. Therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and family therapy can be useful in treating alcohol addiction. CBT helps those with addiction create more positive thought patterns that lead to altered behaviors while family therapy promotes recovery and healing by exploring the impact of the addict’s action on their loved ones.
• Group therapy. Group therapy and support groups like 12-step programs can help addicts develop connections and share their experiences with others to gain support on their road to recovery.
• Medications. If needed, a doctor can prescribe a combination of meds that can possibly reduce cravings and help an addict gain sobriety.

Treatment for Alcohol Addiction: Choosing the Best Option 

When choosing treatment for alcohol addiction, the best place to start is to work with an addiction clinic that can do an assessment and evaluation. From there, the clinic can recommend either one treatment or a combination of treatments to help the addict on the road to recovery. In most cases, these treatments will be administered in an outpatient setting, meaning the addict will come and go freely and not be confined. In extreme cases, it may be recommended that an addict participate in an in-patient program where they are confined to a facility for a period of time to aid in their recovery.

Finding Treatment for Alcohol Addiction Near You

If you or your loved one needs to be treated for alcohol addiction, look for a nearby clinic that can perform an assessment or evaluation and then recommend the best treatment program for your specific needs.