Getting a Loved One Help for AUD

by Kind Dev | Oct 24, 2024 | Addiction

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is something that affects millions of people all over the world. Also, it is not just the individual who is affected. It can affect everyone in their orbit, especially loved ones like close family and friends. However, these people who can be most affected are also the ones who can often make the biggest difference because they are close enough to the individual to reach them and offer them help. Yes, getting a loved one help for AUD can feel daunting, but it can also be one of the most meaningful and impactful actions a person will ever take.

The Prevalence of AUD in the U.S.

AUD is still highly prevalent in the U.S. and around the world. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), “29.5 million people ages 12 and older (10.5% in this age group) had AUD in the past year. This includes 17.4 million males ages 12 and older (12.6% in this age group),” and “12.2 million females ages 12 and older (8.5% in this age group).”

These are not insignificant numbers and they help to explain why many people will be affected by this disease in some way at some point in their lives. AUD also causes very significant and quantifiable damage. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Excessive alcohol use was responsible for about 178,000 deaths in the United States each year during 2020–2021, or 488 deaths per day.” Also, “Each year, deaths from excessive drinking shortened the lives of those who died by an average of 24 years, for a total of about 4 million years of potential life lost.”

With statistics as staggering as these, it can become easy to forget that these are not just numbers but lives that have been devastated. But, there is also hope in these statistics because they represent people who can be helped to overcome their addiction. This all starts by being able to recognize the signs and symptoms of AUD.

The Signs and Symptoms of AUD

There are many signs and symptoms associated with AUD. These symptoms can be mild and severe (depending on the individual and how long they have been affected). It is also important to note that even mild symptoms should not be minimized as they may just be symptoms that are more visible of deeper struggles.

The following are just a few of the signs and symptoms of AUD:

• Isolating away from loved ones
• Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
• Otherwise, unexplained physical ailments such as gastrointestinal problems and muscle aches
• Excessive hangovers
• Missing school or work due to drinking
• Losing interest in appearance and personal hygiene
• Trouble with sleep, including sleeping too much and/or sleeping too little
• Spending excessive amounts of money on alcohol
• Exhibiting mood swings and outbursts
• Expressing feelings of anxiety and/or depression
• Committing self-harm and/or having suicidal ideations

As one can see, these are significant and dangerous side effects. This is why if a loved one is exhibiting any, many, or all of these symptoms, seeking professional help as soon as possible is highly recommended. Also, catching these symptoms early can mean the difference between short-term issues and long-term effects.

The Long-Term Effects of AUD on the Mind, Body, and Soul

AUD does not just affect one part of a person. No, it can affect their entire being. This includes mind, body, and soul. Physically, it can destroy muscle tissue and internal organs. Mentally, it can interrupt brain development and cause permanent cognitive damage. Emotionally, it can create feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and shame. It can also get to the core of one’s soul and cause them to lose faith in the joys of life.

The fact of the matter is that the primary long-term effect of AUD is premature death. This is a gravely deadly disease (as was previously noted by the CDC). However, AUD has many other devastating long-term effects. The following are just a few:

• Family disruptions, including the separation of spouses and parents from their children
• Financial troubles and the loss of jobs
• AUD has been linked to certain cancers
• Causes liver and kidney damage
• The potential for acquiring a co-occurring mental health disorder
• Homelessness
• The potential for acquiring co-occurring substance and behavioral addictions

Getting a Loved One Help for AUD

The good news is that AUD does not have to be a long-term reality. If a loved one is struggling with AUD, there is help, and there is hope. The key is to act as soon as possible. Understandably, many people are intimidated when it comes to approaching a loved one whom they think may have a problem. The key is to remember that this is a life-saving act and, in many instances, the individual is secretly hoping that someone will reach out.

Close friends and family are uniquely qualified to help their loved ones with AUD. Yes, this is because they are near the individual, but it is also because that proximity often allows them to set boundaries if a loved one who needs help is unwilling to accept it.

There is a reason why they refer to addiction as a “family disease.” This is because it negatively affects both the individual and those closest to them. These effects can also be physical, mental, and emotional. The emotional aspect is why many people get caught up in enabling their loved one who is struggling with AUD. This means that they offer the type of help (financial, legal, familial) that actually allows them to continue their negative addictive behaviors longer.

In order for a loved one to get the help they need, the enabling has to stop, and boundaries must be set. These may be boundaries like not allowing them in the home or around the family if they have been drinking, not supporting them financially, or not helping them out if legal troubles arise. While setting these boundaries may be hard, the key is to remember that they will be worth it if they direct a loved one to the help they need. That help may need to start with a safe and secure detox.

Help for AUD: A Safe and Secure Detox

It is important to remember that AUD can also be deadly when someone stops drinking. This is because alcohol withdrawal can not only be extremely mentally and physically painful, but without proper professional care and supervision, it can be fatal.

Alcohol withdrawal can lead to something called delirium tremens (DTs), and they can be very serious. According to the peer-reviewed journal Alcohol Health and Research World, “DT’s are a serious manifestation of alcohol dependence that develops 1 to 4 days after the onset of acute alcohol withdrawal in persons who have been drinking excessively for years… Death may occur in up to 5 percent of patients with DT’s. The risk of death is reduced, however, in patients receiving adequate medication and medical support.”

This proper medical support also helps get an individual ready for the next steps of recovery, such as day treatment. The primary way it does this is by getting an individual healthy enough to participate in their own recovery.

Many people don’t realize just how nutrient-deprived an individual going into treatment actually is. According to the peer-reviewed journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, “Chronic alcoholic patients are frequently deficient in one or more vitamins. The deficiencies commonly involve folate, vitamin B6, thiamine, and vitamin A.” Also, “Alcoholism can affect the absorption, storage, metabolism, and activation of many of these vitamins.” A safe and secure detox is going to ensure that these nutrient levels (and hydration) are back up to where they need to be to move on to the next steps of recovery.

Help for AUD: Day Treatment

Day treatment is often an ideal approach for many people choosing recovery. This is because it offers the intense treatment that is needed to combat the disease of AUD, but it also allows individuals an opportunity to keep engaging in their day-to-day lives.

Many people confuse day treatment as a less intense (and therefore less effective) treatment than residential care. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Day treatment requires a serious commitment, and it has been shown to be just as effective as inpatient care. It generally requires five full days a week and often includes outside recovery meetings. Day treatment also utilizes the same types of therapy that residential care does. This includes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

Help for AUD: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

CBT has been shown to be highly effective at treating several different types of addiction and mental health disorders. This includes AUD.

The reason for this is that CBT helps get to the underlying core issues that are often the deeper cause of addiction. As is said in many recovery meetings, “Alcohol is but a ‘symptom’ of what’s really going on.”

CBT works by addressing the negative way that one views oneself and the world around them. According to the peer-reviewed journal Cognitive Therapy and Research, “Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) refers to a class of interventions that share the basic premise that mental disorders and psychological distress are maintained by cognitive factors. The core premise of this treatment approach, as pioneered by Beck (1970) and Ellis (1962), holds that maladaptive cognitions contribute to the maintenance of emotional distress and behavioral problems. According to Beck’s model, these maladaptive cognitions include general beliefs, or schemas, about the world, the self, and the future, giving rise to specific and automatic thoughts in particular situations.”

CBT can help bring these negative cognitions (thoughts) and emotions (feelings) to the surface so they can then be properly addressed utilizing certain tools, techniques, and coping mechanisms. Similar underlying issues can also be addressed via group therapy.

Help for AUD: Group Therapy

One very critical component of a successful recovery is working with others. This includes both recovery professionals and recovery peers, both of whom are interacted with in group therapy.

Group therapy can be particularly effective in the treatment of addiction because it shows people that they are not alone. It also shows people that recovery is possible as they see their peers start to get well and move closer to their goals. Group therapy also offers a myriad of other benefits. The following are just a few of those benefits:

• Offers a sense of hope
• Helps individuals gain knowledge about the disease that they are struggling with
• Can help get individuals ready to interact with their loved ones again
• Offers healthy and nonjudgmental support
• Gives individuals a safe space where they can discuss their feelings
• Helps build relationships that can be carried on after treatment is over

Another major component of recovery is helping others. By helping others, an individual also greatly helps themself stay sober. As has been said, “It’s hard to think about your problems when you are helping someone else with theirs.”

The importance of working with others is even discussed in the primary text of 12-Step recovery (most commonly referred to as the Big Book) under the aptly named chapter, “Working With Others.” It states, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other [people with AUD]. It works when other activities fail… You can help when no one else can.” Group therapy is an ideal setting to create the types of bond that can carry someone long into their recovery.

Help for AUD: Trauma Therapy

Many people don’t realize just how prevalent trauma is in the U.S. and around the world. According to the peer-reviewed journal Psychological Medicine, “General population studies have shown that a large proportion of people in developed countries have been exposed to at least one TE [traumatic event] in their lifetime (estimates from 28 to 90%), with the most common events being the unexpected death of a loved one, motor vehicle accidents and being mugged.”

Many people who struggle with trauma turn to alcohol (and other substances) as a coping mechanism to deal with it. Of course, this only masks the problem, and it only does so for a short period of time.

People who struggle with trauma and addiction often also benefit specifically from trauma therapy. This is because trauma therapy focuses on the underlying issues of trauma so an individual can heal on the inside rather than just focusing on getting sober. When one focuses on all of their issues in tandem (such as trauma and addiction), they have a much better chance of maintaining recovery and avoiding a potential relapse.

Many people don’t realize just how prevalent relapse is in the U.S. According to the peer-reviewed journal Current Psychiatry Reports, “It has long been known that addictive disorders are chronic and relapsing in nature. Recent estimates from clinical treatment studies suggest that more than two-thirds of individuals relapse within weeks to months of initiating treatment.” Now, these statistics go down significantly when the proper steps are taken to get a loved one the help they need for AUD. These steps include setting boundaries, getting into detox (if needed), and choosing the right day treatment with the right types of therapies.

The Importance of Individualized and Comprehensive Care at NorthStar Recovery Center

Here at NorthStar Recovery Center, we know just how daunting it can be when it comes to getting a loved one help for AUD. However, we also know that with that help comes hope for a healthier and happier way of life for everyone involved.

The iconic American author and philosopher Joseph Campbell said, “We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.” There is a new life waiting beyond addiction. The key is to go out and get it.

Getting a loved one help for alcohol use disorder (AUD) can be both difficult and daunting. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. There are many effective ways to get a loved one struggling with AUD the help that they need. This may start with a safe and secure detox and move into a day treatment program. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction or co-occurring disorders, we can help. You are not alone. You don’t have to go through this alone. For more information about how to get a loved one the help they need for AUD, please reach out to NorthStar Recovery Center today at (888) 311-0911.

The Effects of AUD and SUD on the Family

by Kind Dev | Oct 10, 2024 | Addiction

It is now widely agreed upon in the addiction recovery and medical community that addiction is a “disease.” This is a significant understanding considering the stigmas of “personal choice,” “moral failing,” and “sole history causality” that have long permeated alcohol use disorder (AUD) and substance use disorder (SUD) in the realm of addiction. It is also now understood that AUD and SUD are “family diseases because they have significant negative effects, not just on the individual struggling but on everyone who is close to that individual as well. This is especially true for the family.

Better Understanding the Prevalence of AUD and SUD

Many people don’t realize just how prevalent AUD and SUD remain in the United States (and around the world). According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “In 2022, 48.7 million people aged 12 or older (or 17.3%) had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year, including 29.5 million who had an alcohol use disorder (AUD), 27.2 million who had a drug use disorder (DUD), and 8.0 million people who had both an AUD and a DUD.”

It is also true that many of these people who struggle with AUD and SUD also struggle with other co-occurring disorders of mental health. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “7.7 million adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders…Of the 20.3 million adults with substance use disorders, 37.9% also had mental illnesses. Among the 42.1 million adults with mental illness, 18.2% also had substance use disorders.” This is why it is important to be able to detect the signs and symptoms of AUD and SUD (including those with co-occurring disorders).

The Signs and Symptoms of AUD and SUD

While many signs and symptoms will manifest differently among individuals, there are universal signs that are often present. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:

• Not being able to stop once an individual starts drinking (or using substances)
• Isolating away from close family and friends
• Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
• Experiencing physical problems, such as extreme headaches and gastrointestinal problems
• Having trouble with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (insomnia)
• Feeling overly anxious, nervous, or “stressed out”
• Experiencing mood swings that are out of character
• Having feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, or worthlessness
• Harming oneself (such as cutting or self-hitting)
• Having suicidal ideations

As one can see, these are not insignificant side effects. This is why seeking professional help as soon as possible is important. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences for a loved one.

Getting a Loved One Help for AUD and SUD

Now, getting help for a loved one can be challenging and can feel overwhelming. The key is to remember that it is for their own good and can, in fact, be life-saving.

Now, the first step toward getting a loved one help (besides looking for the previously mentioned signs and symptoms) is approaching them and asking them if they think they may have a problem with alcohol or substances. Many people are often surprised to hear “yes” and that their loved one was hoping that someone would approach them and offer them help.

Of course, there are also instances where the individual refuses to get the help they need. This is not their fault. Remember, AUD and SUD are diseases that are out of an individual who is in active addiction’s control.

When this happens, it is important to set boundaries and stick to them. These boundaries may include such actions as not allowing them to live in the home if they continue to use alcohol and substances, not allowing them to engage with their children if they are under the influence, and/or cutting them off financially or with legal assistance if they get in trouble. Yes, the boundaries will feel difficult, but again, they can be life-saving.

Often, setting boundaries will bring about an essential “willingness” that a loved one should have if they are going to get the help they need. Staging an intervention can also help to bring about that willingness. However, it is important to remember that this willingness often has a small window, so getting help as soon as possible is vital.

Understanding AUD and SUD as a Disease

It is worth mentioning again that addiction is a disease. Once it sets in, a loved one is chronically ill. This is similar to other chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, or cancer.

According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), “Addiction is a chronic relapsing disease that we must treat as we do other such diseases. We do not expect the hearts of patients with heart failure to behave normally – we understand that their function has been altered by disease. Why, then, do we expect the brains of substance abusers to behave normally since we know that their function has also been altered by disease?”

One of the keywords that the journal also mentioned is “relapse.” Many people don’t realize just how prevalent relapse is in the U.S. (and around the globe). According to the peer-reviewed journal Current Psychiatry Reports, “It has long been known that addictive disorders are chronic and relapsing in nature. Recent estimates from clinical treatment studies suggest that more than two-thirds of individuals relapse within weeks to months of initiating treatment.” Also, “For 1-year outcomes across alcohol, nicotine, weight, and illicit drug abuse, studies show that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug use within 1 year of treatment.”

Understanding AUD and SUD as a “Family Disease”

It has been said that addiction is like a tornado that rips through one’s environment and devastates everyone it comes into contact with, and the family is often the closest one in contact. This devastation is also often mental, emotional, spiritual, and sometimes physical (which should always be reported to the proper authorities sooner than later).

Now, since addiction is a family disease, it requires a family solution. Yes, this family solution begins with the individual getting the help they need, such as residential care or day treatment. But, it should also include modalities for the family, such as family therapy and individual psychotherapies for family members.

Getting Individual Help for AUD and SUD

Once an individual accepts help for their AUD and SUD, it is perhaps best to get them into a safe and secure detox. It is important to remember that one should never try to detox on their own. Not only will it be significantly more uncomfortable, but it can also be deadly (this is especially true with AUD).

After a safe and secure detox, the next steps are often either residential care (if an individual requires more closely monitored recovery) or day treatment (if the individual can handle keeping one foot in their everyday lives). Regardless of which path one takes, the modalities often look very similar. These modalities often include psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), experiential therapies like nature-based therapies and art therapy, and holistic healing methods like yoga and meditation.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

CBT can be particularly beneficial to an individual who is struggling with AUD and SUD because it helps them get to the underlying issues that are often the cause of their addiction in the first place. As is often said in many 12-Step communities, “It is not the drinking so much as it is the ‘thinking.’”

CBT is also particularly effective because it makes the individual an “active participant” in the process of the therapy. This helps address the negative way that people view themselves and the world around them.

CBT offers a myriad of benefits. According to the peer-reviewed journal Cognitive Therapy and Research, “Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) refers to a class of interventions that share the basic premise that mental disorders and psychological distress are maintained by cognitive factors. The core premise of this treatment approach, as pioneered by Beck (1970) and Ellis (1962), holds that maladaptive cognitions contribute to the maintenance of emotional distress and behavioral problems. According to Beck’s model, these maladaptive cognitions include general beliefs, or schemas, about the world, the self, and the future, giving rise to specific and automatic thoughts in particular situations.” CBT can also be used for family recovery.

Experiential Therapy

Now, experiential therapies are just as their name describes. They focus on the “experience” that an individual undertakes versus a “talk” therapy like CBT. It should be noted that one is not better than the other, and they are often most effective when utilized together.

Art therapy is one of the more popular (and reportedly effective) experiential therapies. This is especially true with co-occurring disorders. According to the peer-reviewed journal Cureus, “Art therapy is used most commonly to treat mental illnesses and can aid in controlling manifestations correlated with psychosocially challenging behaviors, slowing cognitive decline, and enhancing the quality of life.” Also, “Art therapy can help people express themselves more freely, improve their mental health, and improve interpersonal relationships. The basis of art therapy is established on the idea that people can recover and feel better via artistic expression.” Art therapy can also be particularly effective when paired with holistic healing methods like yoga and meditation.

Holistic Healing Methods

“Holistic” simply refers to helping the entire capital S “Self.” This is the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual Self. Meditation and yoga can be particularly helpful for this.

Yoga can offer a myriad of benefits for those trying to recover from AUD and SUD. According to the International Journal of Yoga (IJOY), “Therapeutic yoga is defined as the application of yoga postures and practice to the treatment of health conditions. Yoga therapy involves instruction in yogic practices and teachings to prevent, reduce, or alleviate structural, physiological, emotional, and spiritual pain, suffering, or limitations. Yogic practices enhance muscular strength and body flexibility, promote and improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, promote recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep patterns, and enhance overall well-being and quality of life.” Yoga can also be helpful when practiced within the family.

Meditation can also help the whole family heal. There are also many other benefits. According to the International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda (AYU), “During the process of meditation, accumulated stresses are removed, energy is increased, and health is positively affected overall. Research has confirmed a myriad of health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. These include stress reduction, decreased anxiety, decreased depression, reduction in pain (both physical and psychological), improved memory, and increased efficiency.”

Getting Help as a Family for AUD and SUD

Now, as previously mentioned, all of the aforementioned means, methods, and modalities can be helpful when practiced as a family. However, there are also family-specific modalities that should also often be employed.

These include family support groups and 12-Step recovery groups. It also includes family therapy.

Family Therapy

Now, family therapy can be particularly helpful for the healing process because it offers a safe (and controlled) space for family members to express themselves without fear of judgment or retaliation. Family therapy also offers an opportunity for a professional therapist to offer insight into what they hear and see.

This therapy also often benefits the family members going to individual therapy sessions as well. Other beneficial modalities that can be used in tandem with family therapy are family support groups and 12-Step programs.

Family Support Groups and 12-Step Recovery for the Whole Family

Support groups are a great way for families to heal and help other families heal as well. This is because family members are able to share their experiences and relate to those who have gone through the same thing.

Family support groups can be found both online and in person, and they are a great way for families to build up a network by which they can rely upon when times get tough. These times may include having to set new boundaries if a loved one relapses or when one family member feels ignored in the healing process.

One of the most popular forms of family support groups comes in the form of 12-Step recovery. Yes, 12-Step recovery originated to help the individual who directly struggled with addiction, but it has since branched out to help family members and close friends. These support groups include Al-Anon and Alateen (which is specifically for younger individuals who have been affected by a loved one’s AUD and SUD).

Helping the Whole Family Heal at NorthStar Recovery Center

Here at NorthStar Recovery Center, we understand how important it is to the recovery process to help the entire family heal. This is why all of our recovery plans are individualized to include the entire family and their specific needs. Our recovery plans are also comprehensive and multi-angled to ensure that the means, methods, and modalities chosen are the right and most effective ones.

It is always important to remember that recovery is a journey, and that journey is almost always better when it is taken with friends and family. Recovery for the whole family is possible. The key is to reach out and ask for help. Recovery is out there, just over the horizon line. We can help families go out and get it so they can have the life that they have always desired and always deserved.

The Buddha famously said, “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” This includes the love that can be shared by a family, especially a family in recovery.

Addictions like alcohol use disorder (AUD) and substance use disorder (SUD) relate a lot to the “Family Systems Theory,” which is how each family member’s actions affect one another. Yes, this is especially true when a family member struggles with addiction. The good news is that there is a range of therapies that can help the entire family heal. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction, mental health disorders, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. For more information about how AUD and SUD affect the family, please reach out to NorthStar Recovery Center today at (888) 311-0911.