Alcohol is a psychoactive substance which causes most problems in people. The main reasons for this are the availability, legality, and non-critical attitude of wider portion of society towards the use of alcohol.
Symptoms of alcoholism:
- Changes in behavior and personality are noticeable; addicts become aggressive, often unhappy, and irritable. The primary goal that totally occupies them is the daily use of alcohol. Plans, hobbies, family responsibilities, and business reputation become extremely irrelevant and give place to alcohol. This results in divorces, family breakdowns, firing, and loss of social reputation.
- Psychological addiction – the patient becomes unable to control himself and is overwhelmed by the enormous desire and mental need for alcohol consumption, all with the aim of feeling its pleasant effects again. The addict does not admit this and attempts to avoid taking responsibility for his behavior in all possible ways.
- Crisis – this is a very dangerous and unpleasant condition. After consuming large quantities of alcohol, a hangover occurs followed by nervousness, nausea, dizziness, trembling, heart palpitations, sweating, and tremor. The most severe form of withdrawal syndrome is delirium tremens.
As time passes, these symptoms get worse, and the hangover becomes extremely difficult to bear. People look for a means to help them cope with the crisis and find it only in an additional amount of alcohol. The only way to bear the abstinence crisis is an additional amount of alcohol that leads to the creation of a “vicious circle” typical of regular use of alcohol. Addicts promise they will stop drinking, but this does not happen.
Treatment of alcohol addiction and the importance of psychotherapy
With the help of psychotherapy, a former addict can build a healthier personality. Psychotherapy provides an alternative to unhealthy behaviors, and it is true that when it comes to addictive disorders, this is a major challenge but not impossible.
The success of psychotherapy depends largely on the will and commitment of the patient. In order to have the best possible treatment outcome, the treatment plan is always adapted to each patient.
The effects of alcoholism
The consequences of alcoholism are numerous. Metabolism and the appearance of addicts changes, especially skin and face, memory is impaired, dementia is developed, and the whole personality slowly but surely decays.
The physical effects are damage to the liver, heart, blood vessels, and other internal organs that lose their functions. The worst can be prevented, but only if the addicts accept treatment. This often does not happen as they do not think they are ill and have a problem.
Phases of treatment of alcohol addiction
Diagnostics – the first and significant phase of treatment during which the physical and psychological state of the patient is assessed. The standard diagnostic examination for physical condition assessment includes:
- urine test,
- tests for hepatitis B and C, HIV infection,
- general blood analysis,
- blood biochemical testing,
- ECG,
- an internist examination.
The standard diagnostic examination for assessing the psychological condition involves psychodiagnostics (psychological tests are used to determine the level of addiction, the consequences of the use of substances on mental health, to detect the signs of psychological disorders, the presence of depression, the degree of motivation for healing).
Having made the diagnosis, the team of doctors examines the findings and develops treatment strategy and plan. If there are risk factors or some chronic illness, additional tests are carried out, and therapy is prescribed. It is possible to do MRT, EEG, ultrasound, X-ray, endoscopy, medicine, and drug concentration analysis, cardiac examination, neurological examination, endocrinological examination … These are all additional tests that are not included in the package price.
Detoxification – Depending on the results of diagnostics, the most appropriate method of detoxification of the body from alcohol is chosen for each patient individually which will best eliminate all the unpleasant and dangerous symptoms of the crisis.
When one consumes alcohol for a long time and in large quantities, he is in the risk of alcoholic delirium and seizures upon quitting. That is why detoxification is crucial and includes not only infusions, vitamins, hepatoprotectors, amino acids, but also the complex of preparations that protect the brain, normalizing the work of the heart, liver, kidneys and peripheral nervous system. This program lasts for ten days.
Psychostabilisation – when the withdrawal syndrome passes, addiction is not cured. The key stage enters the scene in which a negative attitude toward alcohol is instilled, and alcohol stops being appealing, and the patient begins to feel comfortable when sober. This is achieved through the following procedures:
- Aversive therapy makes it possible to create an aversion to alcohol at the subconscious level and a negative response to the smell and taste of alcohol.
- N.Е.Т. therapy eliminates alcohol-induced pleasure hormones imbalance.
- Transair therapy is a special procedure that reduces mental tension, nervousness, regulates mood swings, appetite, and insomnia. This therapy leads to the normalization of brain hemisphere functions.
- Psychotherapy
The pharmacological blockade in the form of Disulfiram is scheduled for the end of the treatment. The blockade is an essential component, and it maintains the treatment results. Disulfiram is a medicine that causes an unpleasant reaction when alcohol is taken and exists in the form of tablets, implants, and depot injections. It is recommended that patients be protected with Disulfiram for 12 months.
Anti-relapse outpatient support is crucial for the treatment to be completely effective. The patient and his family should be in contact with the hospital for at least a year. It is necessary to respect the rules of outpatient treatment, to change the lifestyle, to take the prescribed therapy, and to come to follow-ups regularly.
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In case of a need, we also offer transport of patients from the airport or the station to the hospital and back. We help foreign patients receive a visa if they need it, and if they have company, they too can stay in the hospital.
Our professional staff is available to patients 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Our doctors are certified anesthesiologists, psychiatrists, and psychologists with 10 to 25 years of experience. Your safety and security is our priority, the facility is under video surveillance, and the hired security guard takes care of it.
