Wednesday 5 June 2019

How Is CBT Helpful In Reducing Alcohol Dependence?

Alcoholism is a serious disease that affects millions of people across the globe. According to studies conducted by the National Institute of Health, alcoholism has affected around 18 Million U.S. adults last year. Alcoholism is accountable for the maximum number of deaths every year.  

Alcohol use disorder is also known as colloquially or alcoholism. Mostly people with 18-25 age group are the victims of alcohol abuse. Dr. Keith Ablow, a renowned psychiatrist states that the youth is in serious danger of alcohol abuse. Over consumption of alcohol leads to the development of major health diseases like liver damage and cancer, and mishaps such as car accidents, black-outs, and fall-outs.  
Alcoholism is a disease that can be effectively cured with the help of certain therapies.

Treating alcoholism with the help of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is the most practiced approach.
It is an effective method of helping a person develop a positive lifestyle and focus on health improvement. This area of psychotherapy can be performed either individually or in groups.

How will the CBT plan be conducted?
During the course of the cognitive behavioural therapy treatment, the psychotherapist will help the client with the following:  

  • Ascertaining the actual emotional trigger points
  • Drawing a plan to increase engagement in non-drug consumption plans
  • Avoiding events that involve drugs or alcohol intake
How does a CBT program affect the patients behaviour?
A person who is affected with alcoholism and is undergoing CBT therapy, can develop the following behavioural changes:
  • Increasing engagement in low-risk non-drug activities
  • Drafting a non-risk program
  • Avoiding situations that involve substance abuse
  • Understanding the basics of relapse
  • Adopting healthier eating habits
  • Learning to fight this situation
  • Reluctance to consume alcohol again
What approaches does CBT follow?
Below mentioned are the three approaches that the CBT program follows to cure alcoholism and reduce substance abuse.
  1. Mirror modeling approach: In this approach, a person is treated by showing examples of individuals who have successfully overcome alcoholism with CBT. This serves as a motivational factor and encourages the affected person to avoid alcohol consumption. Under this approach, it is essential to select an anonymous sponsor. The sponsor will guide the patient through the 12 steps of overcoming alcoholism. This is known as modeling.
  1. Classical conditioning approach: Sometimes, a particular event can trigger the craving for alcohol consumption. The classical conditioning approach helps in understanding such events and avoiding the urge to develop the habits of alcoholism again. Patients are taught to develop this attitude and avoid such situations for speedy recovery.
  1. Operant conditioning approach: After the situations that trigger alcoholism in a person are ascertained, strategies are devised that help overcome this disease. A patient fighting with alcoholism is motivated at every step of recovery to lead a better and positive life. A proper diet plan is provided that the patient has to follow to improve his health.
Dr. Keith Ablow Psychiatrist holds decades of experience in treating patients suffering from alcohol abuse. He is one of America’s leading psychiatry experts and has helped many people treat alcoholism.

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