4 Reasons Why Alcoholics Need Psychotherapy

Addiction is not a symptom of psychological disturbance or an ill-fated attempt to self-medicate depression or anxiety. So, if psychological and emotional problems don’t cause alcoholism, why does a recovering alcoholic (or addict) need psychotherapy?

Here are four reasons:

  1. The nature of the disease.Addiction is a disease that causes widespread changes in brain chemistry. Over many months or years, the brain adapts to alcohol, eventually needing the drug to function normally. Recovery is a gradual process of allowing the brain to restore normal functioning. For most alcoholics, this process requires several months, and in some cases several years, of reorganization and healing. Psychological counselling with a competent professional who understands the subtle and profound ways addiction disrupts thoughts, moods, emotions, and behaviours will help alcoholics and addicts help understand why their thoughts and feelings are disrupted and how to cope with any ongoing problems.
  1. The addict’s undeveloped social skills.The alcoholic’s relationship with alcohol or drugs soon comes to mean more than anything else. Time and time again, when push comes to shove, the addict chooses alcohol or drug over friendships, marriage, and, most painful of all, children.

For the alcoholic, human beings are complex, demanding, and frequently disappointing; alcohol, on the other hand, is always available to soothe the hurts and frustrations of life. It always works without fail. Alcohol and drugs are “magic”. Mere human beings, with all their flaws and limitations, can’t measure up. When human relationships fail, the bottle heals all wounds. When alcohol becomes the central relationship of the alcoholic’s life, the development of interpersonal skills slows down.

Because most alcoholics and addicts start using substances start early in life, many of the insights and competencies involved in what Daniel Goleman calls “emotional intelligence” – self-awareness, the ability to control one’s emotions and bounce back from life’s setbacks, accurately understanding what other people are thinking and feeling, responding with tact and sensitivity to another person’s needs – remain undeveloped.

  1. Preexisting psychological problems.An estimated 20 to 30 per cent of alcoholics suffer from ongoing or preexisting psychological disturbances such as chronic depression, anxiety disorders, panic attacks and manic-depressive illness, and major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. When the psychological problems predate the addiction problem and continue in sobriety, the person may need medications to subdue the symptoms associated with these disorders. Consultation with a competent psychologist or psychiatrist who understands the neuro-physiological nature of addiction is essential.
  1. Coping with stigma. Alcoholics and addicts are part of the larger society that, because of misconceptions and widespread ignorance about the causes of addiction, continues to view them as morally depraved, self-centred, pleasure-obsessed individuals. Learning how to live in a world that considers you somehow abnormal or deficient in character is an ongoing process full of conflict and challenge. Retreating from that larger world does not work. Isolation from others destroys the body, the mind, and the spirit – and dramatically increases the risk of relapse.

Recovery consists of a gradual reintroduction to the inevitably complex and often painful domain of interpersonal relationships. Learning to take care of yourself is the priority. It is essential to learn to connect and interact with others.

Recovery is a gradual process. When a therapist treats an addict, empathy and understanding, trust develops, anxiety and fear begin to lessen, and confidence and ability to manage stressful situations increases.

For alcoholics and addicts, therapists can be a precious partner in recovery. They are the guide and anchor in the challenging task of addiction recovery.

Hope Trust rehab has a therapy team that consists of recovering addicts and professional psychologists who support the alcoholic in achieving long-term and lasting sobriety.