Alcohol treatment Sydney CBD & St Leonards – Alcohol is widely used and enjoyed by many individuals. However, too much alcohol or alcohol misuse can lead to many health and social problems which include:
• Feeling depressed and anxious.
• Domestic violence.
• Unsafe sex.
• Problems with relationships.
• Memory and cognitive impairment.
• Problems with sleep.
• Work problems (poor attendance and performance due to being drunk or hung-over).
• Car accidents, falls, and other misadventures.
• Heart and liver disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and other physical illnesses.
Alcohol dependence is a psychological and biological syndrome. It can range from mild to severe.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Text Revised) (DSM-IV-TR), tobe diagnosed as alcohol dependent, the individual should show three of the following characteristics within a 12 month period:
• Tolerance – a need for increased amounts of alcohol to achieve intoxication, or a diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of alcohol.
• Withdrawal – either a characteristics alcohol withdrawal syndrome, or drinking to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.
• Alcohol taken in larger amounts or for a longer period than intended.
• A persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to control drinking.
• A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain alcohol, use of alcohol, or recover from its effects.
• Important social, occupational or recreational activities are reduced or given up because of drinking.
• Drinking is continued despite knowledge of having persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problems that are likely to have been caused or exacerbated by alcohol.
If you have a health or social problem related to, or made worse by, alcohol (including alcohol dependence), you should consider therapy to help you:
• Cut down your alcohol intake (harm minimisation),
• Abstain from alcohol for several weeks or months, or
• Abstain from alcohol entirely
In therapy, you will be encouraged to talk about your drinking and other problems. Your clinician will help you set your goals and decide on a treatment plan for you.
You will be provided with strategies which have demonstrated effectiveness in clinical trials. These include: cognitive behaviour therapy (cognitive restructuring, skills training), behavioural self-management training and relapse prevention strategies.
In addition, you will also be provided with strategies to help you cope with other difficulties that may be influencing your intake of alcohol such as depression, anxiety etc.
If you would like to talk to a clinician about your drinking please call Amicus Counselling and Clinical Psychological Services on 1 800 AMICUS (1 800 264 287) for an appointment.