How to Create a Therapeutic Care Setting for Alcohol Therapy

According to the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH), alcoholism is not merely a personal problem--it is a disease. And, like all diseases, alcoholism requires therapy for the alcoholic to recover. One major way you can help someone close to you who is suffering from the disease of alcoholism is to create a therapeutic setting in which the alcoholic can recover safely and with minimal discomfort.

Things You'll Need

• Phone
• Herbal Tea
• Blankets
• Phone Book

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Instructions

• 1

  Make sure that all alcoholic beverages (and cough syrups containing alcohol) are removed from the setting. This may seem like a no-brainer, but you may have to thoroughly check for possible hiding places in which the recovering person may have hidden alcohol. Don't trust the recovering alcoholic to tell you where he's hidden his stash, since the NIH reports that most alcoholics will hide alcohol and are prone to relapse.

• 2

  Talk to the person. Let the alcoholic know that her alcohol therapy is important both for her and the people around her. If the person is a spouse or loved one, let the alcoholic in therapy know how her and your life will improve after therapy progresses. Encouragement is essential.

• 3

  Pick up the phone and call a friend of the alcoholic's. The NIH reports that a friend of the alcoholic--especially one who may be a recovering alcoholic as well--may be a source of great comfort and wisdom during the alcoholic's therapy.

• 4

  Soothe the symptoms. Alcoholics may experience tremors, or "the shakes," and hot or cold flashes. Have blankets ready to keep the alcoholic warm should he begin to shiver, and offer plenty of water and soothing hot mugs of caffeine-free herbal tea. Warmth inside and out may help to combat the alcoholic's withdrawal symptoms while undergoing therapy.

• 5

  Keep the phone book handy. You may need to call a doctor if the alcoholic's symptoms become severe during care under therapy. Also, most medical professionals recommend Alcoholics Anonymous as a great support group for those undergoing alcoholism therapy. Members of AA are usually willing to talk to the suffering person on the phone, or may even drop by to offer support to the alcoholic receiving therapy, until she can make it in to a meeting for further group therapy.