Fortunately, Lower Silesia is home to places where people can receive real, professional help. And it is worth remembering one thing: the sooner the decision to seek treatment is made, the easier it is to rebuild what addiction has managed to destroy.
Willpower is not enough. Alcoholism is simply an illness
There are still many harmful myths surrounding drinking. The most common one? That giving up alcohol is a matter of “pulling yourself together.” In reality, addiction changes brain chemistry and the way a person thinks. Someone who drinks very often sincerely believes they have everything under control—defense mechanisms are activated, along with making excuses and rationalizing every subsequent drink. That is precisely why it is so difficult to overcome addiction without outside support.
How can you tell that it is time for a consultation?
You do not have to wait until there is a tragedy, job loss or marital breakdown. It is worth contacting a specialist when alcohol begins to dictate the terms of everyday life.
Warning signs that should not be ignored:
- drinking becomes a way to relieve every kind of stress or emotion,
- difficulty stopping after the first drink or beer,
- neglecting household duties and work in favor of drinking (or treating a hangover),
- hiding alcohol from household members,
- reaching for a drink despite clear health problems,
- poor physical and mental well-being after stopping (the so-called withdrawal syndrome).
What does treatment really look like?
Contrary to appearances, therapy is not only detoxification and abstaining from alcohol. Above all, it means learning how to live again—understanding why one reached for alcohol, how to cope with difficult emotions and how to respond to triggers without reaching for a drink.
Depending on the patient’s situation, the process may include:
- an initial consultation and diagnosis,
- safe detoxification (medical detox),
- treatment at a residential facility (inpatient treatment),
- individual and group sessions on an outpatient basis,
- support programs for families,
- reinforcing new habits after completion of the primary treatment.
Loved ones need support too
Living under one roof with an addicted person is extremely psychologically burdensome. Partners, parents and adolescent children often fall into the trap of so-called codependency—they take responsibility for the drinker, hide them from the outside world and live under constant tension.
Family psychotherapy helps people break free from this role, regain peace of mind and set healthy boundaries. It also helps them understand one crucial fact: no one can force a loved one to recover, and responsibility for change lies with the person who drinks.
In a difficult moment, the most important thing is not to face everything alone. Professional addiction therapy in Wrocław provides space to work on the problem not only for people struggling with alcohol, medication or gambling, but also for their loved ones who need support.
Where to find support in Lower Silesia?
Residents of Bolesławiec and other towns in Lower Silesia have access to various forms of treatment—from mental health clinics and addiction therapy clinics to specialized centers offering residential treatment.
When choosing a treatment facility, it is worth considering not only its location, but above all the experience of the therapeutic staff, the scope of assistance offered and the possibility of extending support to family members as well. For many people, discretion, an individual approach to the patient and a comprehensive therapeutic program are also important.
There is no single solution suitable for everyone. The form of help that will be best depends on the severity of the addiction, the person’s health and their individual life situation.
There is no “perfect moment” for change
Waiting for an addicted person to “mature enough to figure everything out on their own” often takes years and comes at a great cost to their health. Meanwhile, the first step does not have to be a weeks-long stay at a treatment center right away.
Often, one informal consultation with a therapist is enough. It is a safe conversation that helps bring order to the chaos in your mind, learn what options are available and simply plan the first practical steps. Every day is a good day to stop putting this off—lasting recovery from addiction is possible, but it is rarely achieved alone.
This article was produced with the expert support of Paweł Klimas from Ślężańskie Centrum Terapii.