You do not have to lose your job or reach a crisis before asking for help with alcohol use. Many people seek help with a substance use therapist long before anyone else notices a problem. An alcohol use therapist can help you understand the role alcohol plays in your life without shaming you or forcing you to adopt a label.
What Is an Alcohol Use Therapist?
An alcohol use therapist is a mental health or substance use professional who is trained to help people understand and change their relationship with alcohol. In therapy, you might explore whether alcohol is affecting your mental health, work, or relationships, if drinking has become a way of coping with challenges, or why cutting back has been difficult.
Should I Get Help From A Trained Alcohol Use Therapist?
Alcohol-related concerns exist on a spectrum. Some people meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder. Others may not have a diagnosis but still feel uncomfortable with their drinking.
You may benefit from therapy even if:
- You do not drink every day
- You have not faced legal or employment problems
- Other people drink more than you do
- You are still functioning well in many areas
- You are unsure whether you want to quit completely
Ask yourself: Is alcohol making my life harder, less healthy, or less aligned with the person I want to be? If the answer is yes, talking with an alcohol use therapist can help.
Signs It May Be Time to Talk to an Alcohol Use Therapist
If you’re experiencing several of the following, it may be worth discussing your alcohol use with a professional.
You Drink More Than You Planned
You may intend to have one or two drinks but continue beyond the limit you set. Repeatedly drinking more or for longer than intended can be a sign that alcohol is becoming harder to control.
You Have Tried to Cut Back Without Success
You may create rules, take short breaks, or promise yourself you will drink less. If those efforts repeatedly fall apart, therapy can help you understand what keeps pulling you back into the pattern.
You Use Alcohol to Cope
You may drink when you feel anxious, lonely, overwhelmed, angry, sad, or unable to sleep.
Alcohol can provide temporary relief, but it does not resolve the stress, grief, trauma, anxiety, or depression beneath the urge to drink. Over time, it may become your primary coping tool.
You Feel Guilty, Defensive, or Secretive
You may hide how much you drink, downplay it, dispose of containers before someone sees them, or become irritated when someone asks about it.
Shame often makes it harder to ask for help. Therapy gives you a place to look honestly at what is happening without being treated as a bad person.
Alcohol Is Affecting Your Relationships or Responsibilities
Drinking may contribute to arguments, broken promises, emotional distance, parenting concerns, missed work, poor concentration, or difficulty being present.
Even if the consequences do not seem dramatic, repeated problems can signal that alcohol is taking up more space in your life than you want it to.
You Need More Alcohol to Feel the Same Effect
Needing larger amounts to feel relaxed or intoxicated is called tolerance. It can develop gradually and may be difficult to notice.
You Feel Unwell When You Stop
Withdrawal symptoms may include shaking, sweating, nausea, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, a racing heart, confusion, hallucinations, or seizures.
Alcohol withdrawal can be medically dangerous. If you drink heavily or regularly and experience withdrawal symptoms, do not stop suddenly without speaking to a qualified medical professional.
Can I See a Therapist If I Am Not Ready to Quit?
Yes. You do not necessarily have to begin therapy with a commitment to lifelong abstinence. An alcohol use therapist can help you reach other goals, like:
- Drinking less often
- Reducing the amount you consume
- Avoiding binge drinking
- Understanding your triggers
- Taking a temporary break
- Learning healthier ways to manage stress
- Repairing relationships affected by drinking
You don’t need a specific goal in mind to begin therapy either. Your therapist can help you look at the situation honestly and develop an appropriate plan.
What Happens in Alcohol Use Therapy?
Therapy is not simply a lecture about why drinking is harmful. Many people come to therapy simply seeking to understand themselves better. You can get help identifying when you drink, what emotions or situations trigger it, and what alcohol helps you avoid or manage.
You may then work on managing cravings, responding to stress, improving sleep, planning for social situations, and communicating boundaries with loved ones.
What If I Am Concerned About Someone Else’s Drinking?
You can seek therapy even if the person drinking is not ready for help. You cannot force someone else to change their habits, but you can receive support for yourself.
Perhaps you find yourself monitoring another person’s alcohol use, taking over their responsibilities, or feeling responsible for getting them sober. Therapy can help you understand codependent patterns, set boundaries, and protect your own emotional health.
Alcohol Use Therapy in Edina and Throughout Minnesota
MN Mental Health Consulting provides in-person therapy at our Edina office and secure telehealth for clients throughout Minnesota. Our team supports individuals, couples, and families who want to better understand alcohol use, addiction, codependency, and related mental health concerns. You do not have to wait for alcohol to cause more harm before asking for help. Reach out today to get started.