04 Sep How To Deal With Alcohol Induced Psychosis
If you have a loved one who is known to have a drinking problem, you may become concerned if they start demonstrating bizarre behavior. How do you recognize alcohol induced psychosis? How can you safely help? Read on for more information.
Table of Contents:
What is alcohol induced psychosis?
Alcohol induced psychosis, also known as substance/medication-induced psychotic disorder or toxic psychosis, occurs when someone experiences delusions or hallucinations as a result of heavy drinking or alcohol withdrawal.
It can be difficult to diagnose because people with schizophrenia and other mental health conditions are more likely to use alcohol to cope with their illness; thus, it can be difficult to discern whether symptoms are a result of alcohol use disorder or an underlying mental health condition.
If you’ve never encountered them before, it may feel difficult to identify delusions or hallucinations.
Delusions are beliefs and thoughts not based in reality. There are various types of delusions, such as:
Referential
Belief that people or objects in your environment have hidden meanings intended to communication with you
Grandiose
Belief that you are exceptional or gifted, making you better than everyone else
Persecutory
Thoughts that other people or organizations are targeting and/or spying on you
Somatic
Belief that something is wrong with your body
Erotomania
Belief that one or multiple individuals are romantically interested in you, despite any evidence to the contrary
Nihilistic
Thoughts that disastrous things will happen
Hallucinations occur when someone’s senses experience something that isn’t happening. Types of hallucinations include:
Visual
Seeing something that isn’t truly there or doesn’t exist
Auditory
Hearing sounds or voices that aren’t really there
Tactile
Feeling physical sensations of being touched when nothing is there
Gustatory
Tasting things that aren’t in your mouth
Olfactory
Sensing smells that no one else can
Symptoms of alcohol induced psychosis typically clear up in less than a month once the person stops drinking. If your loved one seems to be experiencing delusions or hallucinations, you should contact a healthcare professional specializing in addiction for guidance on how to keep yourself and your loved one safe.
What does treatment look like?
Drinking heavily causes your brain chemistry to change, eventually making your body reliant on alcohol. Alcohol induced psychosis can occur from drinking heavily, or be triggered by alcohol withdrawal – symptoms caused by detoxing off alcohol. If your loved one is showing signs of alcohol-induced psychosis, you should contact a medical professional right away and seek guidance. Alcohol induced psychosis is one of multiple symptoms known as Delirium Tremens (DTs), dangerous withdrawal symptoms that can be fatal if left untreated.
Although alcohol induced psychosis may be a wake-up call that your loved one needs to make drastic changes, it’s not safe for your loved one to do so. It is very important not to force a loved one experiencing alcohol induced psychosis to quit drinking “cold turkey” without professional medical guidance to try and resolve their psychosis.
Traditional 30-day programs typically come to mind when people think of addiction healthcare. These programs include detox, as well as a combination of individual and group therapy to learn strategies to deal with triggers.
Despite their success, many people may be hesitant or feel forgotten by traditional addiction healthcare models.
The financial and social implications of going away for a month aren’t easily explained, and telling the truth may negatively impact important relationships in the future, when someone suffering from alcohol addiction needs support most. Other people have difficulty taking what they learn in a less stressful environment focused on self-care and applying it to real life situations. People who have not had success with traditional clinics in the past may benefit from house call addiction healthcare.
Elite Home Detox Can Guide You Through Getting Your Loved One Help At Home
If your loved one seems to be experiencing alcohol-induced psychosis, Elite Home Detox can help. Our addiction experts can consult with you to help guide your loved one into safety and develop strategies to motivate them to accept help. Our healthcare team can meet with your loved one in their home and custom design a detox and recovery plan around their individual needs.
During detox, one of our experts will remain onsite to administer medication and monitor your progress. After detox, our dedicated care coordinators will help keep your loved one organized and on-track with their recovery plan. We also offer healthcare services from a perspective that understands the nuances of alcohol addiction and what treatment strategies would work best.
Give us a call or book an appointment using the button below for a consultation!
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