When addicts recognize their problem and decide to look for help they have several options. They could choose to spend a few weeks in a specialized clinic, or they could see the one of the Anonymous groups, or they could go and see a counselor or they could order a self-help program and treat themselves at home. Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous and similar groups are ideal to stay away from the drugs after an addict has overcome the addiction. Most experts agree that such a group should not be the only treatment. Therefore, a clinic, a counselor or a self-help program should be the starting point. Counselors can be an affordable option. It is important to find a specialized psychotherapist with whom the chemistry is right. Like with self-help programs, the advantage of seeing a counselor is that the patient can keep on living in the normal environment. From the first day onwards, patients learn how to resist the craving.
In a clinic there is no temptation as there is no alcohol, no poker nights, no shopping opportunities, no adult movies, or whatever the drug is that the patient is addicted of. This shows one of the weaknesses of therapies in clinics. Whilst it might at first be considered an advantage to finally get away from the opportunities to consume drugs, it can become an artificial situation, a world on its own, where patients don't learn how to resist craving. However, clinics have the advantage of offering a comprehensive treatment with several hours of counseling per day. Another advantage is that patients meet other people with similar problems and can exchange their experiences. This is the disadvantage of self-help programs where addicts stay on their own and need to work through the program themselves.
On the other side, self-help programs can be combined with attending the meetings of one of the Anonymous groups. Furthermore, good self-help programs offer personal coaching by email as well. Three advantages of self-help programs are that patients can start their treatment immediately and have no waiting time, the low cost (therapies in clinics can be very costly) and the fact that the addict can remain completely anonymous. The vast majority of people with addiction problems prefer not to talk about their problems and secrets to complete strangers and not to ask their boss at work and their family at home to go to a clinic for several weeks. For more information visit http://lavario.com.
Frank Lavario, founder of Lavario. Lavario offers self-help programs and counseling against gambling addiction, alcoholism, love addiction and others. The programs consist of ebooks, audio books and personal coaching. Lavario is active in the US and Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Brazil and offers their products world-wide through the internet. CONTACT: Frank Lavario, Lavario Ltda., Rua dos Ilheus 46, 88010-560 Florianopolis, SC, Brazil, +55 (48) 37337548, http://lavario.com/gambling-addiction Rate this ArticleTreatments Against Addictions - At Home or in a Clinic?Not Rated YetFrank Lavario has published 3 articles. Article submitted on May 21, 2013. Word count: 409