The Narcologist Revealed the Right Way to Convince an Alcoholic to Get Treatment 0 10

It is possible to persuade a loved one to start treatment for alcoholism, but ultimatums will not help, said Nikolai Cherednichenko, a candidate of medical sciences and narcologist.

Cherednichenko explained that the task of loved ones is to calmly and convincingly communicate to the alcoholic that he has problems. To do this, one must prepare thoroughly for the conversation. "Gather facts: neighbors have seen him drunk, you feel shame, he has borrowed money and not returned it. This trail of shame and discomfort is not your fault, but it is a reality that he must see from the outside," the narcologist advised.

The doctor emphasized that facts should be presented without accusations and pressure, as any force will provoke resistance. Moreover, such a conversation should begin when the person is sober and in a reasonable state. Only when he is sober, depressed, and vulnerable is there a chance to break through the wall of denial and aggression he has built around the problem.

"Your goal is not to humiliate the person, but to show him the gap between how he sees himself and who he becomes under the influence of the disease. You cannot drag him to the doctor by force, but you can offer him help so that he tries to climb out of the pit into which he has dragged everyone who loves him," the doctor added.