A client struggling with alcohol dependence sought treatment at our Veda center in Delhi. Through our comprehensive and integrative approach, she was successfully able to address her alcohol dependence, episodes of binge drinking, and emotional distress.
Patient Profile – Female in her late 30s
Emotional: Feelings of sadness, low mood, anxiety, and anger.
Behavioral: Withdrawal & isolation, self-sabotaging behaviors, passive aggression
Physiological: Avoidance of food
There had been blackout incidents leading to physical injuries.
A multidisciplinary psychotherapeutic approach was utilized incorporating DBT, REBT, Motivational interviewing, and Gestalt therapy. Alternative therapy approaches such as Art therapy and sound therapy were also utilized. Besides these approaches, the client enjoyed bibliotherapy and poem writing. The client did well with Mindfulness-based therapy including yoga, meditation, and progressive relaxation techniques. The Nutritional consultations helped keep the client’s nutrition in check and helped avoid food avoidance as well.
The psychotherapy sessions targeted addiction management, attachment issues, fear of judgment, and processing of previous traumas along with focusing on building self-compassion. Transformative chair-work was utilized to address unresolved issues and emotions along with inner child work to process childhood traumas. Grounding and Progressive muscle relaxation served as an effective way to cope with distress and urges related to having alcohol. Feelings survival kit was created for emotional regulation.
The client showed resistance due to some past ineffective experiences with treatment. Certain avoidance behaviors including the tendency for social withdrawal were also noticed. She also took time to open up due to fear of judgment.
Our team focused on establishing a good rapport/therapeutic alliance with the client. Validation as a therapeutic strategy helped the client feel understood and supported through her journey. Mindfulness techniques including grounding and breathwork helped her build emotional resilience and deal with stress as well as triggers. Art therapy and sound therapy also proved effective due to their creative expression and elements of relaxation to soothe the nervous system.
There was a significant reduction in the consumption of alcohol and the cravings as well as triggers were taken care of diligently. She was better able to adhere to a routine and feel productive. The guilt associated with consuming alcohol reduced significantly making way for other positive emotions.
In terms of Qualitative outcomes, she felt more emotionally regulated and resilient in dealing with her struggle with alcohol dependence. The self sabotaging thoughts and behaviors decreased and she was interested in practicing relaxation techniques regularly. The client learned strategies to strengthen interpersonal relationships and deal with distress.
The client went on to achieve emotional stability after experiencing frequent emotional distress leading to reliance on alcohol. Her journey of proactive engagement in self-care and healing herself in a supportive environment was fruitful.
The client reported feeling empowered and mentioned “I have better control now”
She found art therapy and mindfulness-based sessions to be particularly effective. A combination of various therapeutic modalities provided her with tools for effective recovery as well as emotional processing. Consistency and regularity in therapy can help aid long-term recovery and emotional resilience.
