Tuesday, June 19, 2012

How to Get Help for a Vet That Is an Alcoholic

By Lane Cummings

Veterans have served in our nation's military, but some return with severe cases of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Some may turn to alcohol to numb themselves from reality, a dangerous escape which often leads to alcoholism. Treatment for alcoholic vets is available.

Visit the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website to find the medical centers and outpatient centers near you. These centers can connect your vet with a therapist who specializes in post-traumatic stress syndrome. Make an appointment for your vet with a therapist or intake counselor in your area. If you think your vet may resist your assistance, encourage him to do this on his own.

Give the number of the Department of Veteran's Affairs crisisline to your vet. This hotline has VA trained counselors who can give advice, referrals or simply be a sounding board to any issues that your vet feels he cannot disclose to others. While your vet may reject or throw away the number initially, leave a copy in his wallet, in his car or on his desk in case he changes his mind. Keep the number handy if the contacts you later asking for help.

Visit the Alcoholics Anonymous website for a schedule AA meetings in your area. Print out a calendar, map or spreadsheet of the times and locations of the meeting and give it to your vet. Don't push him to go to meetings, but hopefully he'll go when he's ready. AA is a powerful support group that researchers have found to be an important component of long-term sobriety.

Continue to live your life and don't let the alcoholic's actions disrupt your life. Seek assistance and counseling for yourself to learn how best to help yourself as well as your vet.

Do not enable an alcoholic's drinking. For example, if he is jailed for drunk driving, don't bail him out. He needs to learn that going to jail is a consequence of driving drunk.


http://www.lenderva.com

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