An addictive disorder is related to a mixed group of diseases and can cause considerable disability and discomfort not only to the person but also his or her family (Sudhir, 2018). As Haller et al. (2016) report, more than half of Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans who suffer from drug or alcohol disorders are also diagnosed with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Furthermore, PTSD heightens the risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD) four times. The paper offers an overview of a client with AUD and the assessment of therapeutic measures to provide personalized treatment for him.
Episode 1
The client (Mr. Levy) does not admit having a problem with alcohol; he believes he is ill. The man becomes antagonistic and annoyed whenever his wife starts talking about his conduct. By directing his rage at his wife, Mr. Levy hopes to avoid discussing his drinking issue. By reminding his wife that she said “for better or worse,” he is trying to find sympathy. Meanwhile, Mrs. Levy reports that her husband is depressed and enraged, and he consumes alcohol every evening while watching TV. She is worried about her family and tells her husband that she wants “things to go back the way they were.” It is typical of alcoholics to neglect their work and family duties, manifest affection and aggression inconsistently, and sometimes abuse others either verbally or physically. The client has treated his wife with anger and hostility. However, research indicates that such behavior can affect children as well (Haverfield et al., 2016). Specifically, they can become aggressive or avoid communicating with their parents.
Episode 2
Mr. Levy’s social worker anticipates the meeting with her client quite enthusiastically. She has come up with such suggestions as meditation, art therapy, and yoga as anxiety-reducing approaches. In my opinion, these interventions are appropriate since they are recommended by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (n.d.). PTSD can trigger many harmful symptoms, such as sleeping disorders, flashbacks, anxiety, and depression (Fiore et al., 2014). These can affect an individual’s wellbeing adversely and often lead to a low coping level. Research findings by Fiore et al. (2014) indicate that meditation and yoga interventions for veterans have the potential to reduce anxiety and stress levels, as well as other PTSD symptoms. Hence, the social worker’s decision regarding treatment measures is correct. The questions given by the supervisor were useful since he was eager for the social worker to realize the client’s problem prior to creating the plan of treatment.
Episode 3
The therapist encouraged Mr. Levy to speak about his experience in Iraq, being empathetic and reacting properly. At some points, she stopped the client to eliminate his emotional distress and explained some breathing techniques to eliminate his anxiety. The approach was highly effective since the deep breathing (DB) practice is known to promote anger and stress reduction. Scotland-Coogan and Davis (2016) define DB as “intentional control of the breath, consciously inhaling, retaining, and exhaling the breath slowly and deeply” (p. 438). DB is known to elevate the levels of melatonin, the hormone generating the feeling of relaxation (Scotland-Coogan & Davis, 2016). When applied properly, DB enhances the flow of blood to the lungs, thereby eliminating the excessive amount of carbon dioxide in the organism.
Meanwhile, according to the American Psychological Association (2017), exposure therapy promotes individuals’ confrontation of anxiety and fear. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (n.d.) also recommends this approach to decrease the feeling of guilt and anxiety. Hence, I would also choose this therapeutic plan for Mr. Levy due to its effectiveness, evidence-based interventions, and the rate of favorable outcomes as reported by scholars.
Episode 4
My response to the client would have a sympathetic and supportive air. I would convince him that reliving the events that trigger nightmares and alcohol abuse would have positive therapeutic outcomes. I would also recommend Mr. Levy to continue doing his deep breathing exercises since they help to cope with emotional distress caused by traumatic experiences. Overall, I would encourage the client to share his experiences in order to help him cope with their aftermath.
Episode 5
It is normal for therapists to have issues with their work since they often tend to express sympathy toward their clients. To help the therapist, I would listen to her worries and let her share her apprehensions. Then, I would advise her not to let her emotional connection to Mr. Levy to interfere with her professional practice since that could impact the therapeutic plan adversely.
Conclusion
PTSD and AUD frequently co-occur in people with the traumatic experience. The merger of these disorders is harmful not only for those suffering from them but also to their close ones, such as Mr. Levy’s family. In order to gain prompt recovery, it is crucial to create a customized plan of treatment. For future specialists in psychiatric-mental health, it is vital to utilize evidence-based practice approaches since they have the potential to generate high-quality support and enhance clients’ health outcomes. However, a specialist should maintain purely professional relationships and avoid emotional attachment to clients’ issues.
References
American Psychological Association. (2017). What is exposure therapy? Web.
Fiore, R., Nelson, R., & Tosti, E. (2014). The use of yoga, meditation, mantram, and mindfulness to enhance coping in veterans with PTSD. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 48(4), 337-340.
Haller, M., Colvonen, P. J., Davis, B. C., Trim, R. S., Bogner, R., Sevcik, J., & Norman, S. P. (2016). Examining pretreatment differences between veterans in residential versus outpatient treatment for alcohol use disorder and comorbid combat-related PTSD. Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 12(3-4), 282-289. Web.
Haverfield, M. C., Theiss, J. A., & Leustek, J. (2016). Characteristics of communication in families of alcoholics. Journal of Family Communication, 16(2), 111-127. Web.
Scotland-Coogan, D., & Davis, E. (2016). Relaxation techniques for trauma. Journal of Evidence-Informed Social Work, 13(5), 434-441. Web.
Sudhir, P. M. (2018). Cognitive behavioral interventions in addictive disorders. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 60(8), 479-484. Web.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). Overview of VA research on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Web.