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How to handle an alcoholic person?

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How to handle an alcoholic person?

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Answered by

Dr. Nidhi Jain

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Sneha Kannan

Published At January 16, 2016
Reviewed AtJuly 24, 2023

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

This is query is about my brother-in-law, who is 38 year old now. He got married before seven years and has a child aged 6 years. He is working in a reputed company. He drinks a lot. Over the last few months, especially last fortnight onward he kept on threatening my sister that he will go away from home. This will be his last day in the life and he will end his life. He is repeating the same thing since yesterday. He does not listen to anybody and keep on fighting for small issues repeatedly and also blames my sister for every small thing. He is not ready to go to any marriage counselor or doctor because of some trust issue. He is behaving very abnormally. I do not know how to handle him. Please suggest.

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Jain

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

First, answer a few questions, so I would be able to come with some diagnosis. Does his behavior changes suddenly? How was he before that? Let me know if he shows symptoms like an increase in activity, energy and speech productivity. How are his sleep and appetite? Does he make tall claims? Is he showing over-familiarity, fearfulness or has wondering tendency? Is he having a suspicious character? Does he talk to himself? Kindly elaborate on his behavior.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Though he had been drinking for many years he was fine only. Since eight months the frequency has increased. He is eating less. Yesterday, he kept on drinking without food. He keeps on blaming others for everything to my sister or others. He himself will starve and start claiming for himself. He speaks a lot, sometimes the whole night. He claims that he is always right and the fault is with another person. Behavior changes frequently. With friends, he is fine and goes to the office well. He will keep texting from office and also appears suspicious. He sleeps very less and has lost a lot of weight. He has started smoking a lot and talks irrational as well as some stuff without any logic. Kindly guide.

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Jain

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Your history is not suggestive of any mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar. Because, he is functioning well (as you mentioned that he is going to the office, behavior with friends is fine). So, mainly it is alcohol abuse and some behavioral disturbance secondary to alcohol abuse based on your history only, as I have not seen or talked to the patient. If he is ready to quit alcohol, then I can suggest your medication, which will help him in quitting alcohol. Or if not ready then you can get him admitted in the de-addiction center.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Nidhi Jain
Dr. Nidhi Jain

Psychiatry

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