After detoxification from substance abuse, the patient says, "I feel better than I have in years! All I needed was some rest. I am not an alcoholic." The nurse should respond to this by saying:
a. "What were you doing that got you ad-mitted to the detoxification center?"
b. "Alcoholism has many definitions. What is yours?"
c. "Admitting to alcoholism is hard."
d. "Alcoholism has ruined your life. How can you say you are not an alcoholic?"
A
Confronting denial and encouraging self-diagnosis is the point of the treatment phase after de-toxification. Asking for the patient's definition of alcoholism allows for the patient to intellec-tualize the problem. Stating that alcoholism is "hard" is a sympathetic and unhelpful response. "Alcoholism has ruined your life" is accusatory and counterproductive.
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