Overcoming an addiction to alcohol is a serious recovery and very difficult to do on your own. Most often, it requires assistance from addiction counselors, medical professionals and peers who are going through a similar experience of gaining sobriety. Alcohol rehab offers a great way for individuals who are struggling with alcohol addiction to get the careful monitoring and support they need during the detoxification and recovery process.
What Is Alcohol Rehab?
Alcohol rehab is a way for individuals who struggle with alcohol addiction to detox safely and overcome their addiction. The ultimate goal is to gain sobriety that lasts for a lifetime. Inpatient alcohol rehab involves the patient staying in the facility from a month to more than three months while they are monitored and go through detoxification and rehabilitation programs.
What Does An Alcohol Rehab Program Involve?
Every alcohol rehab program is unique, and most centers personalize the treatment plan for each patient. However, there are general guidelines that most alcohol rehab centers follow. This includes a patient onboarding process, alcohol detoxification, individual therapy sessions and group counseling. Alcohol rehab also aims to teach patients how to remain sober once they leave the center through coping mechanisms and ongoing outpatient counseling sessions.
Check-in
The onboarding of new patients involves intake questions to learn about the nature of the alcohol addiction, previous treatment history and physical or mental health ailments the patient may have. This allows the alcohol rehab center’s staff to customize a rehabilitation plan for the patient and ensure they are able to recover in the safest and most effective way possible.
Alcohol Detox
Detox is the most challenging part of the alcohol rehab process for many patients. This is often due to the withdrawal symptoms that can occur, which may include:
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Fever
- Insomnia
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
In severe cases, seizures can occur, which is why inpatient rehab is crucial for alcohol detoxification. The rehabilitation staff is there to monitor the entire detoxification process and may provide medication and other treatments to minimize the symptoms and ensure optimal safety.
Individual Therapy
After alcohol detox, the patient begins individual therapy. This involves meetings with a counselor to discuss potential contributing factors to the alcohol as well as their general feelings regarding their alcohol use. There are different types of individual therapy; the most notable types include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Psychoanalysis
- Interpersonal therapy
The aim is to determine the motivation behind their alcohol consumption and find ways to cope long-term. This may begin during alcohol rehab and continue long after the patient leaves the program, depending on their needs and preferences.
Group Counseling
Group counseling is also an important part of inpatient recovery. This allows the patient to see that they are not alone in their struggles and learn ways to cope from peers in similar situations. The different types of group counseling that may be involved include:
- Family therapy
- Peer Counseling
- Marriage counseling
Some treatment centers also offer specialized treatments based on mental health concerns their patients may have. This may include support groups for PTSD, anger management and much more.
Learning Coping Mechanisms
An important part of alcohol rehab is learning ways to cope and prevent a relapse once you leave the rehab program. This often involves determining the lifestyle and relationship factors that contributed to the alcohol addiction in the past. Alternative therapies are often a successful way to cope long-term, along with ongoing counseling sessions. Types of alternative therapies that may help patients cope and prevent relapse include:
- Yoga and meditation
- Biofeedback
- Art and music therapy
- Equine therapy
These alternative therapies are particularly useful when combined with ongoing individual or group counseling sessions and a healthy diet and exercise plan. Of course, these are just examples of potential coping mechanisms; alcohol rehab focuses on finding what works for each patient to help them keep their sobriety after the program.
Who Should Consider Alcohol Rehab?
Anyone who consumes alcohol in a manner that causes a health concern, affects their relationships with others, impacts their mental health or leads to issues with their career should consider alcohol rehab, particularly if they have tried independently but have been unsuccessful in quitting the consumption of alcohol. If you know a loved one that may require help, be sure to talk with them about their possible addiction and encourage them to seek inpatient care to regain their sobriety and mental and physical health.
Are You Or A Loved One Struggling With Alcohol Abuse?
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol abuse contact our office to learn more about the benefits of a rehab program and what you can expect throughout the process. We take pride in helping those within our communities who may struggle with alcohol addiction to overcome and achieve sobriety long-term.