Alcohol can have a crippling effect on a person’s life. Once an alcoholic is ready to take control of their life and discontinue use, they often consider treatment programs to help. Combating alcohol addiction involves a treatment process of detox, rehab, and maintenance. Each stage of sobriety is extremely important especially in terms of success. Quite often, alcoholics are unsure as to what rehab truly involves.
The Goals of Rehab
There are several goals of an alcohol treatment program. The first goal is to end the alcohol abuse. This is done by having the addict detox their system and refrain from alcohol. Individuals may experience withdrawal or intense cravings during this process. Trained professionals are available in rehab facilities to help manage withdrawal and make the process as comfortable as possible.
The second goal of rehab is to improve the patient’s health. This coincides with the first goal of ending alcohol use typically begins the process of improving your health. Next, individuals will work toward addressing underlying mental conditions. Counselors and patients will work together through individual and group counseling sessions to uncover issues and help develop coping skills. The final goal is to get the alcoholic back into society with an improved outlook. Rehab facilities help patients find jobs or educational opportunities, deal with legal issues, and help improve their living conditions if necessary.
What happens in rehab?
Alcoholics generally go through six phases of treatment. The first phase involves an alcohol dependence assessment. Through this, staffs assess the patient’s personal situation both mentally and physically. They use this information to determine an appropriate treatment plan. Next, alcohol-dependent individuals go through the detox process. This typically begins with 3 to 5 hours of their last drink and can last for several days. This typically does not require any medical assistance although it may be beneficial for individuals with long-term addictions. The medical staff continually monitors the patient to ensure the alcohol is leaving their system safely.
The next part of the treatment involves the psychological alcoholism treatment. This is often considered the most important part of treatment. It involves meeting with psychological professionals to analyze changes in mental and emotional conditions. This helps patients and doctors address trauma and behavior to reduce the chance of relapse.
Through evaluations, doctors will determine whether or not medications will benefit an addict. Some medications often prove valuable in stabilizing moods or to address alcohol cravings. Patients will be well-educated on alcoholism and learn about patterns and how to condition the brain to resist drinks in the future.
The support team in alcohol rehab works toward helping patients find treatment plans outside of rehab. Professionals work toward empowering patients to live positively and create a network of supportive people they can count on. Rehabilitation facilities offer services to help patients find apartments, work and learn important life skills.
At Asana Recovery, we help alcohol-dependent individuals battle their addiction and go on to live a happier life. If you are battling an alcohol addiction, call us at (949) 438-4504 to see how we can help you.
