Understanding Alcohol Addiction Recovery
Alcoholism for some people is a fact of life. They fall prey to alcohol for very personal reasons, then struggle to find their way back to a normal way of living. When the time comes to set aside all the horrible problems caused by alcoholism, there’s one place the alcoholic has to turn, rehab.
Oh, there’s plenty of self-help suggestions on the Internet. There’s even doctors who claim they can cure anyone from the overwhelming desire to abuse alcohol. The truth is none of those options work on a consistent basis. They all seem to neglect one aspect of the disease, dealing with the causes. For that and other reasons, addiction treatment from a reputable rehab center is the only viable option an alcoholic has for recovery.
Understanding Alcohol Addiction Recovery – The First Step
Recovery from alcoholism doesn’t happen on a whim. It requires dedication and a lot of hard work. Before the alcoholic can start their journey towards a complete and lasting recovery from this horrible disease, they have to take that all-important first step.
A lot of alcoholics live in denial. They proclaim they can handle their liquor and quit anytime they want. That may be true for some people, but not for anyone truly suffering from the disease of alcoholism. Before an alcoholic is ready to stop drinking and seek help, they have to come to grips with the reality they are sick. They have to recognize they are helpless over their disease, that uncontrollable urge to keep drinking. Once they can understand and admit their plight, they have effectively taken the first step towards recovery.
Into Rehab – The Process
The success one has in rehab will go a long way in determining their ability to stay in recovery. It is incumbent on everyone seeking help for an addiction problem to look for the best treatment center available.
Upon entering rehab, the facility’s clinicians will look to evaluate the incoming patient’s circumstances. This will allow the clinicians to select the proper course of treatment. For patients entering rehab with a significant alcohol addiction issue, a detox program is usually necessary. The purpose of a medically-monitored detox program is to help the patient safely deal with the withdrawal process and residual cravings. Under the care of the medical staff, patients are monitored for distress and discomfort. If anything comes up, the doctor can prescribe certain medications for pain or sleep relief.
After detox, the patient should be able to focus on therapy. During therapy, the patient will be working closely with counselors to find the personal issues that create their need to self-medicate. This is an important part of the recovery process because it helps determine the direction of counseling. Once the patient’s root causes and triggers have been identified, the patient and counselor can start working on very specific coping skills to help combat potential relapses.
Recovery After Discharge
After submitting to the grueling process of starting recovery from alcoholism, the last thing anyone wants to experience is chronic relapses and more stints in rehab. The number rule about recovery is it’s a lifetime commitment. A mere sip of alcohol is enough to destroy years of recovery.
With that in mind, it’s fair to say the recovering addict has to do whatever’s necessary to stay sober, even if it means eliminating old friends and enablers. The focus always has to be on recovery.
When a relapse possibility appears, the recovering alcoholic needs to know where their support mechanisms lie. After rehab, a good recovery program dictates the individual take advantage of aftercare resources. That might include regular attendance at AA 12-Step meetings and additional outpatient counseling. For the recovering addicts who want to gradually reintegrate themselves into normal life, a sober living environment provides plenty of stability while the individual reacquaints themselves with living life without alcohol or drugs.
The rules for the recovering alcoholic are very simple: Don’t drink under any circumstances and should a relapse occur, set shame aside and get back into treatment. As long as an addict has breath, recovery is a distinct possibility. It just requires the ability to admit to the illness and reach out for help.
If you’d like to learn more about alcohol addiction and treatment options, have a look at https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/alcohol-abuse/.
