Alcoholism Treatment and Rehab Explained
Alcoholism or alcohol addiction is one of the many dangerous and life-threatening substance use disorders in the world. It can become a heavy burden not just for the affected individual but for their loved ones as well. Thankfully, there are many treatment options available for people struggling with alcohol addiction.
Treatment can differ from one person to another, and it’s designed for each patient’s specific needs. This makes it possible for people to reclaim their lives free from the shadow of alcohol.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcoholism, below you’ll discover what alcohol addiction is, the difference between alcohol abuse and addiction, the warning signs and risk factors, and most importantly, what happens during treatment.
Understanding Alcohol Addiction Treatment and Rehab?
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a dangerous condition that affects not just the physical health of the individual but also negatively impacts their mental health. Treating it is not as simple as going cold turkey and stopping drinking in a snap.
When a medical professional doesn’t administer treatment, it can turn into a potentially life-threatening case. Alcohol detoxification, for example, is one of the many ways to expel alcohol in the body, but if the alcoholism is severe enough, fatal withdrawal symptoms can appear. This is why getting professional help is crucial to make treatment safe for the individual.
Alcohol addiction treatment’s goal is to help people struggling with AUD by removing their physical dependency on alcohol, identifying their mental triggers, uprooting the source of their struggle, and allowing them to combat relapse through healthy coping skills. It’s a holistic treatment where every aspect of the disorder is considered.
One of the best ways for people struggling with alcoholism to access treatment is through residential rehabilitation facilities. Having an environment dedicated to the alcohol user’s healing and access to a community can incredibly help them fast-track their treatment. What’s more, rehabilitation gives them the opportunity to focus all of their energy towards healing with a supportive team of medical staff ready to assist them every step of the way.
In rehab, most users undergo counselling to help them unpack their triggers, dependency, as well as other mental health issues that might be tied to their alcohol use disorder. Detoxification is also done to expel alcohol in the body, and most of it is medically assisted to help with the withdrawal symptoms.
Alcoholism doesn’t just start and end with alcohol, which is why its treatment is also multifaceted. In conjunction with alcohol detox, counselling, and therapy (group or individual), there are also many alternative treatment options like art therapy, DBT, and many more that align with people’s specific needs.
When treatment is done holistically, it helps people achieve long-term sobriety and combat future relapses through their newfound skills.
Dual diagnosis in alcohol addiction treatment and rehab
A dual diagnosis is when an alcohol use disorder occurs together with another mental health disorder. This is pretty common for people struggling with AUD, and this can also take the form of another substance use disorder.
Most people with AUD may often self-medicate through alcohol because of their pre-existing mental health issues like depression or anxiety. Some may also use it as some form of escape as they are not able to cope with their emotional distress.
Both disorders are treated together when this happens, but it can also pose different problems. For example, some modes of therapy may not work well with one disorder, or some medications may clash with other meds for alcoholism.
Dual diagnosis demands care and caution, which is why most people struggling with co-occurring disorders require specialists to treat them.
Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse and Addiction
Below are just some of the warning signs to watch out for:
- Alcohol abuse is different from alcohol addiction. Alcohol abuse is characterised by a range from binge drinking to complete alcohol dependence. Alcohol addiction, on the other hand, is much more complex as it brings out not just physical dependence but also changes the brain, which makes cravings hard to combat.
- In alcohol addiction, people rely on alcohol to function, even if they have tried multiple times to stop drinking. This is when they lose control, and alcohol starts to dictate their life, causing a negative impact on their relationships, work, and health overall. And if they ever try to detox on their own, it can become highly dangerous and fatal.
Alcohol abuse may occur occasionally, but can gradually worsen when not kept in check, which is why it’s crucial to identify the warning signs before they become severe to avoid the negative impacts or seek treatment ASAP.
Common warning signs to look out for in alcohol abuse and addiction:
- Increased alcohol tolerance and needing to drink more to get the previous effects of alcohol
- Frequent hangovers that extend for a longer time and affect work, essential tasks, and other daily activities
- Getting blackouts and having memory lapses after drinking
- Increased irritability when one hasn’t drunk any alcohol yet
- Prioritising drinking alcohol over other activities, hobbies, and
meet-ups with friends or family - Having difficulty maintaining friendships and other relationships
- Neglecting work because of hangovers or heavy drinking
- Making financial decisions based on drinking
- Not attending events unless there’s alcohol present
- Lying about their alcohol consumption
- Drinking in isolation or secrecy
- Getting into accidents under the influence
- Drinking more than the recommended amount per week
- Experiencing insomnia unless they drink alcohol
- Other people are noticing their drinking habits
Fast Access to Residential Treatment
We are currently able to offer fast access to private inpatient treatment.
Please call us today and speak to one of our expert advisors.
Call today in confidence: 0800 0148 970
Short and Long-Term Effects of Alcohol
Below, you will find some of the effects of alcohol on a person struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction:
- Physical dependence on alcohol
- Increased tolerance for alcohol
- Inability to stop drinking despite wanting to stop
- Spending a lot of money on alcohol
- Neglecting responsibilities in family, friends, and work because of drinking
- Regularly using alcohol to cope or avoid negative emotions or stress
- Actively drinking alcohol despite knowing the consequences
- Severe or dangerous withdrawal symptoms pop up
What lies behind us and what lies before us are
tiny matters compared to what lies within us
Detoxification:
The First Step of Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment
The first step in treatment is detoxification, which is the process of cleansing the person’s system of alcohol and helping them prepare for therapy and other treatment forms. Most people developing an alcohol dependency need a certain amount of alcohol in order to function. If this is suddenly stopped, the brain and the body react in order to stabilise themselves which can extremely dangerous if not managed under medical conditions.
Detoxification targets their physical dependence first, and it can turn dangerous if not done with medical assistance. Withdrawal symptoms can become highly risky and can take the form of seizures, hallucinations, and full-body chills. Most rehabs are equipped with medicine that combats these withdrawal symptoms, even the most dangerous ones, ensuring the safety of the individual.
The good thing about getting detox in a treatment facility is that there’s also 24/7 monitoring by professionals. In some cases where the alcohol use disorder is severe, medication is usually reduced over time before they enter a regular detox. This way, their system won’t be as “shocked” once it’s started.
The duration of detox and withdrawal depends on the severity of the alcohol use disorder as well as their physiology. The withdrawals often come up between 8-24 hours after the last drink of the user. During the first three days, this is when the symptoms reach their peak and can continue for more days. In some cases, people can develop post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) for months or even years.
Start your recovery today!
FREE Alcohol Addiction Assessment
If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol addiction, we understand the challenges you’re facing and we’re here to offer compassionate help.
Our highly trained advisers are available to speak to you right away, simply call 0808 252 3379 today.
We can discuss your concerns in complete confidence, explore the options for treatment, and help you to understand what will work best for you.
We’ll also help you to book your free alcohol addiction assessment there and then, with appointments usually available within only a few days.
We understand that taking the first step can be the most difficult, but we’re here to support – with no pressure or judgement.
Professional and compassionate help is just a phone call or click away.
