Alcohol Rehabilitation

There are three major components found in almost every alcohol rehabilitation program: detox, therapy and aftercare. Each one of these processes brings something different to the table, and helps treat a unique aspect of alcoholism or alcohol abuse.

Alcohol Rehabilitation: It all starts with Detox

Alcohol detox is the first crucial step of the recovery process. So important is detoxification that many treatment programs will not allow the individual to continue on with the bulk of treatment until it is complete.

Detox has the individual cease drinking – thus giving the body a chance to rid itself of harmful toxins. It is a “drying out” period that should be undertaken while under professional care and supervision as withdrawal symptoms will occur during the process.

The most common withdrawal symptoms associated with the alcohol detox are:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Sleeplessness
• Mood swings
• Sweat and chills
• Strong alcohol cravings 
• Hallucinations and seizures (found in only the most extreme cases)

Detox professionals help the individual stay safe and healthy during this period. Helping the individual maintain a positive mental state is particularly vital, as many men and women have been known to relapse during the withdrawal period.

Once alcohol detox is complete, the individual is free to begin the next phase of rehab: therapy.

Addiction Therapy during Alcohol Rehabilitation

There are three primary types of therapy for alcohol addiction: individual, group and family.

• Individual therapy. Individual counseling sessions are a chance for the recovering alcoholic to discuss their lives, and locate the “triggers” that bring about their drinking behavior. During these sessions, the therapist will help the individual find ways to make healthier decisions, and master the tools needed to live a sober life. These are private sessions that meet regularly through the week.

• Group therapy. Alcoholism can be an isolating condition. People who are struggling with alcoholism may feel as if they alone are living with this disease and that nobody could possibly understand what they are going through. Group therapy is a chance to break down the walls of isolation and discover that there are other people facing many of the same challenges. Whether the individual is listening to the stories of others, or sharing their own tales of addiction and recovery, group therapy can produce real “breakthroughs” at every session.

• Family Therapy. Family therapy sessions are a chance for loved ones to learn how they can best communicate with the recovering alcoholic so that it aids the healing process. It is also an opportunity to heal broken relationships and rebuild the bonds of trust that alcoholism has strained over the years.

Alcohol Rehabilitation and Aftercare

When the alcohol rehab program ends, the individual still faces a number of challenges in the “outside world”. Being a sober individual means coping with stress and temptation using the lessons learned during rehab. To help aid in this process, there are aftercare programs. Aftercare programs help individuals stay the course of sobriety in the weeks and months following treatment. There are a number of different approaches to aftercare, including:

• 12 step groups. Organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) help individuals maintain sobriety by offering regular meeting places where recovering alcoholics can share experiences and support one another. Many individuals who have been sober for years list AA as one of the chief reasons behind their success.

• Follow-up counseling. A number of alcohol rehab centers invite their “graduates” to return for additional therapy once the core program is complete. This follow-up counseling is a “tune-up” that keeps the recovery engine running at peak efficiency.

• Sober living. Sober living homes are a place where the individual can ease back into the responsibilities of their daily lives. In sober living, recovering alcoholics live with other individuals who are in transition – sharing responsibilities and rebuilding the self-sufficiency that they possessed before they began abusing alcohol.