If you are struggling with an alcohol use disorder, you may question whether rehabilitation programs are effective for treating the disease of alcoholism. The great news is that, yes, rehab, when preceded by detox and followed by aftercare actions, is incredibly effective. The success an individual has, however, is predicated on their commitment to sobriety.
Rehabilitation is just that, a process through which an individual restores their physical and mental wellbeing while learning how to live a sober lifestyle. In addition, recovery also involves building a sober support network to help fortify sobriety, as well as several other aftercare efforts.
About Detox and Withdrawal
When you have made the decision to get sober and live your life in sobriety, the first step to accomplish involves alcohol detox. Detox takes about a week in most cases, and the process involves three phases:
Emerging Symptoms: Withdrawal symptoms begin to emerge about 6 hours after the last drink. These early symptoms last about a day and include tremors, headache, nausea, irritability, foggy thinking, sweating, and sleep disturbance.
Peak Symptoms: Withdrawal symptoms intensify during this stage, which lasts two or three days. Symptoms include profuse sweating, shaking, mental confusion, racing heart, elevated blood pressure, low fever, insomnia, agitation, and possibly hallucinations. This is the stage of withdrawal that the delirium tremens (DTs) may occur, which is considered a health emergency. The DTs occurs in about 5% of those going through alcohol detox, and in 15% of those individuals it is fatal.
Subsiding Symptoms: On about day five, the symptoms will subside to a great degree over the next day or two. Still, there are residual symptoms that may persist for weeks. These include sleep problems and mental health issues, such as symptoms of depression or anxiety.
About Alcohol Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is a multi-pronged program that addresses both the psychological and behavioral aspects that are common in alcohol use disorder. The treatment plan utilizes a menu of therapeutic activities, such as:
Individual psychotherapy
Group therapy
Family therapy
Addiction education and relapse prevention planning
12-step program
Dual diagnosis treatment, for a co-occurring mental health disorder
Holistic methods
Nutrition and fitness
Rehabs are available in either outpatient or residential settings, and the duration of the program will depend on recovery needs based on the diagnosis, and patient resources.
About Aftercare
After completing detox and rehab there is more work to be done. Aftercare is the phase that solidifies recovery. Aftercare is vitally important, as the individual is susceptible to relapse during the early months of recovery.
Aftercare includes:
Sober living housing arrangements
Alumni activities
Outpatient therapy and classes
Participation in a local 12-step or similar recovery community
Cultivating sober friendships and a sober support network
When an individual commits to sobriety and engages in all three of these phases, detox, rehab, and aftercare, their chances of recovery success are excellent.
By Dr. Geoffrey Booth founder of Rehabs Malibu a premier alcohol rehab program.
https://rehabsmalibu.com
