If you’re considering alcohol rehab for yourself or a loved one, there are a number of different places you can turn. The most obvious choices for alcoholic rehabilitation help are hospitals and rehabilitation centers. You can also speak to your primary physician or a psychologist for referrals to reputable alcoholic rehabilitation programs.
But when should you seek help? And what can you expect? We explore here and invite your questions about alcoholic rehabilitation at the end.
Alcoholic rehabilitation help
What happens during a stay at rehab? Generally, alcoholic rehab helps alcoholics learn how to cope with their problems in a healthy manner without turning to alcohol. This usually requires a great deal of therapy and counseling.
Alcoholic rehabilitation is extremely helpful when trying to overcome an alcohol addiction. Rehabilitation focuses on helping alcoholics cope with their drinking and break their ties with alcohol. The ultimate goal of most alcoholic rehabilitation programs is to give alcoholics the ability to function without drinking.
Do I need alcoholic rehabilitation?
Only you can truly answer this question. Typically, however, individuals who are physically dependent on alcohol are those who most need alcoholic rehabilitation. If any of the following signs of alcohol dependence sound familiar, there’s a good chance that you may need alcoholic rehabilitation.
1. You cannot function without drinking, even though it brings negative consequences to your home, work, and health.
2. You have withdrawal symptoms when you miss a drink after a day, or even less time. Common withdrawal symptoms include tremors, trouble sleeping, nausea, and irritability.
3. You’ve built up a tolerance to alcohol. This means that you now have to drink more drinks than when you first started drinking before you start feeling drunk.
Signs you need alcoholic rehabilitation
Besides being physically dependent on alcohol to function properly, there are also a number of other signs you need help for alcohol problems. If you have any of the following signs, you should speak to a qualified clinical psychotherapist to see if you’d be a good candidate for rehab.
- You blackout when you drink.
- You cannot predict what will happen when you drink.
- You can’t stop drinking despite the problems it causes.
- You drink to avoid problems or unpleasant feelings.
- You look for excuses to drink.
- You often drink more than you originally intended to.
- You try to hide your drinking from loved ones.
- Your drinking has affected your relationships.
- Your drinking has caused health problems.
- Your drinking has effected your school or work performance.
- Your drinking has resulted in a brush with the law.
- Your drinking regularly causes you problems.
When do you need alcoholic rehabilitation?
Many alcoholics choose not to seek treatment for their drinking problem until they have hit “rock bottom”. This occurs when their drinking has led to the utter destruction of their physical, emotional, financial, and social structure. In short, “rock bottom” occurs when an alcoholic has nothing else left to lose.
It’s often best to seek treatment for your addiction BEFORE you hit this point, however. If you suspect you may need alcoholic rehabilitation, it’s never too early to seek help.Here are some common signs that a person has hit rock bottom due to their drinking:
- Drinking has shattered relationships, resulting in broken trust, estrangement, separation, or divorce.
- You have physical health problems because of their drinking. This includes cirrhosis of the liver, heart, and gastrointestinal problems.
- You have no place to live.
- You use all of your money to purchase alcohol.
- Your drinking has caused job loss.
- Your emotional and mental state is fragile. You may be extremely depressed and use alcohol to numb these feelings.
Alcoholic rehabilitation intake and assessment
The first stage of alcohol rehab is the initial assessment. During an alcoholic rehabilitation intake and assessment, an addiction specialist will evaluate you to determine the severity of your alcohol problem and develop a treatment plan. This usually includes a complete psychological evaluation and a series of questions about your alcohol use. You may also be asked to provide a urine sample for screening and participate in a full medical exam. It’s important to be completely honest during this stage, as it will affect treatment to come.
In terms of what happens during rehab, alcoholic rehabilitation usually includes:
1. Assessment and screening the alcohol problem
2. Medically assisted detox, if necessary
3. Interventions, including psychological and pharmaceutical treatment(s)
4. Educational sessions on theories of addiction
5. Social and support services such as vocational training
Alcoholic rehabilitation questions
Do you still have questions about the rehabilitation process for alcoholism? Please leave your questions here. We will do our best to respond to you personally and promptly.
Reference Sources: Medline Plus: Alcoholuse disorder
State of New Jersey: FAQs about substance abuse treatment services
SAMHSA: NSDUH Report on Alcohol Treatment: Need, Utilization, and Barriers
Office of Veteran’s Affairs: Substance Abuse
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