Alcohol Rehabilitation
Alcoholism has finally been classified as what it truly is, a disease. In fact, it has been scientifically proven that alcoholism is genetic, much like heart disease or cancer. We know that 40% of alcoholism is genetic, however, as of yet, we do not know what the other sixty percent is caused by. Some of the important factors to understand when dealing with alcoholism are the underlying issues that cause a person to continue to drink even in the face of total destruction to their lives. This will help enable the people in charge of their alcohol rehabilitation give them intensive individualized treatment, which can help to ensure a successful recovery.
Recognizing you have a problem is the first step on the road to recovery. In order to do this you should ask yourself these questions:
- Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking
- Have people in your life criticized your for your drinking
- Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking
- Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover
If you answered yes to more than one of these questions, you may have an alcohol problem. If you feel that you or somebody you love suffers from alcoholism, it may be time to seek alcohol rehabilitation and recovery.
Alcoholics Anonymous is the standard barer of recovery for alcoholism. But, they aren’t the only ones out there. If you or somebody you know is seeking recovery and treatment for alcoholism, there are choices out there that will enable you to live an alcohol free life. With so many choices available, there is bound to be one to fit your need. Perhaps, for alcoholism the best place to start is Alcoholics Anonymous famous 12-step program.
The 12-step program came into existence over 65 years ago, and was started by a group of alcoholics. Their main goal in the beginning was to provide support and fellowship for fellow alcoholics. An important step in recovery is knowing you are not alone, and that there are other people out there who know what you are going through. The 12-step program is just what the name implies, 12-steps to follow during your recovery. The thought behind this being, if you follow through with all 12 steps than by the end you will have gotten a clearer understanding of how your alcoholism has affected the lives of those around you. It has been so successful that it has been adapted by other substance abuse programs.
While the 12-step program works well for some people, it is not the answer for everybody. That is why so many other options have become available throughout the years. One such treatment method is Therapeutic Intervention. This treatment includes counseling, in a group or individual setting. The counseling sessions address the thinking process an alcoholic goes through and attempts to change it. It involves cognitive behavioral counseling and delves deep into the inner workings of the drinkers mind. For some, this is not conducive to their recovery. They may find it too intrusive and ineffectual. For them, support groups may be the way to go.
Again, Alcoholics Anonymous can be thanked for being innovative in the ways of recovery, for they are the group that started the support group craze. It is based on their idea of using fellowship as an integral part of the recovery process. There is a heavy reliance on faith, and participants are there to help the other group member as well as themselves.
As far as the difference between inpatient and outpatient treatment goes, there seems to be no disparity in then with regards to outcome. That being said, three is a thirty percent dropout rate in outpatient treatment compare to a ten percent dropout rate in inpatient alcohol rehab. With alcoholism being as insidious as it is, it doesn’t just affect the lives of the addict, it affects everybody else around them as well. For that reason, it is beneficial to the addict, and their loved ones, for them to get enrolled in an inpatient alcohol rehabilitation center.
Over the years, it has become clear that anybody who has an alcoholic in their family has issues they need to deal with as well. To that end, there are groups for loved ones of alcoholics as well, such as Al-anon. If you are trying to help somebody in your life deal with alcoholism, help yourself first by going to one of the many support groups.
One of the options available to you when you are trying to help an alcoholic with recovery is an intervention. If you decide to go this route, it is vital that you have a professional there to help to facilitate it. It can be dangerous and risky if you try to do it on your own. Before you have the intervention make sure you already have an alcohol rehabilitation program picked out and that they are expecting the addict. Often times, alcoholics will agree to alcohol rehab in order to out of the situation they are in. In order to ensure that they go, have their bags packed and a bed set up. This leaves them little room to back out.
Whether it be Alcoholics Anonymous or one of the many other treatment options that are out there, it is crucial to get your loved one in recovery. It could literally be a matter of life or death. The statistics on alcoholism prove that; five percent of Americans die of alcoholism and ninety five percent of untreated alcoholics will eventually die. This doesn’t have to happen. There are alcohol rehabilitation and recovery programs out there that can help.
When you recognize harmful patterns and seek treatment, you can increase your chances of leading a healthier life. Cliffside Malibu is here to support you in your search for an alcohol-free life. We believe you deserve to have a private, comfortable and luxurious environment as you navigate your journey to a sober life. Our center allows you to explore your mental health needs, creates a treatment plan that is unique to you and allows you to discover beneficial coping skills. To learn more about alcohol treatment at Cliffside Malibu, call (855) 403-5641.