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Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Relevant information about Alcohol Addiction Treatment.
- What does the treatment consist on
Since drinking is so common in our culture it’s not always easy to figure out where is the line between social drinking and a drinking problem. Many people see alcohol consume as a pleasant way of unwinding after a long, hard day at work or as an enjoyable aspect of socializing with others: sharing a bottle of wine over a meal, going out for drinks with friends, celebrating special occasions. Alcohol may also help to relax and it gives confidence in an unfamiliar situation.
A moderate amount of alcohol may be healthy but we must remember it is, at first a depressant drug. This means alcohol shuts down some areas of the brain which are responsible for physical, mental and emotional behavior.
But because there are the positive aspects of alcohol use and because it is also so common, popular and accepted in so many activities, it can be hard to see when drinking has crossed the line from moderate or social use to a drinking problem.
It is when you overdo it on a regular basis or find it increasingly difficult to manage without a drink that the situation changes and you have crossed the line into ‘alcoholism’ or addiction.
To figure out which side of the line you fall on, you have to take an honest look at why you drink, how is alcohol affecting you and if drinking is causing problems in your life. Admitting you have a problem is the first and most important part of the process. Once you have done so, then the next step is seeking for the best treatment when looking for help and support.
Alcoholism treatments generally take place in special centers properly equipped and prepared to carry out alcohol treatments and bring people out of this addiction. These centers usually have a solid staff of qualified and experienced professionals, such us doctors, counselors, nutritionists and dietitians who are capable enough to deal with the addiction. As the effects of alcohol vary according to gender, age, weight, height and other similar factors, these experts provide the line of treatment needed according to each particular case. The final and primary objective always is the patient to stop drinking.
- Which problems does the treatment solve
Despite many people drink regularly without experiencing any harmful effects, others suffer from alcoholism and alcohol abuse, making even an occasional drink dangerous. This kind of problems and situations are the aim of alcohol treatments.
Experts make a distinction between alcohol abuse and alcoholism (also called alcohol dependence). Alcohol abusers are self-destructive and dangerous to themselves or others but still have some ability to set limits on their drinking. Alcoholism involves all the symptoms of alcohol abuse, but it also involves another element: physical dependence, which makes it the most severe form of drinking problem. There’s a fine and brittle line between both. Alcohol Addiction Treatments try to solve both types of disorder with their particular problems.
Many times people suffer from anxiety, depression or manic depression and use alcohol as a way of coping with the illness, as a form of escapism. Other times, stressful life events, such as divorce, bereavement or moving house can trigger alcohol abuse. In addition, our “drinking culture” makes the environment another risk factor.
Treatments work with these types of problems in order to encourage patients to take responsibility in the development and implementation of their own tailored care plan. A confidential and safe environment gives them the opportunity to explore and identify the changes they require to make in themselves and their environment, to enable them to maintain sobriety and progress in their recovery.
- How is the treatment performed
There are multiple perspectives for the condition of alcohol addiction, alcohol abuse and alcoholism which perform quite a variety of different types of treatments. Most of them focus on the general objective of helping people discontinue their alcohol intake, but it will be different the approach if you consider the problem as a medical condition or disease or as one social choice, for example.
Understanding the problem is the first step to overcoming it. Denial to accept and ignorance of the situation are two of the worst barriers in getting across to addicts and getting them on the road to healthy living.
The treatment generally begins with private detoxification service medically supervised. Detoxification or ’detox’ for alcoholics is an abrupt stop of alcohol drinking coupled with the substitution of drugs that have similar effects to offset the withdrawal symptoms. Benzodiazepines are the most common family of drugs used for this, followed by barbiturates.
Detoxification and discontinuing alcohol intake is usually followed by a life training and/or social support in order to help them resist a return to alcohol use.
Various forms of psychotherapy or group therapy can be used to deal with underlying psychological issues that are related to alcohol addiction, as well as provide relapse prevention skills.
Since alcoholism involves multiple factors, intensive individualized treatment and alcoholism counseling programs should be tailored to the needs of each person. All the aspects involved must be addressed in order to get successfully recovery.
Some treatments start with a detoxification period followed by a combination of supportive therapy, attendance at self-help groups, and ongoing development of coping mechanisms. The treatment community for alcoholism typically supports an abstinence-based zero tolerance approach; however, there are some who promote a harm-reduction approach as well.
After the recovery process is achieved successfully, the patient starts the post-treatment process in order to go on with his life with a medical control and supervision.
- How long does the surgery take
Beating an alcohol addiction is a long and painful process. It requires a lot of sheer willpower but also big and difficult changes to every aspects of life. These changes are not always as easy and as fast as we would like. Recovering from any addiction takes a big effort and is usually a long process.
Regarding the duration, there are two types of Alcohol Addiction Treatments. One of them is a long-term option; it works not only over the addiction problem but also in all the related areas. It is harder and might last years. It looks for a total and long term alcohol recovery. The other option works in an accelerated way. It consists in one, two and three week programs with individual therapeutic attention in each week. It is focalized and very intensive.
- How is the post-treatment process
The process of recovery from alcoholism is gradual. After the recovery process is achieved, is essential the patient starts the post-treatment process in order to go on with his life with a medical control and supervision and avoid relapse.
Patients are usually provided with a holistic treatment by integrating the medical and psychological parts. It includes a family recovery plan, an individual or groups therapy and sometimes drug rehabs.
Post treatment works with the patients in order they could be able to live their lives with a sense of purpose, free from the pain of the past and with dreams of a fulfilling future.
As it happens in many others addiction disorders, the body gets used to the substance and its effects and when intake is cut appears the abstinence syndrome.
When people who drink heavily quit drinking, they start having alcohol withdrawal experiences. The symptoms include: anxiety or jumpiness, shakiness or trembling, sweating, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, depression, irritability, fatigue, loss of appetite and/or headache.
In severe cases, withdrawal from alcohol can also involve hallucinations, confusion, seizures, fever, and agitation. These symptoms can be dangerous, so it is really important to be aware of them in order to talk and be treated immediately by a doctor.
Another possible complication is when alcohol is used to self-medicate in people who have a family history of alcoholism or who themselves suffer from a mental health problem such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder, this cases are particularly risky.
- What does the treatment do
Cases of extreme addiction can cause psychological, legal, financial, social, and physical consequences. The treatment works helping addicts regain their mental, physical, and personal well being.
Alcohol treatment works not only in the detoxification, but also in the root cause of substance abuse as well. The primary objective is to provide a safe alcohol detoxification, abstinence and therapeutic recovery. Patients are encouraged to take responsibility for their own quality of life and are offered the opportunity to explore positive aspects of their character. New activities are introduced in order they could develop their sense of worth and self esteem.
- What does the treatment not do
Sometimes, drinking problems are associated to other pathologies such us: anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder. In these cases, and in many others, the treatment will work only in the alcoholic problem but not over all the other problems the person may have. The treatment is made by specialists in drinking issues and only that will be the focus of their work.
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