5 Things To Expect At An Alcohol Rehab Center
Chronic alcoholism is one of the world’s leading addiction problems. Many alcohol dependents try to quit on their own to address this. Yet, this option could be more challenging than checking into alcohol rehab centers. Doing it on your own may cause withdrawal symptoms that may be difficult to bear.
On the other hand, an alcohol rehab center has complete amenities and professional programs to make sobriety easier to achieve. If you’re seeking a proven intervention in alcohol abuse, here’s an article to help you know more about what these institutions could provide. Keep reading and identify the things you could expect at an alcohol rehab center.
Contents
1. Assessments
Before a person checks into his rehabilitation, the rehab center needs to conduct an initial assessment to determine the level of addiction of the subject. The evaluation checks the drinking history and frequency, blood analysis, blood pressure, and breathing in many cases.
For these purposes, the rehab center checks the person’s physical well-being through vital measurements and his mental health through interviews. Collectively, the results from the tests will influence the type and length of the rehabilitation a person needs.
Suppose you’re in a specific location or at Kemah Palms, Texas, for instance. You may look at the professional rehab centers Kemah has to offer, especially those with crystal-clear results that usually start with clear-cut programs and objectives. After the first assessments, patients may choose between the following programs:
- Inpatient Treatment: Patients who want to quit drinking voluntarily and are likely to follow a simple rehab program even at home may choose this treatment. Inpatient treatment is also the option of former patients who want to prevent relapse.
- Residential Rehab: This is the typical setup wherein patients live in the center for 1-3 months, or even longer, depending on their rehab needs.
Apart from the initial assessments, many institutions also conduct mid-term checkups to continuously monitor the patients’ progress. This way, they’d know whether the detox programs and therapy sessions are working or not.
2. Detoxification Programs
Alcohol rehab centers offer various types of detox programs. In many cases, these programs have designs to help people reduce the ill effects of alcohol withdrawal, including the following:
- anxiety
- delirium
- hallucinations
- sleeping issues
- nausea and vomiting
- depression
Most rehab centers provide routine exercises and mental activities to help patients become more active and less inclined to get back to drinking. Generally, alcohol rehab centers have doctors and other medical pros to monitor how people respond to a particular detox program. They may modify one specific design to suit a patient’s needs and get closer to their full recovery.
3. Medical Intervention
To address the different withdrawal symptoms patients may experience, rehab centers usually have visiting and resident doctors to check the patients. Because of this, recovering alcoholics could continue their rehabilitation without worrying about the difficulties they may face once they start rehabbing.
Apart from the physical adjustment of the patient’s body, the medical professionals help keep the patient emotionally and mentally sound. In some cases, these doctors also help former patients with follow-ups if they think they’re about to start having an abnormal desire for alcohol again.
4. Therapy Sessions
Apart from the detox approaches, many rehab centers employ various therapy sessions to help alcoholics. Some of the most effective types include:
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Psychotherapy
To reach the sobriety goals of every alcoholic, some centers provide psychotherapy sessions to help patients further understand their desires. The doctors help patients identify their past traumas that may have led to their present situation in the process. Typically, the doctors may use behavioral therapy, integrative therapy, and cognitive therapy, whichever is appropriate.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
You may identify this as a sub-type of psychotherapy or a standalone approach. No matter the case, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an approach that focuses more on the doable, such as treatments an alcoholic could do on his own rather than strictly conforming to a medical diagnosis. Because of this, the patient learns to face his fears, confront old beliefs, and improve socialization through the therapist’s guidance.
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy
This option anchor on dialectics—a system of beliefs that all the things in the world are interconnected. This therapy also focuses on recognizing to take proper action in the present. Many patients prefer this method because they help them cope with stress better and find emotional balance.
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Motivational Interviewing
This semi-directive approach helps alcoholics be brave and believe in their willpower to change. In this process, the patients follow sympathetic and empathetic counseling therapy until they’re confident enough to decide and quit alcohol.
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12-Step Facilitation
This approach is a mutual and open therapy using the experiences of others and the patients. In this process, the therapist starts a forum wherein patients share their experiences, sentiments, and struggles to validate and address what they’re going through. The sharing builds connection, trust, and self-importance, necessary for attaining long-term sobriety.
5. Follow-Up Monitoring
After sobering up, alcoholics may be required to visit the rehab center for monitoring purposes. Many clinicians suggest monthly checkups until the patients become fully recovered. This phase is crucial to the other stages, as many alcoholics relapse when they return to their old lives.
Comprehensive aftercare planning is necessary to prevent a relapse from happening. Aftercare may include continuous therapy sessions, medical evaluations, and social support services, including the family circle. On top of this, the patients are advised not to dwell on their old habits that may trigger their need to drink for the first months after they return home.
Wrapping Up
No alcohol rehab centers have identical approaches in providing the intervention to help a person quit drinking. Similarly, no case of alcohol dependence is the same. Even two alcoholic athletes may have different alcohol-related issues. Different individuals with alcohol problems need specific interventions. Because of this, a proper assessment is a must to provide the most relevant test results and approaches.
You may look for a rehab center within your locality that suits a patient’s specific needs. In choosing one, consider the number and quality of services the provider could give. You may also ask the patients or their families about their experience regarding the treatment and rehabilitation process before you sign up yourself or your loved one.
Read Also:
- How to Guide An Addicted Loved One Towards Treatment
- How to Help Recovering Addicts Reintegrate Into Society
- Knowing Your Medicare Coverage Options
- 10 Major Benefits Of Completing A Drug Rehabilitation Program