ReCreate Life Counseling provides alcoholism treatment programs that help individuals and their families get on the road to recovery. The option to get rehabilitation services for alcoholism from a treatment facility can be attractive to those searching for an alternative to residential rehab facilities and peer support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (12-Step programs). Therapeutic options are combined with medications prescribed by a licensed doctor with an extensive background in treating addiction disorders. The support staff is available to help the individual to get sober and build the skills necessary to avoid relapsing later.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, or NIAAA, estimates that around 17 million people in America qualify as having alcohol use disorder, or AUD. Underlying issues like mental health issues often complicate the situation, and this may necessitate professional intervention. It is important to recognize that alcoholism is very common, but it can be treated successfully. Addiction treatment can be designed to address the specific needs of the individual while integrating family members. Getting to sobriety is an important first step, but the programs (levels of care) at ReCreate Life Counseling also provide the resources necessary to maintain sobriety over the long term.
Table of Contents
Alcoholism and Addiction
Additional medical problems can exacerbate alcoholism. Alcohol might be used as a psychological crutch for some people, but it also functions as a pain reliever. If there is a medical condition that is untreated, the person might be consuming alcohol to get relief from serious pain. This is a different cause of addiction than a person who suffers from untreated childhood traumas, for example. Each addict faces a unique set of circumstances, so the situation must be evaluated according to the specific dynamics of the case.
Alcoholism creates a huge amount of suffering for the addict, but family members and friends are also affected. In addition, many alcoholics will have a dual diagnosis once they are evaluated. This means that the problem is complicated by underlying issues, and additional measures must be added to deal with this aspect of the addiction. The treatment program is designed to provide the medical infrastructure of support necessary to deal with a variety of issues faced by the addict and their family members.
Signs of Alcohol Dependency
The signs of alcoholism, or alcohol dependency, are helpful for family members to know. They might be wondering if a family member has a serious drinking problem. Although it’s important to defer to the diagnosis of the healthcare professional before assuming that the individual is an addict, it can be very useful to review the signs and withdrawal symptoms. This list will help you to understand the common signs of addiction so that you can take the most appropriate measures to deal with the specific circumstances.
According to the ADA manual, common signs of alcoholism include the following:
- Constantly drinking or the inability to stop drinking alcohol.
- A significant amount of time is spent on getting drunk or recovering from a hangover.
- Ignoring consequences of drinking even when they are severe; this includes damaged relationships or lost income from losing a job due to drinking.
- Continuous use of alcohol even after physical and mental problems are persistent.
Dual Diagnosis for Alcoholics
Alcoholism is a medical diagnosis given by a qualified health professional. There are varying degrees of severity, and not everyone will require the same level of intervention or treatment. Some cases of alcoholism are relatively minor, for example, and pose no threat to the person or others around them in the community. However, severe cases are ranked higher on a scale that is published in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The premise of the holistic mental health model is that no one wants to become addicted; something happened that caused people to seek pain relief and self-medication. Both approaches are useful when used in tandem.
Family members might be unaware of the existence of a dual diagnosis right up until the evaluation is completed. This is why education for the affected family is so important; these support services for family members enable them to learn new skills for dealing with an alcoholic with a dual diagnosis. Once they learn how to view the addiction as a medical problem instead of a personality issue, they often adopt a more supportive and helpful role in the recovery process. Our team understands how to work with the extended family and friends of the alcoholic in order to ensure that they are educated in the areas that require their participation.
Types of Treatment
Once the alcoholic enters into a rehabilitation program, there are a variety of therapies that might be indicated. This can require a recommendation by a qualified medical provider. Common therapies include medication, behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and group therapy. In addition, new approaches are often emerging, and this might include techniques like motivation interventions. Family behavior therapy integrates family members, and this approach is popular with families who have to deal with teenage alcoholism. Other options may include partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, residential inpatient, and outpatient programs. Each case is handled on an individual level, and we ensure that each individual gets the most effective combination of services for their treatment program.
Our medically supervised alcoholism treatment program is based on a holistic mental health model that accounts for the entire person in all their complexities. Alcoholism is categorized as a disorder and a medical condition. This is an important part of the learning process for affected family members and friends of the alcoholic; they are often unaware of the medical implications of addiction. Depending on the circumstances, the alcoholic may require intensive rehabilitation services in order to interrupt the cycle of compulsive drinking. In severe cases, a medically supervised detoxification program might be necessary.
Personalized Alcohol use disorder Treatment
Alcoholism is also called alcohol use disorder, or AUD. The signs of this disorder include the individual’s inability to limit their consumption of alcohol even when it is causing serious problems and harm in their life. It is also called alcohol dependency or addiction, and it has many underlying causes that must be addressed. People who lack the skills and training to treat addiction often feel helpless, and they might even do things that make the situation even worse. This is why it’s important to reach out for help as soon as possible.
Treatment can be customized to fit the individual needs; however, the most effective therapy tends to combine several approaches and methods. This process has been developed over time. Professionals with many years of experience in treating alcoholism have reported that a combination of different therapies tends to get the most long-lasting results. The professional medical staff is an essential component of the recovery process. During treatment, there is plenty of support given, and additional resources for rehabilitation over a lifetime are often learned during the course of the treatment.
Treatment Programs for Alcoholism
Evaluating these alcoholism treatment programs may require some additional information. Our staff is fully trained to help family members to evaluate the best method for treating alcoholism. This is an important part of the process when learning how to support the alcoholic during their recovery. If the alcoholic has a strong network of support, the treatment option can be designed to draw upon these resources and help them to fully leverage all possible sources of support. However, people who lack these supports might require a solution that is more intensive. This is one example of how the evaluation of care will invariably take on unique characteristics.
Each person faces a unique situation, and there is no one solution for everyone. Some addicts simply require a short-term intervention; however, others might need a more long-term course of treatment. The short-term inpatient treatment might only last a few weeks, for example. Long-term residential care is indicated for more severe cases in which the person might require round-the-clock care. The amount of time of the stay can be quite long, with some individuals going in for an entire year of continuous care and treatment.
Alcoholism Treatment Program & Mental Health
Our alcoholism treatment program recognizes the need to address the underlying issues in order to interrupt the cycle of alcohol addiction. This includes alcoholics who also suffer from mental health problems, medical issues, or have a dual diagnosis. Detox is part of all these programs; follow-up care and therapy for substance abuse are also integral to the success of every program. There are also some programs available that allow the alcoholic to access remote therapy services through a video conferencing application or by phone.
This option is particularly helpful for people who live in remote areas where there are few facilities available that can help the alcoholic in person. Insurance companies often determine what access is made available, so make sure to contact the insurance representative with any questions about coverage for the services. The length of time of the alcohol addiction treatment plan will be determined by the health professional who conducts the examination.
Conclusion
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcoholism, we at Recreate Life Counseling are here to help. Our experienced counselors and therapists provide compassionate and evidence-based alcoholism counseling services to help you achieve lasting recovery. Contact us today to learn more about our programs and how we can support you on your journey to sobriety. Take the first step towards a healthier, happier life – call us today or visit our contact us page to schedule a consultation.
