Overcoming an addiction to alcohol isn’t easy. Long-term alcohol abuse can lead to physical and psychological dependency, making it impossible to quit cold turkey without significant withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, alcohol withdrawal can be severe, potentially triggering life-threatening health problems.
To get sober safely, it’s important to enlist help from a professional detox center. But detox is only the first step on the journey toward recovery. Staying sober requires counseling, coaching, and commitment, and an alcohol rehab program can provide the structure and support you need to achieve your long-term sobriety goals.
Detox: The First Step Toward Recovery
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal may begin just a few hours after you’ve consumed your last drink. While symptoms vary depending on your individual circumstances, including how much you normally drink and how long you’ve been abusing alcohol, many people experience tremors, headaches, intense sweating, nausea, irritability, and insomnia. Some may even have hallucinations, delusions, or seizures.
A medically supervised detox program can help you safely navigate this uncertain withdrawal period. After a comprehensive intake exam, medicine may be administered to ease your symptoms, and doctors and nurses will monitor your condition to prevent serious health complications. The detox period can take anywhere from 24 hours to a week or more. When your condition has stabilized, you’ll be ready to enter a rehab program.
Transitioning to an Alcohol Rehabilitation Program
Detox will help you get sober, but rehab will help you stay sober. During the early stages of your recovery, it’s common to experience intense cravings, and the desire to drink again will likely be very strong. Rehab can help you learn to control those cravings, identify your triggers, and develop coping mechanisms to deal with temptation and discomfort.
Every rehab program is unique, and treatment plans are customized for the needs of individual patients. However, most rehab programs involve some combination of the following:
- Counseling
Therapy is an important key to overcoming alcohol addiction. While enrolled in rehab, you’ll take part in intensive counseling sessions, including individual psychotherapy and group therapy. These are safe spaces where you can share your concerns, identify the root cause of your drinking, and practice new healthy behaviors.
- Education
Learning about the nature of alcohol abuse and addiction will help you to understand what’s happening inside your brain and body. This puts your behavior into a broader context and gives you a clearer picture of the consequences of your continued alcohol use.
- Structure
While you’re in recovery, it’s important to have a sense of stability and structure to your days. Knowing what to expect and when to expect it can help eliminate stress and allow you to focus fully on staying sober. Rehab programs provide you with fixed schedules so there’s never any guesswork.
Choosing an Alcohol Rehab Program
When deciding on an alcohol rehab program, you’ll generally have two types to choose from:
- Inpatient programs are held in residential facilities with 24-hour medical and psychological care. Participating in an inpatient rehab program gives you the opportunity to eliminate outside distractions and concentrate on your recovery. These are most helpful for patients with more serious alcohol addictions or co-occurring mental health disorders.
- Outpatient programs are designed for people who wish to live at home while receiving treatment. Intensive outpatient programs, or IOPs, provide individual and group therapy in clinical settings, allowing you to maintain your regular school or work schedule. These programs are best for those who have stable, supportive homes and can avoid exposure to risky, triggering situations.
Alcohol Detox and Rehab at Alvarado Parkway Institute in San Diego
Staying sober is a lifelong journey. For more than 35 years, Alvarado Parkway Institute has provided mental health and addiction treatment services to the San Diego community. Our inpatient alcohol rehab center in San Diego is a full-service residential facility offering detox, therapy, and aftercare planning. We also offer an intensive outpatient program for patients who wish to live at home but need more support and structure than traditional outpatient programs can provide.
Whatever your needs are, we can help. To start your journey toward sobriety, call us at (619) 485-1432.
