Alcohol addiction is a complex illness and a challenging condition that affects millions of people up and down the country and indeed worldwide. The recovery process from an alcohol addiction can be long and difficult, but it is entirely possible to fully recover from an alcohol addiction with the right amount of support, treatment and resources that are available.
Attending alcohol rehab treatment, whether that is inpatient or outpatient rehab will play a vital role in your recovery. Once you are admitted into alcohol rehab, the process is very straightforward, and you will undergo both a detox and a range of therapy techniques in order to rid your body and mind of your addiction and illness.
Despite the fact that the alcohol rehab process is actually quite straightforward, the idea of undergoing treatment and attending rehab can feel incredibly daunting for most people. This article addresses the alcohol rehab in a step by step guide, to help those who are considering attending alcohol rehab better understand the process and hopefully feel comfortable and confident enough to take the first step in their recovery process.
What is Alcohol Rehab?
Alcohol rehab is a place individuals are able to go in order to gain the treatment and help they need to recover from their addiction to alcohol. Through structured alcohol addiction treatment programs tailored to each person’s needs, individuals receive the medical, emotional, and psychological support necessary for long-term recovery. There are many different types of rehab treatment and rehab facilities, with thousands of rehab centres up and down the country.
There are two main types of alcohol rehab, being inpatient and outpatient care. Inpatient rehab involves temporarily moving into a rehab facility in order to gain the treatment you need in order to recover. During this time, you will live within the rehab facility, including eating and sleeping there. You could be here for any period of time, between just a couple of weeks and a couple of months, depending on the severity of your addiction issues.
The other main type of alcohol rehab is outpatient care. Outpatient alcohol rehab allows you to remain living in the comfort of your own home whilst you undergo treatment. Instead of moving into a rehab facility, you will visit the rehab centre on a daily or weekly basis to undergo treatment.
If you are physically addicted to a substance, such as cocaine or heroin, then you will need to undergo a medical detox in order to rid your body of the addictive substance. Once this has been done, you will then undergo therapy treatment for the psychological side of your addiction, to help you uncover any triggers, traumas or root causes that are linked to your addiction issues.
If you opt for outpatient care, then you might be asked to undergo a home detox, which would involve detoxing in the comfort of your own home. This is only suitable to those with a less severe alcohol addiction.
Remember, in the UK there are two major types of access to rehab treatment. You can opt for NHS funded alcohol rehab, or private alcohol rehab. With NHS funded rehab, the cost is entirely free to you but can involve long waiting lists.
The Stages of Alcohol Rehab
As explained above, the alcohol rehab process is actually quite straight forward, despite what many people think. Below is a step by step guide on the different stages of alcohol rehab, which might provide you with some context and more confidence when it comes to booking either yourself or someone else into a rehab facility.
Step 1. Initial Call Involving an Assessment and Evaluation
The first step in any rehab treatment plan is to undergo an initial assessment and evaluation which will likely take place over the phone. They will ask you a number of different questions including what substances you are addicted to, how long you have been addicted for and your overall mental wellbeing. It is incredibly important to be as open and honest during this initial phone call and assessment, so that they can create a personalised approach and treatment plan that works for your recovery needs.
Step 2. Medical Detox
Once you have been admitted into a rehab facility, you will then need to undergo a medical detox and withdrawal. This is only the case if you are addicted to a physically addictive drug such as alcohol, cocaine or heroin. The detox process is incredibly important and must be managed and handled with care. During your detox you can experience life threatening withdrawal symptoms including anxiety, tremors, vomiting and even in some cases blackouts and seizures.
By detoxing in a rehab facility, you will be managed around the clock by medical professionals who will examine your condition and needs and use medication where necessary.
Step 3. Therapy and Counselling
The next stage of alcohol rehab is therapy. Once you are no longer physically dependent on the substance(s) you are addicted to, you will then be in a much better place to tackle the mental and psychological side of your addiction.
By addressing the psychological side of your addiction, you will be able to get to the root cause of your addiction and address any triggers or traumas associated with your addiction. There are now many different types of therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, group therapy, one to one therapy, family therapy and holistic therapy. Your treatment specialist will be able to recommend the best type of therapy for you and your specific triggers or traumas, but it is important to keep an open mind when it comes to different therapy techniques.
Step 4. Aftercare Plans and Ongoing Support
The last step is aftercare. Once you leave a rehab facility, some people think that that marks the end of their treatment and recovery journey. However, that could not be further from the truth. The truth behind addiction and recovery is that your recovery is ongoing. For some people, recovery lasts their entire life. For others, it lasts a couple of years or a couple of months.
What is important to acknowledge is that no two recovery journeys are the same. Your aftercare plan should reflect this and be personalised to you. During your last few sessions with your rehab treatment facility, you will sit down with a professional and map out your recovery and aftercare plan.
Your aftercare plan can include a range of different things, from helplines to positive and helpful quotes that will help you stay on track, to a list of sober living environments or support groups. You will be taking this aftercare plan home with you, so make sure you actively contribute to your aftercare plan whilst you have the help and support of professionals inside a treatment facility.
A strong aftercare plan can be the difference between long-term recovery and relapsing, so do not underestimate the power your aftercare plan can have.
Choosing the Right Rehab Program For You
Not all rehab facilities are the same and it is important to acknowledge that you must choose the right rehab facility for you. There are a number of things that you should consider when choosing a rehab facility, including the rehab facilities success rate, who the staff are and what qualifications the doctors have, what the overall setting and environment is like and what type of aftercare plans they offer.
If you opt for inpatient alcohol rehab, then you will be spending a significant amount of time within the environment and setting, so make sure that you are happy with the space and living conditions. Some rehab facilities will offer shared living, which means that you might be sharing a room with someone else. Other rehab facilities, depending on how much you are willing to pay, will offer private rooms for more privacy.
Whilst visiting and researching the rehab facility, you should also ask to check what type of therapy they have on offer and ask them what they think would be recommended in terms of therapy during your stay at rehab. You should also ask to talk to the doctors and treatment specialists to see what you think.
Conclusion
As you can see from above, the alcohol rehab process is actually very straightforward and not as daunting as many people suffering from addiction issues might fear it to be. Whilst enquiring about rehab might seem daunting at first, taking the first steps and attending alcohol rehab will be life changing and will allow you to build a healthier and more fulfilling life, without the need of alcohol.
With the right services and support available to you, recovering from an alcohol addiction is achievable. Take your first step to recovery today and see for yourself the benefits attending alcohol rehab can have on both your own life, and the life of others around you.
