Signs that Putting off Alcohol Rehab for the Holidays is a Bad Idea
For someone battling an alcohol abuse problem, the decision to enter alcohol rehab doesn’t come easily. Alcohol’s effects on the brain warp a person’s logic and reasoning abilities, so troubling circumstances or the negative consequences from drinking have likely brought about a change of heart in a big way.
With the holidays well under way, it can be difficult to follow through on this decision considering how special this time of year is and the many festivities that go on. For these same reasons, putting off alcohol rehab until the holidays end can cause considerably more harm than good in the long run.
The Alcohol Abuse Cycle
Like other addictive substances, alcohol interferes with the brain’s chemical system, creating a state of physical dependency, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism. As physical dependency takes hold, drinkers start to experience withdrawal effects (also known as hangovers) on a more frequent basis. While more drinking may well relieve these effects, this practice only plays into the alcohol abuse cycle. With drinking being an accepted part of the holiday season, the series of hangovers on the horizon make for prime conditions for the alcohol abuse cycle to step into high gear.
The Holiday Effect
Preparing for the holidays is stressful for some, and can lead to binge drinking behaviors.
Holiday pressures can take any number of forms depending on a person’s family traditions. Those most commonly experienced include:
Money pressures
Buying the right gifts for loved ones
Contending with crowded stores and congested roadways
Family get-togethers, work functions
Holiday preparations
In effect, the holidays disrupt everyday routines and also entail spending considerable amounts of time with people you don’t normally see on a regular basis. These changes create the type of stress that drives increases in drinking behaviors.
Before long, the brain’s physical dependency on alcohol turns into a psychological dependency, which lies at the heart of alcohol addiction, according to the U. S. Department of Health & Human Services. At this point, drinking becomes a means for coping with mounting pressures. In the process, a person starts to believe he or she needs alcohol to make it through the day.
Once addiction takes hold, you’re drinking patterns will persist even after the holidays have come and gone. In effect, alcohol has become a central part of your overall psychological make-up, dictating your thought patterns, emotions and behaviors within any given day.
Signs You Need Alcohol Rehab Now
Considering the factors that make the holiday season what it is, putting off alcohol rehab until the start of the New Year may leave you in dire straits, both physically and mentally. Certain apparent signs will point to whether you need alcohol rehab now:
Drinking to cope with mounting holiday pressures
Drinking to overcome feelings of depression or anxiety
Having had blackout episodes in the past
Inability to stop drinking or limit alcohol intake
Emotional outbursts
If you or someone you know struggles with alcohol abuse and have experienced one or more of the above signs, you may want to seriously consider entering alcohol rehab now rather than risk dealing with the temptations that come with the holiday season. If you have any additional questions about alcohol abuse or need help finding an alcohol rehab program in your area, please feel free to call our toll-free helpline at 888-646-0635Who Answers? for more information.
With so many types of treatment programs, it is possible for anybody with a drug or alcohol addiction to get the help they need. Those who are unable to make progress on their own should realize that professional help is never more than a call away. While some people are familiar with the finer details….
Drug addiction rehab can take place in a variety of settings including outpatient, inpatient, or residential settings that employ a variety of detox, counseling, behavioral, and pharmacological approaches with services to meet the multiple needs of the individual. It’s not enough to simply detox from drugs, but, the drug addiction rehab treatment, according to the….
Being pregnant is always a little scary, but when you’re addicted to drugs and alcohol and pregnant, it can feel overwhelming. You don’t want to hurt the baby, but there’s so much conflicting information out there, it can be hard to know what to do. With some states now passing laws that allow prosecution of….
How Rehab Centers Help with Drug Addiction According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is typically a lifelong disease and people cannot merely just stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. In order to achieve the goal of sobriety and abstinence most people require long-term or repeated episodes of treatment…..
Do you have a loved one who is recovering from drug or alcohol addiction? Addiction has been known to cause significant strains on families and can be a very difficult situation to deal with. When a family member is recovering from addiction there are some things that you can do to help out and support the….
Drug rehab is a great opportunity for you–if you take it for what it’s worth and work with it! If you simply walk into drug rehab with the intention of not doing your part, then there’s a good chance that the treatment won’t do a whole lot for you. It’s an investment in your future, an….
Alcohol, though legal for people over the age of 21, still causes detrimental consequences. The fact that alcohol is a legal substance is likely the reason why the negative role that alcohol plays in the community can be seen in nearly any situation including school, home, special events and even work. It doesn’t really matter….
There are various programs available to people to help them overcome alcohol addiction, however some people are more successful in gender based programs. Some women heal better around other women, and because of this, there are various alcohol rehab programs that are specifically designed with women in mind. About Alcohol Addiction and Women According to….
Heroin addiction is a complex illness that often requires a combination of medical care, support and medication in treatment. Patients in heroin rehab often receive medications to help curb cravings, stop withdrawal symptoms or treat other medical issues while they are in recovery. Some of the most common medications in heroin rehab include: Methadone Buprenorphine….
Palm Partners of Delray Beach, Florida is proud to offer dual diagnosis treatment to assist individuals in overcoming both chemical dependency and co-occurring mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression and bi-polar disorder. During the dual-diagnosis program at Palm Partners Recovery Center, clients learn about their individual mental health problem and they also learn the….
Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser.
By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.
