How Do Alcoholism Rehab Centers Get Me Through the Detox Withdrawal Stage?
Problems with drinking develop gradually over time, without a person’s even knowing it. Once the more uncomfortable effects of alcohol start to become an issue, the body has likely already developed some degree of dependence on its effects.
Not being able to stop drinking at will marks the first sign of a developing alcohol abuse disorder. After so many failed attempts at sobriety, the need for some form of treatment help becomes painfully apparent.
Alcoholism rehab centers specialize in helping a person making it through this critical first stage and also prepares him or her for the next stage of the recovery process.
Detox Withdrawal Effects
Frequent drinking disrupts the brain’s natural chemical balance while turning the brain into an alcohol-dependent environment. In the absence of alcohol, detox withdrawal effects develop out of the brain’s inability to regulate the body’s processes as normal.
According to Columbia University, detox withdrawal effects typically take the form of:
- Headaches
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Muddled thinking
- Sweating
- Chills
- Depression
- Bouts of anxiety
As continued drinking only works to reinforce alcohol’s debilitating effects, the detox withdrawal stage becomes a necessary first step towards getting a grip on a drinking problem.
Call our toll-free helpline at 888-646-0635Who Answers? for more information on alcoholism rehab center treatment.
Interventions Used By Alcoholism Rehab Centers
Assessing Your Condition
Alcohol rehab center treatment begins with a thorough assessment process that’s designed to identify your specific treatment needs. Conditions that develop during the course of drinking, such as diabetes or depression, can greatly compromise your effects to stay sober. Identifying and treating any existing co-occurring conditions at the outset offers you the best chance of making it through the detox stage.
Medication Therapies
Chronic or long-term alcoholism essentially warps the brain’s chemical pathways. This degree of damage produces lingering effects that can persist for months or years after a person stops drinking, according to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration.
Under these conditions, the intensity of withdrawal effects increases considerably, which makes it all but impossible for a person to make it through the detox stage. For these reasons, alcoholism rehab centers administer medication therapies, such as Antabuse and acamprosate to help relieve distressing withdrawal effects.
Emotional Supports
During the detox period, many people experience intense feelings of depression and anxiety that make it that much more difficult to abstain from drinking. In cases of full-blown addiction, these emotions may actually be psychological in origin since the brain has come to rely on alcohol to cope with daily life stressors.
Alcohol rehab centers place a heavy emphasis on the importance of building and maintaining a support system throughout the recovery process. In this respect, the treatment environment itself becomes a training ground where residents learn to reach out for help when the urge to use seems overwhelming.
Considerations
The detox withdrawal process can be difficult to bear, especially for people recovering from chronic alcohol abuse and addiction. As there’s no moving forward in recovery without going through this first stage, it’s important to seek out the level of treatment most needed to get you through.
Ultimately, alcohol rehab center treatment can be a great benefit for people who are unable to stop drinking on their own. If you need help finding a detox program, don’t hesitate to call our toll-free helpline at 888-646-0635Who Answers? to speak with one of our addiction specialists.
How Alcohol Rehab Centers Improve Comfort During Alcohol Detox