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.
When you are about to enter a rehab center, you have a lot on your mind. You have employment issues. Your relationships are compromised. You may have legal problems. You are juggling a number of concerns and it is all you can do just to get into the rehab center and start the process. One….
It’s never easy to accept that we have a problem and it’s especially difficult to discuss our problems and negative plights with our children. The decision to attend drug rehab for an addiction is a very important decision and it’s the first step to healing and regaining control of your life, but how does one talk….
Addiction to Xanax is possible, and those who become unable to control their use of the drug should attend Xanax rehab. In a rehab treatment facility, you will be given medication and attend behavioral therapy in order to recover from your Xanax addiction. What Happens on Your First Day of Rehab? First, after you choose….
Many people face the challenges of working a 9-5 job that is both stressing and overwhelming. Unfortunately, many business executives find that the high level of responsibility and the extreme stress that comes with working in an executive position result in an increased risk of drug abuse which ultimately must be treated. Luckily, Seasons Recovery….
If you or a loved one are going through the struggles of drug addiction, this can be a very confusing and complicated time. It can be particularly severe if the addict is also facing a mental health issue as well, as the two together can present extra challenges and potential risks. What is Comorbidity? Comorbidity….
Various types of therapy are provided by rehab centers for the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. The most common types of therapy include individual therapy, fitness therapy, group therapy and various specialty therapy sessions such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Some therapy sessions will also include the ability for family members to participate with the….
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, one of the best treatments for any type of addiction is therapy or counseling. Although honesty and trusting your therapist is a large part of counseling, there are some things that your therapist will not tell you. 1. Therapy is Hard Work Learning to live without the….
For individuals who are addicted to alcohol, Christian alcohol rehab may provide the most hopeful chance for a full recovery. Christian alcohol rehab centers heal the spirit of those suffering from addiction by providing a rounded approach to recovery that includes a foundation built on the principles of the bible. Christian alcohol rehab centers consider….
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is an extremely complicated illness. To treat it, rehab centers help people by providing a variety of both medical and nonmedical services. Many use the latest treatments to push people past addiction into recovery. When considering a rehab it is important to remember the ways that….
Facing the difficulty of substance abuse treatment and recovery can make people look around and compare themselves to others. Sometimes, it is to make themselves feel better: “At least I don’t look like her.” Sometimes, it is out of jealousy: “Why does she look so much better than I do?” Sometimes, it is just to….
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 that includes Right Path Rehab.
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.
