If a patient is ready to accept help with their alcohol problem it’s the first step in an important and long journey. A willing and strong 3rd party can be the much needed first step of support that helps someone get back to sober living in Dallas, or wherever you are located. Professional help always starts with a detox program and is the best way forward.
During detox, a person’s dependence on alcohol can be managed with medications, so that the person’s withdrawal symptoms are minimized. Medications can also help to reduce the risk of seizures, which can occur in the most severe cases of withdrawal.
Detox can take place in a hospital, or in a residential rehab facility. Once detox is complete, the individual can then go to an inpatient or outpatient rehab facility to complete the alcohol addiction treatment process.
Inpatient of Outpatient Rehab?
Inpatient rehab is best for people who need medical monitoring for detox and who need intensive therapy at the beginning of the recovery process. Inpatient care provides close 24-hour supervision by trained and licensed staff. The rehab staff monitors progress and provides support and motivation to encourage the person to complete the program.
Outpatient rehab allows patients to rest at home while attending therapy sessions at a clinic or treatment facility. The availability of therapy for those who are working is an important consideration for many people. Outpatient rehab works for those who are able to sustain a commitment to recovery in their daily lives without requiring close supervision.
Of course, the more severe the addiction, the more intensive the treatment needs to be. Inpatient rehab offers the most intensive care, as it is designed for people who need to focus on the addiction entirely. Outpatient care is more suitable for people who are able to balance their addiction treatment with their professional and personal lives.
What to expect after treatment?
Once alcohol has been removed from the body, the patient can begin to adjust to living without it. This is a process that is likely to take a long time. It may be more difficult for people who have been addicted to alcohol for a long time.
The patient may experience cravings for alcohol as they adjust to sobriety. In order to reduce the odds of returning to drinking, the patient must learn the skills needed to avoid and deal with the triggers that lead them to drink.
What about relapse?
Some of the most common behaviors that lead to relapse include spending time with people who drink, going to bars or parties where alcohol is served and having alcohol in the home. In order to avoid these triggers, the patient can participate in activities that are not likely to expose them to situations where they are likely to drink. These may include attending self-help meetings, getting a job that requires a lot of time away from home and spending time with supportive people who have not been drinking.
Final thoughts
It is important to remember that alcohol addiction is not a sign of weakness, but rather a disease that causes people to behave in ways that are harmful to themselves and others. For this reason, many doctors do not recommend that people with this disease be punished, but rather that they be given the opportunity to get the help that they need. Remember this when trying to help your loved one back to sobriety.
