What Is Rehab Like For Alcoholics?

Alcohol detox can be a daunting problem. Trying to detox on your own is never recommended when you are suffering from alcohol addiction, especially a severe addiction. One of the very first steps you should take when you are looking for help is to find a facility that offers the best detox and rehab services. Finding a place that will cleanse your body and mind is of the utmost importance when you’re battling with alcohol.

Of course, you probably have a lot of questions to ask before you commit to a program, especially if you have never been to rehab before. What is detox like? How long will I be there? What is rehab like for alcoholics? Let’s read on to learn the answer to this question and more.

The General Process of Rehab

While every rehab program operates on a different schedule, you can generally expect the following when you check into one:

• Intake
• Detox
• Therapy Sessions
• Holistic Activities
• Aftercare

It’s normal to want to know what happens from the minute you walk in the door until you are done with the program. Let’s start with the detox portion of the program.

The Intake and Detox Step

When you get to the center, you’ll sit down and speak candidly with the detox team. They will get a complete medical and mental history from you in order to determine your next course of treatment. Alcohol addiction is a serious issue, so make sure you are always honest about your drinking. They will want to know how long you have been drinking, your regular drinking habits, and if you have tried detoxing before. They will also want to get a full mental health history from you so that they can put together a therapy plan.

During the detox process medication may be provided, such as Suboxone, to help you get through the physical feelings of withdrawal. Depending on the severity of your addiction, you may have to be hospitalized and monitored day and night until you get better. If you are in a residential treatment center, you’ll likely check-in with the medical staff once a day or as needed.

Therapy Sessions

While detox is an extremely important part of getting clean, rehab will focus more on therapy sessions to teach you how to function without alcohol. These sessions are broken down into the following:

• Individual sessions
• Group therapy
• Family therapy

If you need help with a mental health issues, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, you’ll use your private sessions to discuss your progress. This is often known as a dual diagnosis in the rehab world. You’ll talk about your mental health disorder separately from your addiction.

Group therapy sessions give you the chance to form a certain camaraderie with other patients. Overseen by a qualified counselor, these types of sessions allow you to listen to others and gain knowledge from their experiences while giving you the chance to share your own experiences and feelings with the group.

Depending on the rehab, family therapy may be an option you’ll want to take advantage of. Addiction is a terrible disease that can and does affect the family members of the afflicted. It’s important to begin the repair process as soon as possible, especially when children are involved.

Holistic Activities

You’ll always have some downtime during alcohol rehab to relax and enjoy other activities. Many alcohol rehab facilities offer different holistic events for patients to enjoy, from yoga to meditation to journaling classes. You may have the opportunity to attend cooking classes and nutrition classes, exercise activities, and other relaxing sessions that will help you learn how to relax. Some facilities also offer volunteering opportunities you can partake in once you are completely detoxed.

Take Part in Aftercare Services

Rehab is not going to end just because your program does. Talk to your counselor about what to do after you leave. They are there to help you find other services in your area if you cannot come back to them for outpatient care. This may include 12-step meetings and family therapy sessions in other places. Make sure you have these lined up before you leave. Sobriety is a process that will stick with you the rest of your life, so make sure you have the resources ready to go when you leave rehab.

Let Our Facility Help

Ready to change your life for the better? Give our alcohol detox and rehab center a call today at 833-497-3812. We can’t wait to get started today!