What is Alcohol Rehabilitation Like?

What Is Alcohol Rehabilitation Like

Getting help for alcohol addiction can be full of unknowns. Will it work? Can I enjoy life sober? Going into alcohol rehabilitation, it is important to be as prepared as possible to ease your anxiety. One of the most common questions asked when an individual is considering getting help for their alcohol addiction is: What is alcohol rehabilitation like? Keep reading to find out what the alcohol rehabilitation process is like, what to expect, and what life will be like after you complete treatment.

Alcohol Rehabilitation: The Detox Process

The first step in the recovery journey is to detox from alcohol. Alcohol is tricky to detox from, as it is the only substance in which the withdrawal symptoms can be fatal. As such, it is important to never detox from alcohol alone and to receive this vital service before you begin therapy.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal from alcohol can be different for each individual who experiences it. Depending on your age, weight, the severity of the addiction, length of addiction, or underlying medical conditions, you may feel mild symptoms or you may experience debilitating (or even fatal) symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

Withdrawal symptoms from alcohol include:

  • Anxiety
  • Headaches
  • Insomnia
  • Shaking
  • Seizures
  • High blood pressure
  • Hallucinations
  • Fever
  • Cravings
  • Disorientation
  • Delirium tremens
  • Depression
  • Cravings
  • Low energy
  • Dizziness
  • Memory problems
  • Nausea
  • Irritability

Medicated Assisted Detox

Even though alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be severe and possibly even fatal, they can be experienced with little to no discomfort, thanks to medicated-assisted detox. Upon entering Seasons, you will be met with a medical doctor who’s specialty is addiction and it’s associated withdrawal symptoms. You will be given medication on a short-term basis to ease your symptoms so that you can more quickly and more comfortably get started on the path of your new life in sobriety.

Medications that may be administered include medications to help with:

  • Anxiety
  • Sleep
  • Cravings
  • Nausea, diarrhea, etc
  • And much more

After about a week, your withdrawal symptoms with subside and your body will no longer be required to process the large amount of toxins it once did while you were drinking. By starting therapy, an exercise routine, and a nutritious diet at this time, you are well on your way to becoming the healthiest version of yourself possible.

The Treatment Process

Once you have completed the detox process, you will be able to start taking part in the treatment process of alcohol rehabilitation. This includes individual meetings with your therapist, group therapy with other like-minded individuals at the treatment center, family therapy sessions with your loved ones, and holistic therapies. All of these combined will give you the best chances possible for long-term successful recovery.

You will also be treated for any underlying conditions that may be present. These include trauma and/or any underlying mental health conditions. Examples of underlying conditions of addiction include:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • PTSD
  • Childhood trauma
  • OCD
  • Schizophrenia
  • Sexual, verbal, or physical abuse

Holistic Therapy

One of the most important parts of the treatment process in alcohol rehabilitation includes holistic therapy. In conjunction with evidence-based therapy, holistic therapy aims to round out the treatment of the whole person. When the mind, body, and soul are aligned, great things can happen. Holistic therapies also give individuals an opportunity to experience new ways to release stress, cope with triggers, and spend their time once they are back at home.

Aftercare

A very important part of alcohol rehabilitation includes aftercare. While completing a 30, 60, 90, or more day stay at a treatment center is a huge accomplishment, that doesn’t mean that the work ends. Alcohol rehabilitation takes ongoing work and effort in order to be successful.

We understand the extraordinary difficulties associated with maintaining your recovery when you first leave the safe haven of the residential alcohol recovery center. For this reason, our alcohol rehab programs provide outpatient alcohol treatment and extensive aftercare counseling and ongoing, regular contact with your therapists and case manager once your stay here is over. We believe that our comprehensive, well-designed aftercare program is one of the most important contributing factors to our incredible success rate.

About Seasons in Malibu

The alcohol rehab programs at Seasons In Malibu starts with detox and carries through to aftercare. The alcohol treatment centers on our philosophy of systemic treatment. Treatment at Seasons in Malibu is systemic, integrative and client-centered. Our philosophy is grounded in the understanding that in order for the client to heal, the entire system needs the opportunity to heal along with them.

Treating alcoholism is a process that has been improving steadily over the last century. ‘Drunk tanks’ and ‘Sanitariums’ have given way to organized 12-step programs, detox centers, and modern residential alcohol treatment centers such as our own. There are now millions of recovering alcoholics in America today living happy, fulfilled, and sober lives.

It is a priority for us that our life-changing drug and alcohol treatment be available to the people who need it. We are fully familiar with how much strength and courage it takes to pick up the phone and ask for help. Our counselors are invested in your well-being and are ready around-the-clock to guide you or a trusted friend or family member through the initial steps of overcoming drug or alcohol addiction.