Alcohol Rehab - Primary Care

Alcohol Rehab is a mixture of alcohol detox, nutritional supplementation, hydration therapy, rest, group counseling and individual counseling. Alcohol rehabilitation is intended to help people that are suffering with alcoholism to regain their physical and mental health. The goals are simply to improve physical health as quickly as possible, reveal their core issues (dishonesty, defense mechanisms, distorted thinking) and bring about greater self-awareness. Alcohol rehab is the only effective option for any person physically dependent to alcohol and for people headed in that direction (alcohol abuse).

In general, most people will need to enter an alcohol detoxification center first. It is imperative that a person’s brain and body be cleared from alcohol before therapeutic techniques can be of maximum benefit. The detox period varies from person to person but on average alcohol detox lasts approximately 10-days.

Alcohol rehab is generally a one month long endeavor though for chronic relapsers this period is often insufficient. A thorough history of the person’s drinking should be used as a guide in determining the length of stay in alcohol rehab.

Often an extended care program can be the key to success. Many extended care programs vary in length and structure. A long-term sober-living home can often make all the difference after Primary Care (1st Month) is completed.

Most treatment centers will not distinguish between alcohol and drugs. In fact, if there were to be a distinction made it would often be quite humbling to the alcoholic because of the devastation alcohol has on the individual, their family and society at large. Alcohol is second only to tobacco in number of annual fatalities and second to none in societal costs.

Key to any alcohol rehab treatment is the recognition of each person’s character flaws that lead them down the path of self-destruction. Most people understand that alcohol is a poison (toxic to the body). They realize that they should not drink alcohol if they want to be healthy. For people that are thinking about entering alcohol rehab the stakes are usually much higher. They are often trying to escape an alcoholic death or psychiatric institutionalization. So why do they drink? That question has baffled the best of physicians for many years. It seems that people with drinking problems drink to feel empowered to solve the problem of feeling helpless. Whether that helplessness is based in shame or trauma or distorted thinking is almost immaterial to the issue. If they feel helpless they drink.

Most alcoholics are totally aware of the dangers that taking a drink means, yet they drink anyway. How can common sense be so easily ignored. It is often one common rationalization that makes drinking acceptable to them at that moment. That rationalization can be conscious or unconscious but it goes very much like this, “it will not kill me today.”

Each individual has a unique grouping of core issues that disrupts their perception of reality. These core issues can interfere with their ability to connect with people on a deeper level. This can make a person feel different or separated from their peers.

Consistently being aware of your thoughts and feelings can help break the cycle of self destruction. Thoughts often precede a person’s emotions but emotions consistently dictate behavior. Are a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors based in fear or anger or shame? Does the person have problems in recognizing the truth (perception of reality) or maybe in telling the truth (dishonesty)? Did something happen in childhood that they have not been able to talk about or even recognize?

These questions have to be asked and answered during alcohol rehab in order to overcome these potentially life threatening behaviors. When an alcoholic or drug addict practices behaviors they know are counter-productive or are contrary to what they believe is right, they are practicing egodystonic behaviors. The result of egodystonic behavior is a state of emotional distress that slowly eats away at them causing them to feel helpless until they decide to drink again.

The moment they decide to drink they feel empowered. Drinking is almost a side-effect of the decision.

The answer to overcoming alcoholism is to find healthier and more effective ways of dealing with emotional problems.

Telling the truth, exercising, working, making lists, sharing your feelings, mindfulness and 12-step therapy are just some the techniques we recommend to rehabilitate alcoholics.