It is common for people to feel intimidated during their first time at alcohol rehab. These are people who want to quit their dependence but are feeling self-conscious and nervous about going into the rehab environment. They don’t know what to expect. When people learn more about what will occur at rehab, they tend to relax. There are some common experiences people will have at alcohol rehab.
Different Needs
There are many ways to provide treatment for an alcoholic as each one has different needs. Their condition has been diagnosed with a pattern of using alcohol that has caused them and their loved ones serious distress. Their addiction could be mild to severe. Treatment will depend on the number of symptoms they are experiencing. Where they fall in that range, will determine the care that they need.
Programs
There are two rehab programs a person could use.
- Inpatient – An alcoholic will live at a rehab center, hospital, or detox clinic during their recovery process. They have care 24 hours a day to help them.
- Outpatient – This is where a person can get treatment during the day, but live at their home.
Check-In
It is common for people to begin the process at a rehab facility by having an intake interview from a facility staff member. This is considered a very important part of the rehab process. An alcoholic will provide important information that will be used to determine their individual treatment plan. It is common for recovering alcoholics to be in rehab for up to 90 days. Some people spend less time there. It is recommended for a first-time stay a person to be there a minimum of 90 days.
Detox
Once a person has had their initial assessment, they will go through the process of detoxification. This is the process of removing alcohol from a person’s body after an extended period of abuse. It is essential to cleanse the body. This is a difficult process for many people. Detox is essential for a person to be physically and mentally able to engage in the work they will undertake during rehab. The symptoms for some are mild and for others, it can be more severe.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Anxiety
- Instability in heart rate and blood pressure
- Delirium tremens (Dts) is a dangerous situation that can result in a person experiencing seizures, cause a fever, hallucinations, restlessness as well as being confused, and more
- Sweating
- Depression
- Shakiness focused in a person’s hands
- General hallucinations
Therapy
During the recovery process, there are many different types of therapy a person could engage in to help with their recovery. They will help an alcoholic learn how to handle their cravings, avoid things that could cause a relapse, and continue to be clean. Therapy will help them learn about themselves, their triggers, and how to become sober.
Individual Therapy
During this time, an alcoholic will work with a therapist during private one-on-one sessions. This is an opportunity for an alcoholic to take an honest look at themselves. They’ll examine their addiction and how it has impacted their psyche. It is an individual lesson that is an excellent way to help a person heal. The therapist will help a person identify their addiction triggers. The alcoholic will then learn how to deal with them or eliminate them. This will be done in a healthy way.
Group Therapy
This involves people in rehab who have the same addiction meeting together. A trained therapist will guide these sessions. This is an opportunity for those with an alcohol addiction to learn they are not alone and others face the same challenges. They can learn from the success of others about dealing with their addiction.
Family Counseling
It has been shown that when a recovering alcoholic’s friends and family are involved in the educational process, the rehab results significantly improve. This is the reason many rehab facilities provide their residents with family therapy as an important aspect of their program.
Aftercare Planning
Toward the end of a person’s rehab, they will meet with a counselor and discuss their aftercare plan. It will be based on where a person is at in their recovery journey. Participation in aftercare has been shown to seriously decrease rates of alcohol relapses. This is an extremely essential part of a person’s treatment. This plan will consist of medical as well as social support services to help a recovering alcoholic with their transition away from rehab. Some plans involve transitional housing, follow-up therapy programs, medical evaluations, counseling as well as various support groups. There will also be suggestions made to assist a recovering alcoholic from getting into situations that could trigger a relapse and more.
Do you or a friend want to know more about what happens during alcohol rehab? You can call us and learn more at 833-610-1174. We can talk to you now as our counselors are available to you 24 hours a day.