Treatment for Alcoholism

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) can spiral out of control rather quickly and have negative effects. This is why it is crucial to seek treatment for alcoholism as soon as possible. There have been many great strides in treatment for alcoholism – both in removing the stigma surrounding addiction and increasing access to information for Americans who are struggling to recover on their own or in need of professional help.

Signs of Alcoholism

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of AUD can help save a life. Signs of alcoholism can include:

• Trying and failing repeatedly to reduce or stop drinking
• Experiencing strong cravings for alcohol when sober
• Having withdrawal symptoms such as physical sickness when abstaining from alcohol
• Giving up or cutting back on hobbies and activities to spend more time drinking
• Ending up drinking more, or for longer than you intended to
• Feeling the need to downplay or hide your drinking from other
• Developing health problems due to your drinking
• Being confronted by others about you about how much you drink>

Types of Treatments Available for Alcoholism

Medications

There are currently only three medications that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating alcohol use disorder:

• Disulfiram is a medicine that changes the way alcohol is absorbed by the body, making it very unpleasant to drink while on this medication.
• Naltrexone helps to reduce the pleasant feelings associated with alcohol intoxication, which in turn helps an individual avoid relapse.
• Acamprosate is effective in helping people who have quit drinking to continue their abstinence.

Not everyone will react to these medicines the same way, and in no way are any of these considered a cure for alcoholism. There is no single quick fix that will end a person’s addiction. Rather, these and other medications should be considered one part of a multifaceted plan to treat a substance use disorder. Medical treatment for alcoholism should always be supervised by a physician. Combining medication treatment with behavioral therapy produces better results for alcohol detox than either would on their own.

There are some potential drawbacks to taking medications for alcohol dependence, but replacing one addiction for another is not one of them. None of these medications are addictive, and they serve only as a tool to support a patient as they work towards weaning themselves off alcohol completely.

Counseling & Psychotherapy

A common way to treat alcoholism is with some form of counseling or psychotherapy. When initially searching for treatment options, it can get a bit confusing trying to determine what treatment center is the best fit. Every treatment center has their own approach to the way alcoholism treatment is structured for their patients, but there are some similar components:

• Individual Therapy: Individual treatment is a key component of an addiction treatment program. One-on-one meetings will usually take place with a variety of counselors, all sharing the common goal of learning about the person and how to change behavioral patterns while also building the skills necessary to deal with stress and other triggers.
• Group Therapy: In addition to meeting individually with a therapist, many programs include group meetings, where a counselor hosts a conversation with a group of patients. In this setting, patients benefit both from the guidance of the therapist, as well as from the experiences and feedback from others in a similar position or with shared experiences. It is somewhat common for patients to be encouraged to participate in both group and individual meetings during a course of rehab.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is one of the most common forms of psychotherapy. Through working with a counselor, patients are led to a deeper understanding of their own emotions and motivations. The goal of CBT is to identify thought processes in order to change behavior by changing unhelpful thought patterns. Commonly used for treating depression or anxiety, addiction treatment is another area where CBT has shown positive results.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): This is a cousin to CBT. This evidence-based therapy structure is geared towards helping patients get back to a place of self reliance. DBT helps build coping mechanisms through examining and rewriting emotionally driven reactions to events or thoughts. Because of the complex ways addiction and mental illness fuel one another, the most effective way to help patients recover is by addressing both disorders at the same time.
• Holistic Care: For those who are interested in holistic care, many treatment centers have begun to offer therapies to treat the whole body. Holistic treatments are designed to address physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. These therapies can include meditation, yoga, acupuncture, nature therapy, and more. For some patients, combining traditional addiction treatments with holistic options provides patients a tangible approach to managing stress and help them live a balanced life after they are finished with their treatment.
• Alternative Therapies: Many treatment centers are diversifying the types of therapies they provide. Options such as art therapy are becoming increasingly common. Experiential therapy, which focuses on physically active treatment, also falls into this category. Just as each patient is an individual, their treatment should be catered to their specific needs and goals as well.

How to Choose an Alcoholism Treatment Program

If you or someone important in your life have reached the point of accepting the need for treatment, the next step is finding the right treatment programs to fit individual needs. Searching for a treatment center may seem overwhelming, but there are ways to narrow down your search and find the right fit. When choosing a treatment center, make sure to ask the following questions:

What treatment options are available at a location?

When going through the process of vetting treatment centers, take note of what types of treatment programs are offered by each. It may be that you would be more comfortable with some programs than others. For example, if holistic care is something you would like to be a part of your treatment plan, ask prospective options if it is offered. Understanding program options can help you decide what kind of treatment structure fits your needs and will be most comfortable.

Is there individualized treatment?

In order to give clients the best chance at a successful recovery, treatment should be tailored to the individual as much as possible. For a treatment center, this means having a diverse team of clinicians offering a variety of services to create a successful treatment plan. Adapting to what works for each individual is much more effective than trying to push every client through the same structured therapy plan on a strict schedule.

How is success measured?

Pay attention to what each addiction program considers a successful course of treatment, and make sure that it aligns with your own. Look at alumni testimonies and see how previous patients have fared after completing the treatment program and if they have stayed connected to the treatment program. Ongoing involvement is often a good indicator of a positive experience.

What support is there for ongoing care beyond the program?

Little things such as ancillary support after an intensive course of treatment can end up making a big difference in long-term recovery. Clients should understand that relapse is a real possibility, but is just a bump in the road to recovery. Treatment centers anticipate relapses and often have services in place to help anyone who ends up needing them.

Treatment Process for Alcoholism

It is only natural to be concerned about alcohol addiction treatment. After all, unknowns are scary! Before beginning, however, it is important to take a moment to discuss the potential necessity for an intervention. While this might not be the easiest topic to consider, the fact of the matter is that sometimes alcoholics need a bit of a “push” to help them make the decision to seek treatment. This isn’t true in every case, but it is something to be aware of nonetheless.

Friends and family of the individual receiving the intervention can always seek out professional advice regarding how to move through the intervention and into the treatment process for alcoholism.

Intake

Clients seeking alcohol addiction treatment will first encounter the intake process. They will meet with a professional specializing in alcoholism treatment, including one or more of the following:

• Therapist
• Psychologist
• Doctor
• Counselor

The purpose of intake is to take a look at a client’s medical history and perhaps take an honest assessment of their health. Minor mental and physical health exams, then, might be conducted at this time. Many clients harbor feelings of shame about their substance abuse and might even be tempted to lie in order to make the situation seem less serious than it is. Don’t do this! The information divulged during the intake process is private and can help professionals build the best treatment options that meet the individual needs of their clients.

Detox

After the intake process comes detoxification. Also known simply as “detox”, this is the process of the body experiencing withdrawals as it is denied alcohol. Some potential withdrawal symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Anxiety
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Shakiness
• Delirium Tremens

This can be a harrowing time, and therefore it is important to opt for a treatment facility you trust to see you safely through the process.

Rehabilitation

Once clients have safely completed detox, they can begin to levy more of their attention upon the rehabilitation process. It is during this stage of treatment that they experience a variety of alcohol addiction treatment methods designed to help them understand their psychological dependence upon alcohol. If the client is also struggling with a co-occurring disorder, it is common for co-occurring disorders to also be treated during this phase of the process. It is important to focus on treatment in order to build solid foundation for a healthy future.

Aftercare

Finally, clients enter the aftercare stage of their treatment. It is during this phase that options for long-term maintenance will be discussed and put into place. Aftercare is incredibly important to help patients prevent relapse, or even simply to help them recover from a relapse as quickly as possible. A clearly-organized and well-designed plan paired with a solid support network can help, as can various secondary support options like weekly group meetings with other individuals in recovery.

How can I get help for someone else?

If you have noticed some of the symptoms of alcohol addiction in a friend or family member, you may be unsure of what to do next. Trying to force your loved one to stop drinking or otherwise change will usually make things much worse. With emotions running high, it is less likely that person will be open to accepting treatment.

Ultimately, seeking treatment must be a decision made by the individual. In the meantime, you can be as supportive as possible throughout the whole process. Having good friends and family for encouragement and accountability can make a huge difference for many people trying to overcome an alcohol addiction.

Get Help for Alcoholism Today

If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol abuse, it is never too late to call for help. Futures Recovery Healthcare offers evidence-based therapies and treatment programs that can lead you back to a healthy, productive lifestyle. We offer help for alcoholics to recover in a calm, tranquil environment, allowing you to focus on sobriety and the skills you’ll need to lead an alcohol-free life. Call today to find out how we can help you.