When people have been abusing alcohol for a long time, they routinely develop a dependence or addiction to it. This means that alcohol has altered their brain chemistry, making it necessary for them to drink to function normally. That’s when an alcohol detox program becomes necessary.
Addiction isn’t necessarily about wanting a “high.” It certainly may start out that way for some people. In the long run, however, it’s often about avoiding what can be very painful withdrawal symptoms.
The fear of possible withdrawal is something that can deter those with alcohol addiction from getting the help they need. In fact, there is no easy way to quit using drugs and/or alcohol. It certainly is understandable why someone would worry about detox from alcohol. Just the same, alcoholism is a destructive force. One has to come to grips with this illness and reach out for help. If not, the consequences can be dire.
About an Alcohol Detox Program
There’s no point in sugar-coating the fact there could be severe discomfort related to detox from alcohol. That would certainly be the case should someone decide to try to stop on their own. Medical experts would be quick to point out the dangers of stopping without help from an outside resource. That’s good news. Help is available.
The detox process is manageable, whether through a dedicated detox center or a treatment facility with an in-house option. In a detox center like the one we have at Santé Center for Healing, clinicians monitor clients during withdrawal. In some cases, clients can get through the process with simple encouragement.
For clients who might experience discomfort or sleeping issues, the medical staff might use a medical detox process. They can prescribe medication if a client is experiencing symptoms of muscle cramping, sweats, hallucinations, nausea, sleeping issues, or convulsions. The point is the treatment facility will do whatever is necessary to keep a client safe and secure.
After Detox From Alcohol
Once a client has had the opportunity to cleanse their system of harmful substances, the real work of treatment begins. Addiction therapy is an essential part of the treatment process. Counselors and clients get the chance to work together toward a common goal, getting the client into recovery mode. The more a client learns about their addiction, the better their chances of recovery. After detoxing from alcohol abuse, individuals can participate in the therapeutic services that will most help them. For example, some of the therapies Sante Center offers include:
- Art Therapy Program
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- EMDR Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Fitness Therapy
Using a combination of therapies, clients can learn to identify their triggers. Also, they develop methods to cope with triggers and cravings. With the right combination of treatment at Santé Center with the help of our counselors and therapists, many clients can overcome their triggers. It’s the counselor’s job to help clients learn coping skills for relapse prevention. These are the skills we all need to manage stress and temptation. These skills are extremely important to the alcoholic who is trying to avoid relapse.
Santé Center for Healing – A Full-Service Treatment Center
For more than 20 years, Santé Center for Healing has built a solid reputation for successfully treating clients. Our treatment philosophy focuses on treating the whole individual. Additionally, our treatment process even goes beyond treating a basic addiction. We also seek to treat mental issues that may be contributing factors. Our services include:
- Residential treatment: for some people with an advanced alcohol addiction, residential makes more sense.
- Intensive outpatient treatment: some individuals may need a lot of help but still have responsibilities at home that require their attention. IOP can be highly effective in these situations.
- Psycho-education: there is a mental health aspect of addiction.
- Group therapy sessions: being around others who totally understand what you’re going through can be extremely helpful for many people.
- Social activities: as addiction progresses, it’s easy to become isolated. For that reason, social activities can be good for helping you regain a sense of being a part of something bigger than yourself.
- Family and codependency focus: families can save you from addiction, or they can enable it.
It’s never too late to seek help for your alcohol addiction. For the best alcohol detox program available, we encourage you to call Santé Center for Healing at 866.238.3154. We want to help you get the treatment you need on the road to recovery.
