What to Expect At an Alcohol Rehab Center

Getting Help

It takes a lot of courage to admit that you have a problem with a substance that you can’t control. Because alcohol is so readily accessible and considered socially acceptable in so many areas of the world, it can be hard for those that have become dependent on it to realize that they are doing anything wrong. When, through the encouragement of family and friends, and their own willpower, alcoholics realize that they are not able to conquer this problem on their own, they often choose to enter an alcohol rehab center.

The first thing that many people ask when they are getting ready to enter a program at an alcohol rehab center, is what is going to happen to them, and what they can expect to have to do once they are at the program. Many alcohol treatment and recovery programs are inpatient programs, meaning that the patient is required to move into the facility, and stay there for the entire time that they are in treatment. These in patient programs are often much more successful than outpatient programs, or those that try to simply quit “cold turkey” because they create a completely supportive environment with structure and access to doctors and counselors that can provide support.

Most alcohol rehab center programs have three main components, which are a period of detox, counseling, and after care. In most cases, all three of these components are necessary in order to give the patient the best chance for success. The detox period is usually the most difficult part of the treatment for the new patient, and is usually the period that the alcoholic is the most afraid of. Those that have been dependent on alcohol for a long time usually experience withdrawal symptoms like shakes, vomiting and headaches whenever they try to stop drinking for a little while. Doctors at the facility can help to keep the patient hydrated and as comfortable as possible while this is going on.

The next two phases of treatment at an alcohol rehab center are usually less physically demanding, but more emotionally demanding, as they require the patient to come to terms with the root causes of their addiction. During most alcohol rehab programs, the patient is required to attend both one on one and group therapy sessions in which they gain a greater understanding of coping skills that will help them to avoid alcohol in the future.