Alcohol is commonly used in Western societies and is associated with fine dining, sports events, relaxation and social activities. For the vast majority of people who consume alcohol it has no adverse consequences and creates no problems. Unfortunately some people develop dependence and alcoholism. Such people experience serious consequences as a result of their drinking. There is a wide range of problems that are associated with heavy alcohol consumption. Despite these problems an alcoholic will continue drinking. alcohol rehab is a way to help an alcoholic to overcome the physical dependence on alcohol and to live successfully and happily.
Many people try to stop drinking by themselves but fail. Even though an alcoholic has a lot of good reasons to quit he/she might find himself unable to do so. This leads to a very unhappy state of affairs: rising consequences of drinking and a deep desire to quit but simply being unable to do so. Alcoholics are not “weak willed” or somehow morally deficient. They are in the grip of a disease that strips them of the ability to stop drinking. An alcohol rehab program addresses this illness and helps the alcoholic to come to terms with the root causes that hinder recovery.
Alcohol rehabilitation addresses the multiple dimensions of this illness. Alcoholism has far reaching consequences and spills over into many areas of life. An expert medical team in an alcohol rehab will address any mental and emotional problems. This allows for the detection and treatment of a co-occurring disorder (“dual diagnosis”). A holistic treatment plan will be developed to address both alcoholism and any other disorders in an integrative manner. If a person tried to get sober without going to alcohol rehab he/she might be denied the opportunity to address these deeper issues. They might keep cropping up and making stumbling blocks for long-term recovery. By being treated by experts in an alcohol rehab the client has the best chance of resolving these problems and making full recovery.
Choosing when to go to alcohol rehab is never an easy decision. Alcoholics are normally reluctant to be admitted to alcohol rehab until things are really bad. The alcoholic seems completely unwilling to admit that he/she has a problem and insists that the drinking is under control. It is traumatic for family members watching the alcoholic progress into self-destructive behaviour. The alcoholic seems to be completely unable to grasp reality. Alcoholism is a progressive illness. This means that it gets worse if it is left untreated. The longer you delay in being admitted to an alcohol rehab the worse the problem will get.
alcohol rehab might seem a frightening prospect to the alcoholic. They might vehemently deny that they need to be admitted or beg for “just one more chance”. Sometimes alcoholics will claim that alcohol rehab is only for people who are homeless and hopelessly drunk all of the time. In actual fact alcohol rehab centers in South Africa are filled with a mixture of people ranging from highly professional adults to young university students. alcohol rehab is for everybody because the program is tailored to meet the individual needs of the client. The rule of thumb is that if you think you need alcohol rehab then you probably do. People without a drinking problem never even consider being admitted to alcohol rehab! No matter how frightening it might be to be admitted to an alcohol rehab facility the sooner you do so the quicker you will end the cycle of destruction.
alcohol rehab is a chance to end the pain and suffering of alcohol dependence. Drinking is a miserable experience for the majority of people who are dependent on alcohol and no longer drink by choice. They find that their lives are chaotic and unmanageable. They are beset by depression and anxiety. alcohol rehab is a chance to leave this behind and transition to an alcohol free lifestyle.
We Do Recover works with top South African alcohol rehab centers to provide a wide range of personalisd alcohol treatment programs. Each client is assessed and referred to an alcohol rehab that matches his/her profile and fits the budget.
An alcohol rehab program will perform a thorough assessment of the client to determine how best to treat the drinking problem. A medically supervised detoxification will be provided to help the alcoholic through the initial withdrawal from alcohol. A multi-disciplinary treatment team will guide the client through a blend of therapeutic interventions. alcohol rehab teaches clients about themselves and frees alcoholics from the compulsion to drink. After completing alcohol rehab graduates are able to make healthy decisions and live free. From beginning to end a comprehensive alcohol treatment program is kind, nurturing and shows respect for the dignity of the patient.
There are many different sorts of programs and each one of them claims to have the best “success rate”. When you choose an inpatient (residential) alcohol rehab then you should make sure that the center offers at least the following:
- Professionally trained medical staff
- 24 hour counsellors on-call
- A medically supervised detox program
- Capacity to develop individual treatment plans* Group and individual therapy
- A balanced nutritional program
- Opportunities to exercise
- Aftercare program
An effective alcohol rehab center will offer all of these as well as additional activities. It is key to view each client as an individual and to treat each facet of the illness carefully and comprehensively. Mental and emotional issues must be addressed sensibly and not ignored or treated separately. An alcohol rehab facility must be able to handle treating co-occurring mental disorders in an integrative manner. For example: if a client has a bipolar mood disorder as well as a substance abuse disorder then recovery from either problem is made much more difficult if they are not treated together. Many clients who suffer from depression or anxiety discover that these issues make their drinking worse. It is the job of the alcohol rehab team to root out the core causes of the illness and treat them.
alcohol rehab centers in South Africa often offer a wide range of therapeutic activities such as: yoga, meditation, exercise, art therapy, drama therapy, equine therapy, gender specific groups and attendance at 12 step mutual support groups.
An alcohol rehab center should be able to demonstrate why each of these activities have been included in the program. After assessing the patient the alcohol rehab will be able to develop a comprehensive treatment program that uses these activities to address the multiple dimensions of this complicated illness. By making available this range of activities the alcohol rehab center is better equipped to tailor itself to meet the individual needs of the client.
Ongoing assessment is an important part of a successful alcohol rehab program. Each week the clinical team will meet together and discuss the patients in depth. Progress is monitored and stumbling blocks identified. These weekly staff meetings are a lively event and generate a wealth of information. By getting together members from different clinical disciplines (doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, 12-step facilitators) the collective pool of expertise allows each team member to view the patient from many different angles. This means that on a weekly basis the treatment plan will be reviewed and adjusted if required. alcohol rehab is a time of growth and progress after all and it is necessary to monitor this.
Relapse prevention programs are offered in alcohol rehab centers. These help the alcoholic to make realistic plans for the future. Patients in the alcohol rehab are encouraged to identify risky situations and thought patterns and plan out how to avoid these situations. Patients are asked to plan where they will be living once they leave alcohol rehab and discuss this with the counsellors. The skills that are taught in alcohol rehab need to be practiced for them to work. A relapse prevention program helps clients to consciously focus on where and how to use these skills.
Alcohol rehab centers in South Africa generally offer extended “Aftercare” programs to their graduates. After leaving the alcohol rehab facility clients are invited back to attend regular sessions. This helps to maintain the support that the facility offered to the client. Recovery is a collaborative task and leaving alcohol rehab is just the start of your process.
Outpatient alcohol rehab is only possible if you have completed a proper alcohol detox. Once your body is cleared of the toxins left behind by drinking you will be able to approach an alcohol rehab program with a clear mind. By ridding yourself of the remnants of alcohol you also reduce the risk of developing cravings that might interfere with your ability to attend outpatient alcohol rehab.
Outpatient alcohol rehab provides a number of support structures and therapeutic interventions to help you address the many levels of this illness. While you are attending an outpatient alcohol rehab you will still be living at home. It is sometimes recommended to people completing a short term residential alcohol rehab that they attend an outpatient treatment program to explore their drinking in more depth.
Founded in 2008, WeDoRecover has evolved from an advisory service for addiction treatment into a comprehensive provider of care, following its 2019 merger with Changes Addiction Rehab in Johannesburg. Specialising in connecting patients to top-tier addiction treatment centers in the UK, South Africa and supporting individuals in recovery world wide.