Alcohol Rehab
Topic: Alcohol Rehab: Understanding Addiction:
Alcohol Rehab has made many changes since the days of locked doors and smoke-filled meeting halls. There has been considerable research into the psychological factors that underlie addiction. There are still many conflicting theories as to the root causes of addiction. Some still consider alcohol as a “disease” suggesting a cause inflicted from some outside force acting on the body, a more modern version, but not unlike earlier notions that alcoholics were possessed by the devil.
Modern psychologists have come to believe that a combination of internalized beliefs, psychological or physical traumas, and other emotional factors are more likely the cause of addictions. Recent findings have identified feelings of helplessness as being central to the addiction process. The addict, driven by this helplessness, attempts to regain a feeling of power and control over his or her life by using increasing amounts of alcohol. Rehab programs increasingly are adopting new approaches in an effort to obtain improved results.
Alcohol Rehab: Traditional Approaches:
The first step in traditional Alcohol Rehab is detoxification. It can take 3 to 7 days to complete the process. Most chronic drinkers will experience some level of withdrawal when they are suddenly deprived of alcohol. Most physical effects can be treated at outpatient services; however the more severe physical withdrawal symptoms as well as the addicts extreme desire to obtain alcohol may require close monitoring in a controlled environment. In the most severe cases, prescription tranquilizers or other medicines may be required to combat withdrawal. After seven days, the addiction to alcohol is primarily psychological. There are no universally effective medications to keep a person from drinking. Alcohol Rehab cannot offer a pill that will stop a person from drinking. There are some medications, the best known of these, Antiabuse, which makes the addict sick when he or she drinks.
Traditional Alcohol Rehab includes a combination of intensive individual and group therapy, family therapy and spiritual counseling. To lessen the chance of relapse, ongoing therapy and support is also recommended for an extended period once the initial Alcohol Rehab is complete
Alcohol Rehab: New Approaches:
Alcohol Rehab programs are increasingly incorporating previously unrecognized holistic approaches to combat the addicts feelings of helplessness. Holistic Alcohol Rehab addresses the physical, the emotional, the mental and the spiritual in an attempt to bring all four components within the addict into “balance.” Some methods commonly used in holistic Alcohol Rehab include acupuncture, acupressure, blood chemistry analysis, physical fitness training, herbal remedies, meditation and massage. These are in addition to more traditional spiritual counseling and individual and group therapy.
Alcohol Rehab: A Family Affair: Many studies have concluded that Alcohol Rehab is more successful if the addicts family, primarily the spouse or partner, is supportive. It has been well documented that family relationships play a vital role in the development and continuation of addiction. A spouse or partner may even be an addict also. Most Alcohol Rehab programs now incorporate couples and family therapy as an integral part of the addicts overall program. Groups such as Alanon can provide ongoing support for families once the addicts Alcohol Rehab is complete. A recovering family has the best chance of success.
@Copywrite by Stephen Huston. Mr Huston is a freelance writer on various topics. You can find more articles and resources on alcohol, and drug treatment at: http://www.bestadviceabout.com/alcohol_treatment
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