Alcohol Rehab and the Family

By: Scott8 Bernberg8 Click author's name for more of his/her articles

What to Expect During Alcohol Rehab

When it comes to demystifying the alcohol rehab process, a little knowledge goes a long way. With that in mind, if you or someone you know has an alcohol addiction and needs treatment, here is a sample of what they can expect during alcohol rehab.

What is Alcohol Rehab and Who needs it?

Alcohol rehab is the process in which an individual works with treatment professionals to overcome the physical and psychological components of their addiction. Alcohol rehab is made up of three primary processes: detox, counseling and aftercare.

Any individual who is unable to stop drinking alcohol – despite having an awareness of the damage it is causing their health, career and relationships – should consider entering an alcohol rehab program immediately.

What Can an Individual Expect During Alcohol Rehab

• Expect to discuss the past. Counselors help individuals overcome alcohol addiction by delving deep into the reasons why they originally started drinking. By discussing one’s past, the individual is able to confront the issues that caused them to seek escape in the bottle – and learn how to address these problems in a much more productive manner.

• Expect to go through withdrawal. A large percentage of those who go through alcohol rehab will experience withdrawal symptoms during the detox component of treatment. Withdrawal symptoms are not life-threatening, but they can cause a significant amount of discomfort in the days and weeks that comprise the detox process. Most common alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:

o Anxiety and depression
o Mood swings
o Restlessness
o Weight loss or weight gain
o Relapse
o Hallucinations (only found in severe cases)

• Expect to “open up” to others. In addition to one-on-one discussions with an addiction treatment counselor, the individual in alcohol rehab will also have a chance to talk to other recovering alcoholics during group counseling sessions. These sessions are a chance for the individual to speak openly and honestly about their condition – and gain support from their peers in the program.

• Expect to learn better decision-making skills. During counseling individuals learn how to make better decisions about alcohol that will keep them sober in the months and years that follow treatment. Alcohol rehab counseling is about changing the way an individual thinks and acts – and decision-making in the face of temptation or stress plays a huge role in achieving that end.

• Expect to feel better. As the individual detoxifies and begins to learn the lessons of alcohol rehab, they will begin to feel enriched in body and mind. By adding nutritional counseling and exercise regimens into the mix, the alcohol rehab program is helping build a stronger person from the inside out.

• Expect change. Alcohol rehab will change the way an individual looks at the world. When a recovering addict leaves treatment, they will have new habits and goals – and may leave behind many old friends with whom they used to drink. This is a difficult adjustment for many, but for those who see it through, success at every level of life is the inevitable result.