Alcohol Addiction Treatment
The consumption of alcohol is normalised within society, and people drink for numerous reasons. If someone has a hard day at work, they may reach for a cold beer. If they have an occasion that they wish to celebrate, they may want to pop open a bottle of champagne. Alcohol use is such an everyday part of society that even the occasional bout of heavy drinking is seen as something that practically everyone does at some point.
However, many people can become addicted to alcohol, and when that happens, it can have a detrimental effect on their lives. Sivana Rehab is a world-class treatment centre located in Bali that offers treatment for various forms of substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions.
What is Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol addiction, or alcoholism or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a medical condition in which a person struggles with the compulsion to drink alcohol. They may suffer legal, physical, and social consequences related to alcohol, but they’ll be unable to reduce or stop drinking. They may try, but they will likely relapse.
Even if a person gets professional help for alcohol abuse, it can be incredibly difficult for them to stop drinking. People with AUD often need comprehensive treatment to recover. Even then, recovery can be long, and some people may feel like they’re not making any progress.
What are the Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder?
AUD is a condition that is characterised by a variety of symptoms, which can vary in severity. Common symptoms of AUD include a strong craving or urge to drink and an inability to control alcohol consumption once drinking has started. Individuals may drink more than intended or for longer periods than planned.
Another common symptom of AUD is preoccupation. A person who struggles with AUD might spend a significant amount of time obtaining alcohol, drinking it, or recovering from alcohol use.
Even if they recognise the physical, psychological, and social problems that are caused by drinking, they will continue to consume alcohol. They may also neglect their responsibilities at work, school, or home, or their ability to meet these responsibilities will be affected by their alcohol use.
They may also prioritise alcohol over work, hobbies, and social engagement. Individuals with AUD may also experience withdrawal symptoms when they are not able to drink. Over time, they can develop a tolerance for alcohol, requiring more alcohol to achieve the desired effect.
What Causes Alcoholism?
There can be numerous causes for alcoholism. Genetics play a major factor. An individual who has a family history of addiction is more vulnerable to developing a substance use disorder than someone who doesn’t.
A person’s environment can also play a major role in whether or not they develop AUD. If a person grows up in an environment wherein alcohol use is normalised or even glamorised, it may make them more likely to develop AUD.
Treatment Options at Sivana Rehab
Sivana Rehab uses evidence-based and holistic treatment practices to help people recover from alcohol use disorder. Some of our treatment options include:
Alcohol Detox
Alcohol detox is when a person purges all the alcohol out of their system. During this time, a person may experience some of the aforementioned withdrawal symptoms. While this stage can be incredibly uncomfortable, it is a vital step in the recovery process as it helps a person be as sober as possible, readying them for the next phases of treatment.
Inpatient or Residential Treatment
Inpatient treatment is an incredibly important part of treating alcohol misuse. While in the controlled environment of a residential treatment facility, people with alcohol problems will have no access to alcohol or substances other than what a care team deems vital for their treatment plans.
Inpatient care also gives a person struggling with AUD access to intensive alcohol treatment. While in alcohol rehab, people with drinking problems will often have personalised treatment programmes to help them achieve and maintain abstinence from alcohol.
Family Therapy
Professional help for alcohol use may also include family therapy. People who have alcohol addiction can often strain their relationships with their families and friends under the guidance of a professional counsellor. Family therapy seeks to repair some of the damage done as well as help educate loved ones on the nature of alcohol dependency so that they can become allies in a person’s recovery.
Support Groups
Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous can be a vital part of maintaining sobriety. AUD can be incredibly isolating for the people who suffer from it, and even if family therapy above can help their loved ones be more supportive, they’re not likely to understand the nature of addiction and recovery themselves.
Support groups, on the other hand, are filled with people who are on their own journeys recovering from alcohol abuse and alcoholism, so they understand how hard addiction recovery is. Support groups for alcohol may also provide not just support but also accountability.
Sober Living
Sober living programmes help people in treatment for alcohol dependence by allowing them to live independently. While in a sober living facility, residents will be responsible for their own upkeep, participate in therapeutic programmes, be subject to testing for drugs and alcohol, and help maintain shared spaces.
These programmes can be vital for helping people transition from inpatient care back into their communities.
Aftercare
Aftercare is an important part of treating people with alcohol use disorder. People with this condition can often relapse, and aftercare programmes, such as individual counselling and support groups, can often be vital in helping them maintain their sobriety once they leave the controlled environment of a treatment centre.
Withdrawal Symptoms of Alcohol
The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can range from mild to severe, depending on the extent of a person’s alcohol dependence and their individual health. Shaking (tremors), sweating, and nausea are common symptoms. Individuals can experience headaches, anxiety, and irritability when withdrawing from alcohol.
Sleep troubles such as vivid, unpleasant dreams and difficulty falling asleep are also frequent.
In cases of severe, long-term AUD, symptoms can escalate to include hallucinations, seizures, and a condition called delirium tremens (DTs), which involves severe confusion, rapid heartbeat, and fever.
Furthermore, mood disturbances such as depression or anxiety can occur. These symptoms typically begin within hours of stopping drinking and can last for several days.
Treatment providers may prescribe medications to help with managing these symptoms. Mental health interventions such as therapy can also help.
Our Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder Can Help You
Some people think that all that a person has to do to stop or control alcohol use is to just will it. There’s a belief that if a person had more self-control, the person’s problems with alcohol would just go away.
Many people, even those who struggle with addiction, subscribe to the notion that discipline is all that they need to recover. This can cause feelings of shame or self-loathing.
Addiction, however, is far more complicated than that. It is not a matter of controlling alcohol cravings. Discipline alone is not enough to overcome drug and alcohol addiction, and there’s no need for shame or self-loathing.
What is needed is courage. It can be hard to seek treatment. Many people find it difficult to admit that there is a problem, let alone turn to someone else for help. But there’s nothing to be ashamed of. At Sivana Rehab, we’ll provide you with a safe and secure space to participate in our alcohol addiction treatment programme. We’ll be with you every step of the way.