Addiction to alcohol is a common affliction for many people throughout the nation. Although social drinking is acceptable, there are a large number of people who take social drinking way too far. Treatment at an alcohol center for addiction can help you gain sobriety and learn how dangerous long-term alcohol addiction can be. When you find yourself out of control, making terrible decisions because of your alcohol consumption, it's time to consider your options.

Detox at an Alcohol Center for Treatment

When you are drinking heavily, it is nearly impossible to stop on your own. If you have tried to quit and have not been successful, this is because alcohol is highly addictive. Your body craves alcohol as you start to withdraw and you will experience excessive side effects as withdrawal begins. Supervised detox is a safe alternative to trying to detox at home alone. Alcohol centers give you the support you need during the withdrawal process to make sure your symptoms don't become life-threatening.

Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

The signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal range in severity depending on how heavily you are addicted and how long you have been abusing substances. While some people only experience mild anxiety or a generalized feeling of unwell, others become seriously ill when trying to withdraw from alcohol. What starts off as a feeling of shakiness can turn into delirium tremens. You may lose the ability to think clearly, have trouble taking care of yourself and you are at risk for going into a seizure or coma when your symptoms become severe. Alcohol is one of the toughest substances to withdraw from and it's important to get the treatment you need at an alcohol center in your area.

Determining If You Have an Alcohol Addiction Problem

If you are even considering whether you have a problem with alcohol, you are on the right path to healing. Chances are that you suspect alcohol may be an issue in your life and you are seeking validation for your concerns. While not everyone who likes to drink socially has an alcohol abuse problem, there are signs that indicate alcohol is controlling your life and that it is time to stop. If you can answer yes to some of the following questions, it's time to evaluate your need for treatment. Ask yourself this:

Do I get angry if plans to go out and drink are changed? Have I promised to stop my behavior only to start drinking again? Have I driven a car under the influence of alcohol? Is my partner upset with my drinking habits? Am I always looking for the next time to drink? Do I drive with a drink in the car? Have I hidden my drinking habits from others?

Be honest with yourself and take a look at your drinking behaviors. If you are concerned that your life is not as good as it could be because of your drinking, it's time to make a change for the better. You can heal from your addiction but you have to decide that you have one in the first place in order to make positive changes in your life.

When You Enter Treatment at an Alcohol Center for Addiction

Most people are nervous when they first begin treatment for alcohol addiction. The first few days will be spent in detox to safely remove alcohol from your system. This is only the first step in your treatment process, as alcohol addiction is physical, emotional and behavioral. If you only go through detox and don't seek further treatment, you are at an elevated risk to start using once again.

After a period in detox, you can move on to short-term residential care. This can last a few weeks, up to a month, while you gain experience in the effects of alcohol addiction and meet others going through the same process. This is a time for you to focus on your addiction without outside influences. You will begin to work with a counselor to address your specific treatment needs. You will talk to your peers in a group setting about your life and what got you into treatment in the first place.

As you progress in treatment, you will have options. For those that have a supportive home environment, it may be safe to return home after short-term rehab and go to a day program for support. For others, the home environment isn't safe, and long-term rehabilitation is necessary to support your sobriety. No matter what type of support you need, you can find an alcohol center for treatment that can support you.

Aftercare Strategies After an Alcohol Center for Treatment

Aftercare refers to any type of treatment or support you receive once you leave residential care. It's easier to stay sober when you are surrounded by staff and peers 24 hours a day in a residential treatment program. Aftercare strategies identify your supports and help you build a plan to follow that can keep you on the right track. You will be encouraged to work with an individual therapist as part of your aftercare. This individual becomes a strong support for you when you are trying to navigate the reality of living sober while out in the community. Your therapist can help you discover new relapse prevention techniques and will give you the professional support necessary to work through your recovery process.

Support in Alcoholics Anonymous

From the beginning, you will be taught how important peer support is to your overall sobriety. Alcoholics Anonymous and other similar programs are there to help you work through the problems you have with addiction in order to move forward with your life. There are twelve steps in the program, and each one builds upon the other. You will learn self-acceptance, how to be accountable to those you have hurt because of your addiction, and you will be guided every step of the way. You can find meetings in your community most days of the week and you will be encouraged to attend on a regular basis.

Understanding Addiction and Changing Your Life

When you are addicted to alcohol, this is not because you are lazy or lack willpower. You are physically and emotionally addicted to alcohol and your body produces difficult symptoms when you try to stop. The only way to minimize or get rid of the withdrawal symptoms is to begin using again. Addiction to alcohol starts slow. As your tolerance builds up, you need more alcohol to produce the same effects. Once you find yourself unable to control how much you are drinking, you are addicted to it.

The process to remove alcohol from your life only starts with physical detox. If you don't work on your behavior and you don't address your emotional connections to alcohol use, it will be very difficult for you to maintain long-term sobriety. It will help you immensely to learn about the ways in which alcohol has controlled your life and to learn better coping strategies instead of turning to alcohol when you are feeling stressed. You will hear a lot about relapse prevention strategies, and this is because when you learn how to manage your stress you are less likely to relapse.

Solid relapse prevention strategies include:

• Learning a new exercise routine and committing to it
• Volunteering in your community as a way to give back
• Finding a sponsor at AA and going to regular meetings
• Meeting with a therapist on a weekly basis
• Talking out problems with a friend you trust
• Eating healthier and getting enough sleep at night

When you take better care of your health it will become easier to remain sober. In times of stress, it is hard to keep your focus on sobriety. The more strategies you have in place to keep calm and help you focus, the easier your recovery process will be in the long term.

Each day is a new day to work on your sobriety. Even if you go through a relapse, the important piece of your sobriety is to get back on your program. Relapse is common, and many people will tell you that relapse is often a part of the recovery process. As you learn new ways to manage stress and build up a support network in the community, you will find it easier to stay sober.

Getting Help

Alcohol centers for addiction treatment will promote peer support and encourage you to find others that you trust along your journey. You will be encouraged to share who you are with your peers and ask for help when you need it. Sobriety is a process, but you don't have to do the work alone. There are many people out there doing the same work, and you will be able to meet plenty of people who can help you feel less alone in your struggle.

Alcohol addiction is a real disease, but you can break through your addiction to live a better life with the right treatment in place.