Alcohol Addiction Recovery

Medically Reviewed By Kayla Loibl | Last Edited : November 07,
2020 | 4 Sources

Taking the First Step in Alcohol Addiction Recovery
Alcohol addiction rehab treatment is the first, and arguably most important step in recovering from alcoholism

Giving up alcohol is not just a matter of putting down your drink and saying enough is enough.

Although this is an essential part of stopping it is just the first step of many.

The alcoholic, over his or her life of drinking, has created a life around drink and access to it.

This behavior has become a part of him or her and is not easily changed. The alcohol dependent has a BEHAVIORAL addiction to alcohol.

The alcoholic also has a PSYCHOLOGICAL addiction to drink. Over the years he or she has used alcohol to cope with problems and negative emotions. Alcohol has become the persons coping mechanism. As one person might take some exercise or have a cigarette to relieve stress, so the alcoholic has a few drinks.

As time goes by, the alcoholic's body becomes so used to having alcohol, that it comes to depend on it.- This means the alcoholic is also PHYSICALLY addicted.

If he or she stops drinking then alcohol withdrawal symptoms will surface.

So alcohol addiction recovery is a threefold process: the behavioral, psychological and physical aspects of the addiction have to be addressed.

Stopping drinking is important but it is just the start.

Below you will find links to pages discussing alcohol addiction rehab treatment and recovery and what it involves.

If you find something of interest then click on the link to read more.

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Reduce Alcohol Craving

Pharmacotherapy is an invaluable tool in combating alcohol dependence. There are number of medications, licensed by the FDA, used to treat the cravings associated with the first few weeks of abstinence. The newer kinds of these drugs work by counteracting the changes in the brain that are caused by alcoholism.

For more on these anti-craving medications, read Reducing Alcohol Craving With Medication.

Alcoholism Detox

Alcoholism Detox (detoxification) is the process of cleansing the body after the long-term use of alcohol.

Once the alcoholic is clear of alcohol then the real work begins; tackling the behavioral and psychological addictions to alcohol. Detox is typically done in a hospital or at an inpatient treatment center.

Read alcoholism detox for more on withdrawal symptoms of detox and treatment options.

Alcohol Home Treatment

If you don't want to attend an inpatient alcohol treatment program then there is the option of quitting drinking at home.

Read Alcohol Home Treatment to discover more about who should and shouldn't attempt treatment at home and learn about a fantastic resource that can help you plan you home alcoholism treatment.

Alcohol Addiction Recovery
Free Alcoholism Treatment

Although it may seem like it, treatment for alcoholism is not the preserve of the wealthy and insured. There are plenty of ways to defeat an addiction to alcohol for those with little or no money.

Read free alcoholism treatment to learn more.

Alcohol Addiction Recovery
Outpatient Alcohol Detox

When deciding to detox from alcohol, you can choose between attending a residential treatment center or detoxing at home.

Both options have their pros and cons, however, more and more people are to be choosing the latter

Read outpatient alcohol detox for advice, information and help for detoxing at home.

Vitamins For Alcoholics

Vitamins can help an alcoholic maintain their current health, and also aid in recovery when you are ready.

Read vitamins for alcoholics to learn more about the importance of taking vitamins.

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Alcohol Addiction Recovery
Alcohol Treatment Facilities Checklist

The choice of an alcohol treatment center is not an easy one. There are innumerable options. You need to ask yourself before you pick a facility treatment, do you know what you need and what you are looking for?

Read Alcohol Treatment Facilities checklist for questions you need to ask before choosing a treatment facility.

Residential Alcohol Treatment Centers

Attending a residential alcohol treatment center greatly increases your chances of recovering successfully from alcohol dependency.

However, many are wary of them because of fear of the unknown. Read our guide to Residential Alcohol Treatment Centers and learn what you can expect at a residential center and the different programs they provide.

Alcohol Addiction Recovery
Outpatient Alcoholism Treatment

There are many reasons why you might not want to go to an inpatient alcohol treatment center.

Read outpatient alcoholism treatment to discover the pros and cons of outpatient treatment, who should and shouldn't try to get sober at home and a discussion of the success rates of the two treatment types.

Alcohol Addiction Recovery
Relapse Prevention Plan

An alcohol treatment center can only do so much to help you get sober. They help you detox from alcohol, and give you the tools to help you lead an alcohol free life. The rest is up to you.

One tool that can help greatly in staying away from alcohol is a good and comprehensive relapse prevention plan tailored just for you.

Read The Relapse Prevention Plan Explained to discover strategies for preventing relapse. You can also draw up your own relapse prevention outline.

Alcohol Addiction Recovery
Alcohol Relapse Triggers

Relapse triggers are thoughts, emotions and reactions in response to people, places and events that can 'make' a recovering alcoholic return to drinking.

Read Alcohol Relapse Triggers to discover the most common triggers, and what to do when you find yourself experiencing such thoughts and feelings.

Alcohol Dependency Treatment

When it comes to choosing the right treatment for alcoholism it can seem like entering a foreign land. The terminology alone is enough to set your head spinning. Read Alcohol Dependency Treatment Options to get a better understanding of what is on offer.

Dry Drunk Syndrome

A 'dry drunk' is a person who has given up drinking and yet retains all the behavioral, emotional and psychological aspects of the condition. It usually occurs as part of a condition referred to as post-acute withdrawal syndrome.

To learn more about the syndrome, the signs and symptoms and what to do if you think you might be a 'dry drunk', read Dry Drunk Syndrome.

Alcoholic Tremors

Tremors are one of the most common symptoms of alcoholism, and most often result from withdrawal from alcohol. These generally start within 5 to 10 hours after the last alcoholic drink and usually peak at 24 to 48 hours. This condition can be life threatening, and needs to be treated immediately.

To learn more about this condition, which is also known as delirium tremens, read Alcoholic Tremors.

Alcohol Addiction Recovery
Treating Advanced Alcoholism

Those in the final stages of alcoholism are suffering from the physical and psychological consequences of unbridled alcohol consumption over many years.

These advanced alcoholics require a specific treatment program that addresses issues and problems specific to them. Read Treating Advanced Alcoholism to learn more about these issues and how they impact on alcoholism treatment protocol.

Return from Alcohol Addiction Recovery to Alcoholism Help Homepage

Lead Writer/Reviewer : Kayla Loibl

Licensed Medical Health Professional

Hello!

I am a Mental Health Counselor who is licensed in both New York (LMHC) and North Carolina (LCMHC). I have been working in the Mental Health field since 2015. I have worked in a residential setting, an outpatient program and an inpatient addictions program. I began working in Long Island, NY and then in Guelph, Ontario after moving to Canada. Read More

Sources:

Harvard Health Publishing. Alcohol Withdrawal. April 2019. https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/alcohol-withdrawal-a-to-z

Mayo Clinic. Alcohol use disorder. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369250

Healthline. How ‘Dry Drunk Syndrome’ Affects Recovery. February 24, 2020. https://www.healthline.com/health/dry-drunk

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help. 2014. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol-problems-finding-and-getting-help#pub-toc1

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