Alcohol addiction is a condition where you cannot control the amount of alcohol you drink. Some individuals think willpower is enough to stop alcohol addiction. However, they return to their addiction after a short time and this is because, willpower is not enough.
Anyone who is suffering from alcohol addiction and is ready to break free has to understand that treating alcohol addiction is beyond willpower. Alcohol induces changes in the brain that makes it difficult for addicts to break free.
The first step to treating alcohol addiction is to discuss with your doctor. Discussing with your doctor keeps you enlightened about your addiction problem. Your doctor might either refer you to a counselor or counsel you himself.
The essence of counseling is to help uncover the root cause of your addiction. During counseling, the counselor takes note of your responses and from his diagnoses, he creates a treatment plan for you.
When you head into the rehab, the first treatment phase is detoxification. Detoxification is the process of eliminating waste substances in the body. These substances are toxic buildups thanks to the intake of excess alcohol.
Detoxification in a rehab is done under a properly monitored atmosphere because of the withdrawal symptoms that comes with it.
The next phase in alcohol addiction treatment is entering either for inpatient or outpatient rehab. The inpatient rehab is for individuals with severe addiction. These people need to remain within the confines of the rehab for effective monitoring.
On the other hand, those who are permitted to go for outpatient rehab are those who can handle themselves. So, they come from home to receive treatment and they return to face other aspects of their lives.
During alcohol addiction treatment, addicts are exposed to various treatment forms targeted to restore their life back on track. When they are done with treatment, they get into the aftercare treatment phase that helps them deal with cravings and triggers that the outside world brings.