Should I take in a residential care facility?

Some people feel they cannot quit drinking alcohol on their own. They feel that going to AA or some other self-help group is also not for them. And as they may have the funds to pay for it, they choose to go to a clinic, a rehab facility where experts work their magic to help remove the alcohol addiction of the resident patients. Some clinics have funding arrangements to help those who would otherwise not be able to afford their treatment. Maybe that’s for you..

The first thing to understand is that a rehabilitation clinic is not a jail and you are free to leave at any time. They really only work if the patient resides in the facility. There are day patients in some clinics but for people with a serious alcohol problem, a detox or drying out program works best in a specialist, live-in environment..

Detox or getting sober can be carried out in the rehab facility or you, the patient, may be required to conduct your detox first and arrive at the facility sober and ready to begin your treatment..

Now the type of treatment varies from patient to patient but it is usual for an alcohol related plan to involve up to a month or even longer in the residential facility. If you are trying to quit drinking alcohol after many years of serious drinking, there could be consequences when you stop. These are commonly known as withdrawal symptoms..

Again the type of symptoms and the severity of each effect will vary according to the age, health and drinking history of the patient. Common withdrawal symptoms include being anxious, depressed and tired and become irritable very easily. You might find it difficult to sleep, have headaches, sweaty palms, rapid heart rates and vomiting. In serious cases a prolonged fever and blackouts are possible..

The one saving grace of these difficult and possibly dangerous symptoms is that the patient is in a clinic with professional medical care on hand. The staff also are specialists dealing constantly with people who have a problem with alcohol and the desire to stop drinking..

The physical treatment involves the detox and handling of withdrawal problems and the remainder of the facility’s program concentrates on the basic principles as discussed already. Education is a key component. Patients are told about the nature of addiction, the different types of activity in the brain and how positive activities, change of diet, sensible exercise, making timetables, etc. can all be used to help the patient quit drinking..

Cost is a factor with many clinics but the right insurance policy will allow you to concentrate on the getting well side of things and not worry about the finances..

Within many facilities you will have access to therapy sessions both on a one-to-one basis and in groups. The group therapy sessions can be doubly beneficial because while it is always good to hear from a medical professional, hearing how others just like you, have overcome their alcohol problems can be both inspiring and a practical help..

One of the main teaching points is that you should take every offer of help from a reputable source. There can be strength to be gained by linking up with support groups in your area and sometimes even online support groups are valuable and particularly so for people who live in remote areas..

Keeping it in the family can be good for you as well. If you live with others, having them aware of your desire to quit drinking alcohol and, better still, getting them on your side is hugely important. Knowing that your close family members are supporting you and doing whatever they can in a practical sense is a big help. If there is to be a change in diet, family meals changed accordingly does much for your morale as well as your plan to stay off the booze. Convince the family to help and you are well on the way to recovery.



For more information on how to stop drinking alcohol please go to the next article.