You know the drill. You show up to the office gathering and can actually feel the looks you are getting from your coworkers. How many times have you attended such events and allowed your drinking to get away from you? Each time this happens, you hear about your raucous antics the next day at work, or see the sidelong glances directed your way. By now it has become apparent that you have an alcohol use disorder… to everyone but you.
Why not finally free the elephant it the room? Before any more damage is done to your career or reputation, why not admit, “I need help with drinking to excess?” Now is as good a time as any to just humbly admit that your use of alcohol is harming you in multiple ways, and get the help you need.
While that may seem like practical advice to those who care about your wellbeing, to someone with an alcohol problem it is likely to be met with resistance. Denial is a handy technique that problem drinkers employ to protect their ability to continue on as usual. But when your excessive alcohol use has reached a point that people are uncomfortable around you in situations when some level of decorum is expected, it is time to get real.
How Alcohol Use Disorder Impacts Your Life
In the example above we touched on the impact that alcohol abuse has on your professional life. In addition to feeling ostracized due to drunken antics at office parties, alcohol abuse can have far deeper consequences at work. Work performance will begin to deteriorate, absenteeism escalates to nurse hangovers, withdrawal symptoms may begin to show up at work, and, ultimately, one can be terminated.
There are many other ways that alcoholism can negatively impact one’s life. Here are a few examples:
- May cause legal problems, such as getting a DUI or in a car accident
- May cause abusive or violent behaviors at home or in public
- May lead to isolating behaviors, drinking alone, social withdrawal
- May cause you to stop participating in the activities you once enjoyed
- May disrupt significant relationships
- May cause financial problems, due to spending too much on alcohol, neglecting to pay bills, losing your job
- May cause serious physical or mental health issues
There are ample reasons to free the elephant in the room and get the help you need.
What is the First Step to Change Problem Drinking?
Just saying the words, “I need help with drinking too much,” is the first big step toward recovery. Admitting there is a problem and then moving forward toward seeking professional help will launch recovery from alcohol abuse or addiction.
Some people may need to go through alcohol detox before they begin treatment. These are individuals with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder, and should always obtain detox through a medically monitored detox and withdrawal program.
Finding the Best Treatment Fit
Not all rehabs are alike. Although most will offer the basic treatment elements for addiction recovery, there is a very wide spectrum of niches within the rehab landscape. For example, there are faith-based rehabs, couples rehab, pet friendly rehab, non 12-step rehab, 12-step rehab, luxury rehab, and holistic rehab, to name a few. Rehabs can be small and intimate or a highly populated facility. It is important to select the rehab that is most closely aligned with your personal preferences and worldview.
Medical Detox for Alcohol Use Disorder
When a detoxification is required prior to treatment it is important to understand that alcohol detox can be tricky. While most people undergoing detox and withdrawal for alcoholism will suffer mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms, a small percentage will experience unpredictable and serious withdrawals, including the delirium tremens, which can be fatal.
A medical detox provides ongoing supervision by a trained detox team whose mission it is to safely guide the client through the detox process and into treatment. The detox team will monitor vital signs throughout the duration, and administer medical interventions as needed for controlling the withdrawal symptoms. In addition, the detox specialists provide psychological support as well, helping to quell feelings of anxiety or depression that can arise.
Rehab for Alcohol Use Disorder
Getting treatment for an alcohol use disorder begins when you admit, “I need help with drinking issues.” Addiction treatment involves multiple types of therapies and activities that are designed to work together towards rebuilding confidence, creating healthy thought/behavior patterns, and restoring wellness. The rehab environment should be relaxed but organized, offering a daily schedule of classes, group therapy sessions, individual therapy sessions, and recovery group meetings.
In addition to the basic treatment elements, some rehabs offer additional services and activities. These may include experiential activities, such as yoga, meditation, or art therapy. Some rehabs offer adjunctive therapies, such as biofeedback, acupuncture, or EMDR. Recreational therapies, involving outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, sports, or fishing, are also included in some rehab programs.
In the end, the purpose of rehab for alcohol treatment is to help an individual overcome the maladaptive behaviors that led to excessive drinking by unraveling the underlying issues that may have contributed to it. Processing these emotional pain points and learning new, productive responses to triggers will result in a new lease on life.
Quest 2 Recovery is a Comprehensive Alcohol Treatment Program in Los Angeles
Quest 2 Recovery is there for you when the moment arrives that you say “I need help with drinking problem.” The compassionate team at Quest 2 Recovery understands all about the elephant in the room, when everyone sees the trouble someone is in except the problem drinker. In the quiet, mellow setting, this homelike rehab setting allows individuals to come to grips with the underlying issues that are contributing to the alcohol problem, and to make significant behavioral changes during treatment. The client will leave the program feeling equipped and confident, with multiple recovery tools at their fingertips. For more information about the program, contact Quest 2 Recovery today at (888) 453-9396.
