When you are in the grip of an addiction to alcohol it is easy to forget about the dangers of heavy drinking and lose sight of the impact alcohol abuse has on your life. For this reason it is not always easy to recognize when your drinking has spiraled out of control and that you need professional help at a treatment center. Acknowledging you have a problem with alcohol misuse is the first step to break your habit and get on the road to recovery. Once you do this you can then access help to detox and receive specialist addiction therapy that will help you abstain from drinking. You don’t need to travel far to access substance abuse treatment programs though, as Steps to Recovery offers alcohol rehab facilities close to Cheltenham.
Dangers of Alcohol Abuse
When you drink heavily you not only put your health in danger, but you put other areas of your life at risk too. It is important to remember that alcohol abuse has an impact on those close to you as well, as it is difficult for them to watch the effects of your destructive behaviors and your actions may also have a direct effect on their lives.
Some of the short-term health consequences of heavy drinking include:
- Tiredness, headaches, sickness and reduced co-ordination, which can all make it difficult for you to function
- Impaired judgment that may encourage you to take part in risky behaviors like unprotected sex or drunk driving
- Unconsciousness and even coma
- Alcohol poisoning
Meanwhile, abusing alcohol in the longer term increases your risk of:
- Liver damage
- Heart disease and stroke
- Cancer at various sites in your body
- Damage to your nerves and brain
- Inflammation and ulcers within your digestive system
- Malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies
When it comes to the social consequences of alcohol misuse, it can interfere with your personal relationships, your ability to work and may even put you in legal trouble if you become aggressive or drive under the influence.
Recognizing Problem Drinking
Even if the damage alcohol is doing to your health and other aspects of your life is not enough to alert you to the fact that you have a problem, other signs of alcohol dependency and that you need to seek specialist help with your addiction are as follows:
- You have lost control of your alcohol intake, so you drink more heavily and more frequently than you intend to, and even when you say you won’t have another drink you can’t stop yourself
- You would like to cut back on your drinking, but can’t
- Your life revolves around alcohol and you have given up on important things in your life, such as your family, friends, education, employment and interests
- You continue to abuse alcohol even though you know it is adversely affecting your health and destroying your life
When you acknowledge that you are dependent on alcohol, Steps to Recovery offers treatment programs near Cheltenham that can help you get sober and abstain from drinking in the long-term.
Detoxing from Alcohol
After recognizing that you need help, you will initially undergo a detox during which you will withdraw from alcohol. As alcohol withdrawal can lead to unpleasant symptoms and also places you at risk of seizures, a supervised detox is recommended. This allows you to safely quit alcohol as you receive constant monitoring, allowing you to receive treatment for your withdrawal symptoms and any adverse effects that may arise. Once you have safely detoxed you are then ready to start the next phase of the recovery process. Steps to Recovery is able to offer both supervised alcohol withdrawal programs and addiction rehabilitation within reach of Cheltenham.
Alcohol Rehab Near Cheltenham
When it comes to choosing the type of rehabilitation you would like to enroll in, you have three main styles of program available to you. Residential alcohol treatment is usually what people think of in relation to rehab, but you can also opt for partial hospitalization or outpatient care. An inpatient stay is ideal if you do not have the structure and support at home that is necessary during treatment, and also means that you have access to more intensive therapy. Typically success rates are highest on residential addiction programs, but as more of Steps to Recovery’s clients achieve abstinence on their first attempt irrespective of the type of treatment they receive, you can be assured that you have a good chance of quitting your habit if you choose outpatient treatment or partial hospitalization instead. Indeed, partial hospitalization offers the same intensity of therapy as on an inpatient program, but you can return home every day. However, if you are looking for a more flexible approach to escape your addiction to alcohol, outpatient therapy is ideal. This allows you to attend several times each week for treatment, while you continue with your other commitments. As Steps to Recovery has treatment centers close to Cheltenham, this makes non-residential options feasible.
Addiction Therapies During Rehab
As Steps to Recovery adopts a unique approach to client care, tailoring your program of treatment to your individual needs, this gives you the best chance of freeing yourself from the hold alcohol has over you. However, all clients have a range of addiction treatments open to them, so whether you stay residentially or you attend for outpatient care you will benefit from one to one therapy, group counseling and family therapy.
Private therapy sessions are available to clients each week and these give you the chance to identify and work on the triggers for your alcohol abuse, as well as any barriers that stand in your way of achieving sobriety. With the help of a trained counselor you will develop strategies that will help you overcome these difficulties in your life so that you are well equipped to resist the temptation of drinking. Everything discussed in these sessions is completely confidential, so they allow you to discuss issues you may not want to raise in a group setting.
Meanwhile, group therapy allows interactive discussions with your fellow clients and if you take part in an intensive therapy program you will participate in this style of therapy most days. This form of counseling is useful for working on common issues, as different members of the group bring their own ideas, which allows you to develop stronger coping mechanisms. The group dynamic is also another source of support, as while our therapists are here to support you every step of the way, you can also get a lot of encouragement from your peers.
Finally, family therapy involves your loved ones in the treatment process. This is essential to promote better understanding on both sides, as you will not only get the chance to talk through your difficulties, but your family will also explain the impact of your alcoholism on their lives too. Therapy aims to build a stronger family unit so that you have their support after you finish alcohol treatment near Cheltenham.
Complementary Treatments Support Rehabilitation
Talking therapies are central to helping clients develop the coping skills they need to escape alcohol abuse, but they are not the only form of therapy you can receive at Steps to Recovery. You will also have the chance to take advantage of evidence-based complementary therapies that are known to help recovering addicts. While many addiction treatment centers do not offer these additional therapies, we believe that doing so supports our holistic approach to care, as the likes of acupuncture and yoga can enhance your mental well-being. It is important to address your mental wellness, as low mood, anxiety and other mental health problems can contribute to addictions and make it more difficult to give up your habits. By offering complementary therapies this is another way to promote your emotional health, which helps you to have a better experience during rehab and allows you to comply more easily with addiction therapy sessions. You may even find that these holistic treatments help you to cope with withdrawal symptoms and cravings better, as there is evidence to support this action.
Strengthening Your Skills Set
Just as we like to offer complementary therapies, at Steps to Recovery we also want to give you help to build the skills you will need to successfully integrate back into everyday life and society once you finish rehab close to Cheltenham. Again, we will make sure that this skills development is specific to your needs, so will develop a tailored program of skills related activities for you. If you are staying residentially, you may want to brush up on areas such as budgeting and meal preparation, but besides these practical life skills we can also help you prepare for those that will help you socially and in the workplace too. For instance, you will improve your skills in one to one and group communication through therapy sessions, and also learn to work more effectively as part of a team. Additionally, if you have limited experience applying for work and interviewing, this is another area we can help you with.
Developing Better Relationships
Rehabilitation for alcohol abuse isn’t just a time to work on developing coping mechanisms and enhancing your skills set, as it also an ideal opportunity to work at building your relationships. Developing strong relationships is essential if you are to have the support you need after you complete addiction treatment near Cheltenham. Firstly, good family support is vital, which is why we offer family therapy as part of our treatment programs. In addition to this, if you are an inpatient, your family can also visit you each week in a more informal environment, as time is set aside in our program to facilitate these visits, which gives you another chance to work on strengthening your bond with them. However, it isn’t just important to strengthen existing relationships, as developing new friendships is also essential for your ongoing success. You will begin to develop positive relationships with your peers during interactive therapy sessions, as well as the other group activities we run. The support they offer you during rehab may extend to after you complete your course of therapy if you keep in touch, but even if you don’t, you will recognize the value of a strong support network and this will encourage you to develop new friendships. This will help to keep you away from old associates linked to your previous habits.
Valuing Leisure Time During Rehab
Besides the structured therapy sessions and other activities that we offer to help you enhance your chances of getting sober, we also factor in time for recreation each week on our residential programs. This doesn’t just give you much needed time to take a break from therapy, but we also believe it offers you further benefits that will help to keep you on track with your recovery. From quiet nights relaxing with your peers to adrenaline activities, you will experience a varied program of leisure activities during your stay, as well as regular visits to the gym each week.
There are various benefits of taking part in recreational activities during rehab, which include:
- A useful way to manage stress, particularly those that aid relaxation or get you moving
- A further opportunity to bond with your peers
- A chance to see just how fun life is without the need to drink
- An opportunity to build up your physical fitness, which may have suffered due to alcohol abuse
- A natural way to lift your mood without turning to old habits
When you appreciate all that you can gain from taking part in enjoyable pastimes, it will encourage you to include time within your week back home to enjoy similar pursuits, particularly as this is a great way to develop new friendships in your community.
If you would like advice about seeking help for your uncontrolled drinking and the alcohol treatment options available in the Cheltenham area, our friendly team is always happy to discuss the range of programs we have on offer to help you beat your addiction for good.
