Although alcohol in moderation has potential health benefits and a drink can help you to relax, when social drinking becomes a regular habit it is easy for heavy drinking to take over. Heavy alcohol consumption is not only damaging to your health, but it can also interfere with various areas of your life. However, when drinking heavily you won’t necessarily see the damage. A conversation with a concerned loved one may initially alert you to the fact that you have a problem with substance abuse and sometimes even then it may take an intervention to make you fully aware of your destructive habits. Thankfully, when you acknowledge you are struggling to control your alcohol intake, there are effective treatment programs within reach of Havertown that you can enroll on to. The alcohol rehabilitation offered by Steps to Recovery is designed to give you the best possible chance of escaping from the grip of substance abuse and staying sober.
Dangers of Drinking Heavily
When you drink large quantities of alcohol on a daily basis you place yourself at risk of various short and long-term health problems. The health consequences of alcohol abuse include:
- Alcohol poisoning, which can affect your breathing and lead to unconsciousness and seizures
- Memory loss
- You are also more likely to be involved in an accident or take unnecessary risks when you drink too much
- Depression and anxiety
- Raised blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease and stroke
- A higher risk of liver cirrhosis
- A greater chance of cancers affecting your mouth, throat, gullet, colon, liver and breast
While heavy drinking can seriously damage your health, you may also find that it has a significant impact on the following areas:
- Your relationship with loved ones
- Your performance and attendance at school or work
- Your social life, as you may give up on interests and going out
- Your finances
- Your criminal record if you drive while under the influence or if drinking makes you aggressive
If you aren’t able to see these effects for yourself, your family may seek the help of Steps to Recovery to organize an intervention near Havertown to open your eyes to the devastation caused by your habit. When you recognize this, you can then take the first step towards abstinence.
Choosing Alcohol Treatment Near Havertown
As there is not a universal form of rehabilitation for alcohol abuse, you will need to choose a program that best suits your situation. You will usually have the option of residential or outpatient treatment, though if you need to detox, a supervised withdrawal period as an inpatient is recommended for your safety, as withdrawing from alcohol suddenly is dangerous if you do so without appropriate medical care.
When it comes to deciding between inpatient and outpatient care there are various questions you will need to ask yourself. Firstly, you will need to decide honestly whether you feel you can manage at home, as if you struggle to look after yourself at present due to your habit, a supervised residential stay is most suited to your circumstances. Similarly, you need to decide whether you could manage to resist the temptation to drink during the time you are not receiving treatment for your dependency. If you feel there are too many triggers at home or nearby, this is another occasion when an inpatient stay is more suitable. Additionally, if you do not have local support from family and friends, the 24 hour support on offer at Steps to Recovery’s rehab facilities is a further reason to choose a residential program. However, if you have stability and support in place, outpatient rehabilitation is feasible and particularly attractive if you want to continue with your studies or employment while you recover. The convenient location of alcohol treatment centers from Havertown means that you can commute there during the week to take part in therapy and then return home after each session to continue with other commitments in your life.
Therapy Tailored to Your Needs
Once you have settled on inpatient or outpatient care, it is essential to be aware that not all facilities offer the same program of recovery. While some alcohol rehab centers place each of their clients on the same therapy program, at Steps to Recovery we like to do things differently. By taking a unique approach to recovery from alcohol abuse, we give every client a fighting chance of freeing themselves from the grip of alcohol addiction. With a customized program of care this is something that you can benefit from too, as with therapy developed around your own needs you are far more likely to successfully give up drinking on your first quit attempt. This is because you will leave rehabilitation with the strategies relevant to your own triggers and struggles.
One to One Therapy
Although group therapy has various benefits during alcohol rehab, a weekly session of private therapy is also essential to your success. During these one to one counseling sessions you have the chance to address those issues that are unique to yourself with the help of a specialist counselor. You can also discuss problems that you perhaps feel too conscious to raise in a group environment. Another advantage of individual counseling sessions is that the counselor can use whichever form of talking therapy is most suited to your needs, though in all cases these are evidence-based so proven to help addicts in recovery.
The Power of Group Therapy
Even if you are anxious about group therapy, you have a lot to gain by taking part. These interactive therapy sessions are a great way for you to learn more about yourself and learn from others. You will also find these groups are an immense source of support, as you will receive lots of empathy and encouragement from your peers. Making progress together allows you to celebrate each other’s successes and you will receive inspiration from your fellow clients. Beyond the therapy value of these sessions, they are also a good chance for you to form bonds with others in rehab and their interactive nature allows you to work on your interpersonal skills.
Looking Beyond Traditional Alcohol Treatments
The extent of therapy at Steps to Recovery doesn’t end with one to one and group counseling though, as we believe that complementary therapies also play a role in managing alcohol abuse. This is based on the results of scientific work, which shows that acupuncture, yoga and other complementary treatments enhance the experience of those in recovery and may even help them to successfully abstain. For instance, mental health problems are common among people who misuse substances, which may trigger alcohol abuse, but can also make it more difficult to get heavy drinking under control. If you suffer from anxiety or depression, certain complementary therapies can reduce your symptoms, which not only improves your quality of life, but allows you to focus more on addiction therapy itself. There is also evidence that complementary treatments can help reduce cravings, which often get in the way of staying sober.
Equipping You for Life in Havertown After Rehab
Especially if you are receiving alcohol treatment as an inpatient, it is important that you are ready to return home. This doesn’t just mean that you have a plan of how you will deal with triggers and cravings, but also that you have the necessary skills to make a smooth transition. For example, even just learning to cook nutritious meals for yourself will help you to stay in good physical and mental health, which gives you a better chance of staying on track. However, as well as developing practical skills for around the home, we aim to make sure that you have the skills that will allow you to contribute to your community. One element of this is ensuring you are ready for the workplace and if you are not familiar with completing applications for jobs or attending interviews, these are exactly the kind of things we can coach you in at Steps to Recovery.
Support from Every Team Member
Our clients aren’t just successful because of the customized programs and up to date therapies that we offer; the support of all our staff makes a real difference too. Not only will you be warmly welcomed to our alcohol treatment facilities, but our committed team will be there for you throughout your journey to abstinence. Whatever difficulties you have, it is never too much trouble for our therapists and support staff to work through these issues with you, and they always put your needs first. Few treatment centers within the Havertown area can offer you such intensive input from addiction specialists, which is thanks to our favorable ratio of staff to clients.
Helping You to Secure a Support Network
Although most people turn to their family and friends when they need help, alcohol abuse often puts a strain on these relationships. The support of your loved ones is vital though when you return from rehab near Havertown, as having their strength and encouragement behind you, you are more likely to achieve long-term sobriety. This is why we see alcohol treatment as a time to work on strengthening your existing relationships. We help you to do so by giving you the chance to discuss your difficulties with your family during dedicated therapy sessions, but these are also designed to help you realize the impact your drinking habits have had on their lives and to make sure your family is aware of the best way to support you once home. In addition to these formal sessions, there is family time set aside each week to allow your loved ones to visit you and work on your relationships in a more informal environment.
As well as reconnecting with your family, you will have the chance to develop new relationships with your peers during rehabilitation. The group therapy, interactive activities and recreational time that we include within our alcohol treatment programs all help you to bond with fellow clients. Whether or not you keep in touch after therapy, a strong social circle is vital when you get home from treatment. Having the confidence to make new friends will put you in a better position, as doing so will help to keep you away from old contacts you associate with your habit.
The Value of Leisure Time
When you are with us for a residential stay, it isn’t a case of all work and no play. There is time each week devoted to leisure activities, as we recognize that it is important you have the chance to unwind when you are receiving intensive therapy. The activities aren’t just designed to help you relax though, as while we do have some activities that let you put your feet up, such as movie nights, we offer lots of more active pursuits too. These are great for stress release and also give you the chance to work with other clients, developing your team working skills and providing you with another opportunity to bond. Seeing just how much enjoyment recreation can bring shows you that you don’t need to drink to have a good time and there are plenty of options for activities when you get home.
As keeping active is essential for your long-term health, as part of our inpatient programs you will visit the gym three times every week. If you hadn’t given much thought to your fitness while drinking, now is the chance to rebuild your muscle mass and strengthen your heart and lungs. By getting into the habit of exercising regularly, this is something you can continue after rehab in Havertown, as when you have an all round healthier lifestyle you are less likely to misuse alcohol or other substances.
To learn more about the alcohol programs close to Havertown that we offer and how these are tailored to meet your requirements, you can talk with our friendly team who are happy to provide you with further details.