There is a famous song that goes, “Where do I begin?” If you resonate with this question in your journey toward alcohol addiction recovery, then you are not alone. Many with alcohol use disorder often wonder the same. While it may seem confusing to you at this point, what you are experiencing is something empowering and will indeed be life-changing.
Alcohol addiction recovery begins with just one question – how can I stop, or how can I get better? If you have arrived at this question in your life, then you are at the right place. Please read on to learn more.
Why Is the “First Step” So Important in Recovery?
Alcohol use can get to a person like no other. It is a pernicious cycle out of which there seems to be no escape. But it never has to be this way, and you will realize it, too. There comes a point in your life when you begin to question what the way out of this is – how can you get better? With this question – this first step, you begin what will come to be known as your recovery journey.
Recovery is not about that one moment or one point; it is a journey. No step is more important than the other, but the first step is different because it sets the tone for your recovery journey going forward. You begin by acknowledging your alcohol use. While this sounds obvious, it really is not that easy. Typically, many who use alcohol heavily and for a prolonged time tend to be in denial of their alcoholism.
Now, if we are strictly speaking about alcohol addiction treatment, then the first step is going to be a medically supervised detoxification (detox). We are going to explore this in detail later in the article.
How Do I Know If I’m in Denial About My Drinking?
Denial is among the biggest barriers to seeking alcohol addiction treatment. Many alcoholics tend to be in denial of their alcoholism because it becomes their defense mechanism in dealing with the realities and dangers of alcohol use.
If you or a loved one is in denial about drinking, then here are some signs you need to look out for:
- Secrecy: You go to great lengths to conceal your alcohol use.
- Dismissive: You are dismissive about the dangers of your alcohol use, and you often dismiss them as nothing serious or that you do not even drink much.
- Defensive: You become defensive about your alcohol use, and you tend to justify your drinking patterns.
- Blaming: You blame your alcoholism on something external – for instance, your job or a life transition, such as a divorce.
- Comparisons: You compare your drinking to others who are probably at an extreme to rationalize your drinking behavior.
When Should I Get Help for My Drinking?
Alcohol use disorder does not start off as such; it begins with one drink, then some more, and again some more. Before you know it, alcohol use has become heavy and chronic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define heavy alcohol use as:
- 15 or more drinks in a week for males.
- 8 or more drinks in a week for females.
Apart from the numbers, you know that you should get help for your drinking-related problems when it is impeding your daily life and relationships. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) suggests the following signs that a person may be struggling with alcohol use disorder:
- Intense cravings and urges to use alcohol.
- Drinking more frequently and heavily than intended.
- Spending a lot of time on acquiring and using alcohol.
- Prioritizing alcohol use over everything else in life, including education, job, relationships, and family.
- Continuing to drink alcohol despite its ill effects on physical and mental health.
- Drinking in high-risk circumstances, like driving or operating heavy machinery.
- Developing tolerance, wherein you need greater quantities of alcohol to achieve the desired effect.
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms if you reduce or stop alcohol intake abruptly. Withdrawal symptoms can be highly unpleasant and even life-threatening, which is why quitting alcohol on your own can be challenging.
What Should I Do After I Decide to Get Help?
If you are experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms with regard to your alcohol use, then remember you are not alone. Millions around the world struggle with alcohol use disorder, with more than 29 million struggling with it in the U.S. alone. It is never too early or too late to seek care, so by deciding to seek care, you tell yourself and your drinking problems that it is you and not the alcohol that is in control.
Whenever you decide to get help, speak to your family and loved ones who have longed for your recovery. You will have those who have reached out to you with their concerns and support; do open up to them. Tell them you want to put an end to this cycle and get better.
You can also reach out to your primary healthcare provider, who can then put you in contact with licensed and trained mental health providers and addiction medicine specialists who will offer practical direction in your recovery.
Taking this step by reaching out is one of the most challenging things you will do; we see that. The journey will seem different to you than what you have gotten used to thus far, but it is going to be better than anything you have experienced, as it is going to lead you to the life you want to embrace, free from the grip of alcohol. You will have to find it within you to trust in the process; techniques like motivational interviewing and supportive counseling will also help.
What Happens During Medical Detox – and Do I Need It?
Typically, with alcohol use disorder, withdrawal symptoms are very common. What can begin as intense cravings and anxiety can lead to life-threatening seizures and delirium tremens. So, quitting alcohol on your own or going cold turkey is never recommended.
This is why a medically supervised detox is the first step to alcohol addiction treatment. Detox is where alcohol levels are gradually tapered off from your system in medically supervised conditions to minimize and manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Detox can be done in an inpatient or outpatient setting, depending on how severe your alcohol use is.
While a medical detox is typically the first step, it is not always the first step. This can vary from person to person depending on how severe their alcohol use is and their withdrawal symptoms. Based on what your doctor suggests, you may or may not need a medical detox.
What Comes After Detox in the Recovery Process?
Medically supervised detox is the first step to alcohol addiction treatment, but in rather simpler terms, it is like a band-aid on a deep wound. It is not going to heal your alcohol use as it does not get to the bottom of it. The real recovery begins with rehabilitation or rehab. Rehab can be both inpatient and outpatient; depending on your psychiatric evaluation (psych eval) and diagnosis, you will be recommended a certain level of care.
Whether you are treated in an inpatient setting or outpatient setting, rehab will involve intensive care and structure and uses a combination of psychotherapy, medication management, social support, and aftercare.
Psychotherapy – Psychotherapy is used to change the underlying patterns leading to alcohol use and equip you with healthy coping mechanisms so that you can handle your life stressors without resorting to alcohol. Psychotherapy involves a combination of motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, and 12-step recovery. This combination is known as the Matrix Model.
Medication Management – Medications like disulfiram and naloxone are used to reduce your cravings and uplift your quality of life. Your medications will be regularly monitored for efficacy and side effects. Depending on your needs and symptoms, your medications will be adjusted as well.
Social Support – Social support involving group therapy sessions and peer support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or SMART Recovery can be recommended. The basis of this is that healing becomes stronger when we are together. In substance use, you were isolated, but in recovery, you open up and share your struggles and also learn from those who have had similar experiences as you.
Aftercare – As we told you, recovery is not a moment or a point – it is not rehab and done. Recovery needs to be your priority every day of your life going forward so that you can establish and maintain sobriety.
To this end, a personalized aftercare plan is created for you involving sober living, ongoing therapy/counseling, medication management, relapse prevention, regular recovery meetings, physical exercise, holistic healing practices like meditation and mindfulness, and other lifestyle changes.
What If I Relapse? Is Recovery Still Possible?
Relapse is indeed a huge risk with alcohol use disorder; relapse rates even run as high as 60% sometimes. While relapse is often seen as a mistake or a failure, this is not the true narrative of relapse. Relapse is a challenge you need to overcome. It is in many ways a part and parcel of your recovery and not the end. So, even if you relapse owing to triggers and temptations, recovery is still possible.
You only have to reach out to your mental health providers, and they will suggest a recovery plan going forward. This can involve a combination of psychotherapy, social support, or even medication management, depending on where you are in this journey.
Do remember that while relapse is a huge risk, it can also be prevented. Your clinical and medical team will craft a personalized relapse prevention plan for you based on what your triggers and needs are, which you will have to follow to a tee to prevent relapse. This will typically involve:
- Avoid your triggers or cope with them using the coping skills you learned in your recovery.
- Attend outpatient therapy or counseling and recovery meetings.
- Take your medications on time.
- Engage in self-care involving nutrition, exercise, and holistic living practices.
- Rely on your support system whenever things become overwhelming.
- Enroll in a sober living home.
What’s My Recovery Action Plan Starting Today?
If you are here, it is most likely that you have made the decision to recover and are looking for the next step to take. Trust us, a truly empowering journey lies ahead of you.
Skyline Recovery Center is an outpatient rehab center in Los Angeles, where we believe your brighter tomorrow is just on the horizon. We craft personalized recovery plans for our clients, as we believe that you are unique and your recovery is going to be unique, too. To this end, we offer partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, and standard outpatient treatment services that are specifically designed to meet you where you are in your recovery.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us today. Life-changing care is just a scall away at (424) 353-5206!