What, How, and Where to Get Alcohol Help

Recognising that alcoholism exists is often the first step towards recovery. However, this is often the most difficult part of the recovery process. Before an individual can access alcohol help, he or she must be able to recognise the problem exists and be ready to make the necessary changes.

Family members and friends tend to find the most frustrating thing about a loved one with addiction is the fact that he or she cannot or will not accept the seriousness of their situation. Forcing a loved one to get alcohol help is like fighting a losing battle. Unless he or she is ready to make the changes to his or her behaviour, recovery will ultimately fail.

Steps Towards Alcohol Help

In an ideal scenario, a loved one will get to the point where he or she is ready for alcohol help. There are a few steps that alcoholics must take before they are willing to reach out and begin the process of recovery.

• Recognising the problem – To get help for a problem, the individual must accept that the problem exists. Alcoholics spend a lot of time in denial regarding their drinking habits, but it may be the case that an employer or health professional issues a warning that helps the affected individual to realise the damage their drinking is causing. The alcoholic is usually the last person to recognise the problem.
• Accepting the problem – An alcoholic must also be willing to see him or herself as an alcoholic. This is very difficult for some people because, despite the negative consequences caused by their drinking, they still do not see themselves fitting the profile of what they believe an alcoholic to be. They must be able to say to themselves that they are an alcoholic and not just agree with others for the sake of keeping the peace.
• Making the decision to get help – Once the alcohol has recognised the problem and accepted that he or she is an alcoholic, it is time to reach out for alcohol help. He or she must be ready to make changes that will promote sobriety and successful recovery.

Detox

The first step on the road to recovery for most alcoholics is the process of detoxification. This means quitting alcohol and then waiting it out until the chemicals have left the body. This process can take a few days to a few weeks, depending on the length of time the person was abusing alcohol and the amount of alcohol he or she was regularly consuming.

During alcohol detox, it is common for patients to experience withdrawal symptoms, and these can range from mild to severe. These symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, headaches, mood swings, irritability, anxiety, sweating, shaking, hallucinations, delusions, seizures, and convulsions.

Once detox has been completed, it is time for the next stage of alcohol help – rehabilitation.

Rehab

Alcohol rehabilitation typically takes place in an inpatient or outpatient setting. Most experts believe that recovering in a distraction-free environment while benefiting from an intensive and concentrated approach is the best way to overcome addiction. This is the type of care offered by residential clinics.

Nevertheless, there are others who are of the opinion that it is better for people to learn how to live without alcohol while still coping with the pressures of everyday life. They believe that outpatient programmes offer a more realistic way of overcoming illnesses such as alcohol addiction.

Regardless of whether one receives alcohol help in a residential or outpatient clinic, he or she can expect similar treatments. Most clinics offer treatments such as group therapy, individual counselling, contingency management, cognitive behavioural therapy, and 12-step work. These therapy sessions are usually provided in conjunction with alternative therapies in a residential clinic. Patients may be given nutritional classes and encouraged to exercise in an onsite gym. Other sessions might include art or equine therapy as well as yoga, mindfulness and meditation.

Rehabilitation aims to help the patient to identify the cause of the addictive behaviour so that he/she can learn to avoid these temptations and triggers going forward. Nonetheless, it is also important that the recovering alcoholic is provided with the skills and tools necessary for independent sober living. Many alcoholics have been abusing alcohol from an early age and lack the decision-making tools that non-alcoholics would have.

Accessing Alcohol Help

One of the biggest barriers to alcohol recovery is denial. Until a person can admit that he or she has a problem with alcohol, this individual will be unable to move into recovery. However, another common obstacle is the ability to access the right alcohol help.

There is so much information on rehabilitation and addiction services online, but for those with no experience of this, it can take a long time to sift through the relevant information. This can be off-putting for many people, and the time and hassle can be enough to change the mind of some.

Here at Recovery.org.uk, we understand the issues facing those who are ready for alcohol help. We have compiled a massive database of information on the most suitable treatment providers around the UK and overseas. We work with providers in the public and private industries whose top priority is the wellbeing of their patients.

We have a large team of professional counsellors and therapists with experience of all types of addiction, and they can assess your illness before making a recommendation to a treatment provider that they feel will most suit your needs and circumstances. We want you to overcome your illness, and we understand that everyone has different needs. We will take issues such as age, family commitments, budget, and preferences into consideration when considering a suitable provider for you.

We realise that every patient is unique and therefore requires a tailored plan of care. Thankfully, the organisations we work with are of the same mind. We will never refer you to a clinic for monetary reasons as we want you to receive the care that is appropriate for your needs.

For a fully comprehensive assessment, contact us here at Recovery.org.uk today. Our service is completely free, and you are under no obligation to enrol for treatment.