When the average person thinks about alcohol treatment in a rehab center, their mind jumps to the Alcoholics Anonymous method. The famous “I’m_____ and I’m an alcoholic,” is what people think alcohol addiction is all about. The 12 Step Program does work. It’s effective, it’s beneficial, it’s emotional but it’s one of many different options that an alcoholic has if they’re going to addiction or abuse treatment.
Overcoming an alcohol addiction, like any kind of recovery takes time and dedication. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction and you’re not religious, the 12 Step Program might feel like a huge waste of your time. There are many treatment centers for alcohol and drug addiction treatment that offer alternatives to this traditional method. That is not to say that we don’t totally love the Alcoholics Anonymous program, but a treatment facility above all is supposed to suit the needs of the addicts. Some people simply aren’t religious.
Typically, regardless of what kind of treatment option it is, there are a few things that always happen when a person comes in for alcohol treatment. Medical detox is a must. Just hours after an addict’s last drink, the withdrawal symptoms are painful both physically and mentally. They will feel anxious, irritated and sick. Medical professionals are always there to help administer proper care for those tough first few days.
In addition to the loving support from medical professionals, each addict is introduced to addiction counselors, which should meet with them on a regular basis to help out during recovery time at the treatment facility. Past these two things, a good recovery center will have a number of unique paths that a person can take.
Addiction Treatment Outdoors
Going through substance abuse and addiction treatment in Massachusetts is a huge benefit. New England is covered in beautiful forest and in some places, mountains that are both challenging and enjoyable to hike. Because of this access to nature, there is an option to do your alcohol rehab outside.
Rather than sitting in a room in a circle of chairs, addicts have the ability to climb a mountain together, or even go camping. Outdoor treatment programs see the outdoors as a way to balance out the chemical imbalances in our brain. Being that drug addiction is considered a disease, it is safe to say that being outdoors and soaking up some Vitamin D can definitely help during treatment for alcoholism.
The best part about seeking treatment outdoors is that you still get that team bonding experience that you would in a rehab. You get to hike and swim with people who are going through the same thing. You also have the opportunity to spend time outdoors one on one with a counselor. You may even be able to do cognitive behavioral therapy sessions outside. It’s all about feeling immersed in nature and finding new meaning to what is around you.
Dual Diagnosis Alcohol Rehab
If you have been binge drinking as a way of self-medicating, you might have a co-occurring disorder. That simply means you have other mental illnesses to take into consideration when looking at treatment options. It is common that having a personality disorder or an anxiety disorder can increase the chances of alcoholism by a lot because it’s harder to learn how to cope with stress.
Dual diagnosis rehab will typically focus on the relationship between your mental health illnesses. This usually is more of a one on one treatment option because while drug addiction is common between all patients, treating alcoholism mixed with another mental health issue is a very sensitive process.
Dual diagnosis treatment for alcoholism can include being outdoors too, but in some cases, that’s not allowed depending on what other co-occurring disorder is taking place. There is a huge focus on the person’s behavior, but there’s also a lot more psychotherapy which focuses less on behavior and more on feelings and reactions. Cognitive behavioral therapy comes after that, but it can be hard to do that step first because there needs to be a better understanding of an addict’s emotional response to triggers before anything else.
This inpatient treatment is a lot more structured and usually more private. It’s extremely sensitive and very helpful to anyone struggling with the effects of mental health issues and substance abuse issues at the same time.
The 12 Steps Remastered
There is a version of the 12 Step Program that is more focused on spirituality rather than religion. It adopts the same 12 traditions as the Alcoholics Anonymous program, but it takes away the concept of God so that people who believe in something different can still follow the steps. Alcohol addiction is behavioral, so these steps are helpful because they provide a step by step tool to change behavior.
For those who are big into yoga and a zen state of mind, this remastered version of the traditional method is perfect. There is a huge following of people who love this kind of modernized recovery program. They focus on the mind and body relationship and as time goes on, they realize that binge drinking does not fit into the healthy lifestyle that is promoted by the 12 spiritual steps.
Alcohol Treatment Is What You Make It
A good recovery center will combine everything you like into one treatment plan for you. Seek treatment that will cater to your needs. Seek treatment that will reflect who you are. No matter what, you’re going to be helped out with the withdrawal symptoms and you’re always going to have someone to talk to at your treatment facility.
The behavioral aspect is your choice, though. Do you want a religious recovery program? Do you see a spiritual side of treating alcoholism? If you have other mental health issues, do you think the dual diagnosis option will be a more holistic way to help yourself out? Do you enjoy being outside or do you feel that it is a distraction to your treatment plan?
Alcohol treatment is what you make it. Alcohol abuse and addiction is such a personal issue and the recovery needs to be equally as personal. Treatment centers know this and they are ready to combine their resources to help you fight your substance abuse.
