What to Expect at an Alcoholism Centre?
What to expect at an alcoholism centre?
There are so many representations in the media depicting life in an alcoholism centre. Books, films, television series, magazines, documentaries, the list goes on. In reality, nothing can represent the experience of life in an alcohol rehab, because the experience is different for everyone. It is a time of tremendous challenges, yet also incredible growth on mental, physical, emotional and spiritual levels.
The programme at different alcoholism centres can be quite similar, depending on the type of therapy model used. The most effective model has been found to be the Minnesota Model, based on the 12 Steps of recovery, founded by Alcoholics Anonymous.
A quality alcohol detox
When entering rehabilitation for alcoholism, depending on the stage of the disease, a quality alcohol detox is needed. By use of the word ‘quality’, we refer to registered and professional services. It is of high importance as withdrawal from alcohol can be dangerous. An alcoholic who has been drinking over extended periods of time will find their bodies have become physically dependent on alcohol to function. Upon cessation of drinking, an alcoholic will experience withdrawal symptoms of varying degrees, depending on how severe their drinking was. Alcohol detox is a serious and potentially dangerous experience for the human body, and thus any withdrawals from alcohol need to be monitored closely, and often medicated to ease the symptoms.
Most alcoholism centres will offer an alcohol detox programme, and after completion it is highly recommended that the client continue with in-patient treatment at the centre.
So what can you expect from an alcoholism rehab centre?
Firstly, let’s discuss the environment of an alcohol rehab. All treatment centres are a place of recovery. They are a safe place for sick people to heal. When a person suffers from alcoholism, they are not ‘weak’ or suffering from a moral failing. They are ill. They have a disease that is incurable, progressive and sometimes fatal. However, there is hope for recovery and a life free from the compulsion to drink. That hope lies in the recovery programmes offered in treatment centres and rehabs.
There are rules that exist in treatment centres; for the good of the clients and the centre. This is not to say that an alcoholism centre is like a school, and punishment served for breaking rules. Instead, the rules exist to allow the therapy process to work to the best of its ability. Structure, routine and stability are an important part of beginning life as a recovering alcoholic. Previously, life was unpredictable, chaotic and without responsibility; in recovery, an alcoholic needs to begin to learn the importance of taking responsibility for their lives.
One of the rules in alcoholism rehabs requires that everyone in the centre must be at least 48 hours sober by the time they enter the facility. Due to many alcoholics requiring an alcohol detox, when they enter a rehab facility, they are already sober for a few days after having completed a detox.
Secondly, let’s talk about the day to day programme, and the therapy offered in rehabilitation centres. The daily activities in an alcoholism centre are structured and follow a routine that is balanced with group therapy and individual therapy, written work, lectures, outings to 12 Step Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and usually some creative therapy such as art therapy, exercise such as hiking or team sports and free time. Some centres also have therapeutic duties in their programme, which include the maintenance and upkeep of the centre.
A typical day in an in-patient facility for alcoholics will begin with a morning reading, followed by breakfast, then activities such as group therapy, individual therapy, written work, lectures and therapeutic duties if they are offered. After this, lunch, and then activities such as group therapy, individual therapy, art or drama therapy and exercise are common. In the evening after dinner, meeting attendance or a group reading from Alcoholics Anonymous literature and free time is offered.
Over a period of time, group therapy and individual therapy with a designated counsellor have shown to be highly effective in assisting alcoholics with processing their difficulties and remaining sober after treatment.
How can this help an alcoholic stay sober?
While and alcoholic is in a treatment centre, they are not only counselled for their problems and challenges faced on a day to day basis. They are shown a new way to live. For an alcoholic, the challenge to living a healthy and productive life free from alcohol involves stopping drinking, and staying stopped. Once an alcoholic leaves an alcoholism centre after completing in-patient treatment, they lose the immediate support structure that the centre provided for them. However, a 12 Step programme
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