ALCOHOL REHAB

Alcohol is one of the most widely-abused substances in the United States. According to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), those who abuse this known depressant have a much greater chance of depression and anxiety. Addiction can also cause a wide range of issues including insomnia, high blood pressure, and focus problems. Serious issues stemming from long-term use are even worse, such as liver failure, brain damage, or even death.

Addiction to alcohol never begins in an obvious way. It’s defined as an inability to control drinking habits because of a physical or emotional dependence. Alcoholism doesn’t discriminate and affects all cultures and walks of life. While many judge alcoholism by the amount of alcohol consumed by a person, the disease itself is much more complicated. Why a person drinks so much is far more important than how much they drink. The emotional trauma behind the need to escape must also be addressed. 

Warning Signs of Addiction

Alcohol addiction is a combination of alcohol abuse and physical dependence. Those who are addicted have to consume alcohol on a regular basis to function in everyday life. Without treatment, there could be damaging physical and emotional consequences in a person’s life.

Physical Signs to Look for:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Blackouts
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Insomnia
• Pounding heart

If you’re concerned your drinking might be becoming a problem, look for these common behavior patterns: increased isolation from others, trying to quit but not being able to stop, drinking more than you always plan, obsessive thinking about alcohol, trouble at work or in school, drinking more to maintain the same effect, relationship issues surrounding drinking, withdrawal symptoms in between binges, and continuous drinking despite warnings from loved ones.

The Rehab Process

If life is becoming unmanageable for you or a loved one, it may be time to consider alcohol rehab options, but you may have questions about what to expect. Upon entering inpatient alcohol rehab, if a patient is having withdrawal symptoms, they’ll be placed into medical-assisted detox. The facilities for detox are separate from residential housing but typically on the same campus. The difference between the two settings is detox has medical professionals (nurses, assistants, technicians) on staff 24 hours a day until a patient is safely weaned off. This usually includes the use of numerous medications for the patient to help with comfort and withdrawal symptoms.

How long a person stays in detox varies based on how severe their condition is. During the detox phase, there’s usually a blackout period with no access to the outside world. No cell phones, computers, or tablets allowed. No visitors are allowed until later in the recovery process, either, allowing the patient to focus fully on their recovery. Once the medical staff feels the detox process is complete, the patient will move to residential living with a new set of rules. In residential living, patients will become adjusted to a new routine that involves individual and group therapy, meditation exercises, a healthy diet, and many other therapeutic activities. For more on residential life, please visit our accommodations pages.

Recovery in Malibu

The Meadows Malibu doesn’t just focus on alcohol addiction, but the underlying issues that led to the substance use as well. Almost all individuals with addiction issues come to us with trauma or other co-occurring mental health disorders. Beginning the process of healing from these wounds is equally important as substance treatment to ensure lasting recovery and not just a quick fix.

From detox to individual therapy, we treat all phases of addiction at The Meadows Malibu. If you’re interested in beginning your recovery journey with us, reach out to us today.