Alcoholism Treatment Program at Defining Wellness
- Authored By: Defining Wellness
- Reviewed By: Dr. Saurabh Bhardwaj
- Last Updated: August 22, 2024
Dr. Saurabh Bhardwaj
Dr. Bhardwaj, Medical Director is a Board-Certified Addiction Psychiatrist (ABPN) and currently the Medical Director of Defining Wellness Center in Brandon MS. He is also an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Director of Center for Innovation & Discovery in Addictions (CIDA) at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He has been in Mississippi since 2018, building Addiction services for the state's only medical center and joined Defining Wellness Center in 2022 to provide specialized dual diagnostic services. He is a recipient of Ruth Fox scholarship from AAAP and trailblazer teaching award from UMMC. He is also a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
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Alcohol Use Disorder and Treatment
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive alcohol consumption. Every year, roughly 140,500 Americans die from the effects of alcohol.
In Mississippi, roughly 13.7% of adults over 18 binge drink at least once a month while the five-year rate of annual deaths due to excessive alcohol increased by 44.2% from 2015 to 2019.
However, for those suffering from AUD, alcohol rehab centers can be a lifeline. These centers provide detox services, therapy, and aftercare planning. Rehab centers can help people achieve long-term sobriety as well. Here is a more in-depth look at alcohol rehab centers in Mississippi and the types of treatment they offer.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?
AUD or alcoholism is characterized by excessive consumption of alcohol and an inability to control your alcohol consumption. AUD can be mild or severe. There are key characteristics of the disorder, which include:
- Cravings: Those suffering from AUD have strong cravings to drink alcohol all the time.
- High Tolerance: Alcoholics develop a higher tolerance for alcohol, meaning they need to consume more alcohol than others to feel the same effects.
- Loss of Control: People with AUD are unable to stop drinking once they’ve started, which is a clear sign they have AUD.
- Physical Dependence: People with AUD experience withdrawal symptoms once they stop drinking, such as nausea, hand tremors, excessive sweating, and irritability.
Causes
No one cause leads someone to develop AUD. Rather, it’s a combination of factors, such as genetic, social, psychological, and environmental. Family history and mental health conditions play a large part as well.
- Genetic Factors: Genetic factors can increase the likelihood of developing AUD by about 50%. This is due to genetic variations that affect brain chemistry.
- Psychological Factors: Conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression are linked to higher alcohol use because individuals may use alcohol to self-medicate.
- Stress: Some people react to high levels of stress by consuming more alcohol. Using alcohol to manage stress can result in them developing AUD.
- Environmental Factors: Social or family settings where drinking to excess is normalized can increase the risk of people developing AUD.
- Trauma: Some people start using alcohol to help them deal with trauma. This can lead to excessive consumption and eventually AUD.
Some of the signs that a person may have Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) are:
- Drinking more or longer than intended
- Inability to cut down or stop drinking
- Excessive time drinking, obtaining alcohol, or being sick after drinking
- Craved alcohol or felt the need to drink
- Engaged in risky behavior while under the influence of alcohol
- Stopping activities and hobbies that were once enjoyed in order to drink
- Continued drinking in spite of health, relationship, or professional problems
- Needing to drink more to feel the same effect over time (building a tolerance)
Getting Treatment: Detoxing
What Happens During Detox?
When those with AUD stop drinking, their body starts to adjust to the fact that there is no longer any alcohol coming into the body. This can lead to withdrawal symptoms, which can range from mild to severe depending on the level of alcohol dependence. Common alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
- Mild Symptoms: If your AUD is mild, you may experience mild symptoms such as excessive sweating, nausea, insomnia, and irritability. These can be easily managed with rest and good nutrition.
- Moderate Symptoms: Moderate symptoms include elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, and a possible fever. Some people may need medication to help manage these symptoms.
- Severe Symptoms: If your AUD is severe, you may experience seizures, hallucinations, and delirium tremens (DTs). Delirium tremens is a life-threatening condition that can result in death.
Detoxing from alcohol is hard on the body. For this reason, detoxification should take place under medical supervision, particularly for those who are heavy drinkers or who have chronic alcoholism.
The Steps Involved in the Detoxification Process
There are a few steps involved in the detox process.
- Assessment: The first stage is when a healthcare professional performs an assessment. This process involves finding out your medical history, how severe your alcohol dependence is, and whether you have any co-occurring mental health issues.
- Stabilization: Once the detox process begins, the next stage is stabilization. For those with severe AUD, medication may be needed to manage withdrawal symptoms. In addition, healthcare professionals may need to hydrate you, ensure you are getting enough nutrition, and provide a safe environment. A medical staff will monitor you constantly to ensure there are no medical complications, such as seizures.
- Emotional and Psychological Support: Withdrawing from alcohol can cause depression, anxiety, and intense mood swings. Emotional and psychological support is crucial at this stage as it helps individuals deal with the emotional challenges of withdrawal.
- Transition to Treatment: Once the detox phase is complete, healthcare professionals help individuals shift to treatment. This involves creating a customized plan that combines individual therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and group therapy.
Common Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal are:
- Anxiety/ irritability
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations
- Insomnia
- Nausea and vomiting
The Treatment Available in an Alcohol Rehab Center
Once the detox process is complete, individuals can move into treatment to achieve long-term recovery. Alcohol rehab centers are ideal for this as they offer a structured and supportive environment.
Individual Therapy
One-on-one counseling sessions or talk therapy with licensed therapists typically form the cornerstone of treatment. These sessions help individuals discover why they are addicted and how they can learn skills to overcome their addiction. Some therapeutic techniques that have proven effective include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is based on several principles that involve undoing negative thinking and patterns of unhelpful behavior that fuel addictive behavior. CBT aims to change negative thinking into positive behavior. The therapy also tries to provide individuals with coping strategies to tackle their addiction.
- Motivational Interviewing (MI): MI is an evidence-based form of therapy where the therapist listens, remains nonjudgemental, and then tries to motivate individuals to change their behaviors and attitudes toward addiction. This form of therapy is especially helpful for those who are ambivalent about changing or suffer from low confidence that they can make the necessary changes to embrace a sober lifestyle.
Group Therapy
Another form of therapy used in alcohol rehab centers is group therapy. Group therapy sessions provide a supportive environment where individuals can share their experiences with others and build a community. Group therapy can help reduce feelings of isolation and shame.
Family Therapy
For many individuals, family therapy can be very beneficial as it allows individuals to repair relationships with their loved ones. Involving family can help individuals recover faster, particularly if they feel understood and supported.
Educational Workshops
Educational workshops help individuals understand the disease as well as develop healthier lifestyle choices. Many workshops also provide stress management techniques.
Holistic Therapies
Alcohol rehab centers often provide holistic treatments to help promote physical well-being. Some therapies include meditation, yoga, and art therapy.
Relapse Prevention
Once clients are ready to leave alcohol rehab centers, they are often provided with tools to help prevent relapses. This may include directing them to support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and ensuring they continue with outpatient therapy.
What are the Benefits of Getting Treatment in an Alcohol Rehab Center?
Getting treatment for your AUD offers plenty of benefits, and it can significantly improve your chances of maintaining long-term sobriety. Here are some benefits.
Structured and Supportive Environment
Alcohol rehab centers offer a structured and supportive environment that allows individuals to focus solely on their recovery journey without the temptations they’ll face in their everyday lives.
Medical Support 24/7
Detox and treatment can be hard as some individuals may have to manage severe withdrawal symptoms or periods of intense depression. Many rehab centers offer medical support around-the-clock to ensure they can attend to any medical emergencies if necessary.
Customized Treatment Plans
When you enter a rehab center, healthcare professionals will create a personalized treatment plan that’s tailored to your needs. They will assess your physical health, mental health, and your history with alcohol.
Access to Professional Care
Rehab centers have a professional staff that includes counselors, therapists, doctors, and nurses who specialize in addiction treatment. Due to their specialization, incoming clients can receive a variety of professional care, including evidence-based therapies and medication-assisted treatment.
Comprehensive Treatment Therapies Available
Many rehab centers also offer holistic therapies, such as adventure therapy, art and music therapy, equine-assisted therapy, yoga, and meditation. When combined with talk therapy, these approaches help promote overall well-being.
Relapse Prevention Sessions
Once individuals understand the nature of addiction, rehab centers can teach practical tools to prevent relapses. Clients can also learn how to identify triggers and develop coping mechanisms.
Why is Aftercare Planning Important After You Leave an Alcohol Rehab Center
Checking into an alcohol rehab center in Mississippi is an important first step if you want to achieve long-term sobriety. However, many people relapse once they leave as it can be challenging to avoid the triggers of everyday life.
Rehab centers offer aftercare planning to ensure that their outgoing clients have the resources and support they need to maintain their sobriety. Here are some reasons why aftercare planning is important.
Prevents Relapse
Leaving a rehab center and returning to everyday life can be difficult. Aftercare planning offers support via support groups, sober living arrangements, and outpatient therapy. These resources help individuals learn coping strategies so they can better handle stress, cravings, and triggers.
Provides Structure and Stability
By requiring that individuals attend regular therapy sessions or group meetings, aftercare planning provides structure and stability. This structure is important for maintaining sobriety and preventing feelings of aimlessness or depression. For those with severe AUD, transitioning to a sober living home is highly recommended. This provides a cushioning middle phase where individuals can reinforce the habits they learned at the rehab center.
Addresses Crucial Underlying Issues
Many people with AUD have co-occurring mental health issues, such as depression and childhood trauma. Outpatient therapy and counseling can help them address these issues and help their recovery efforts. Aftercare planning also ensures that clients get care for their co-occurring disorders alongside their AUD.
Helps Build a Support Network
Aftercare planning encourages those leaving the rehab center to participate in support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous. This can help reduce feelings of loneliness. It usually also involves helping you connect with a substance use specialist to continue therapy.
Monitors and Adjusts Aftercare when Necessary
Aftercare programs often suggest that clients check in with their therapists so that treatment plans can be adjusted if necessary. This ensures that any new issues are addressed immediately. Aftercare plans are flexible and can be adapted to meet the individual’s changing circumstances.
Encourages Personal Growth
Finally, aftercare programs help teach life skills like preparing for job interviews, managing money, and making healthy lifestyle choices. The programs also help individuals set realistic goals and achieve them, providing direction and purpose on their recovery journey.
Alcohol Rehab Center in Mississippi: Defining Wellness Centers
If you have an alcohol use disorder, it’s essential to get treatment as soon as possible. At Defining Wellness Centers, we believe in a comprehensive approach to treating substance use disorders. We combine therapeutic and holistic therapies to ensure there is an emotional, physical, and spiritual balance.
Our treatment programs include medical detox, inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, and a partial hospitalization program. We also provide an aftercare program for our clients so they can maintain long-term sobriety. To find out more about our rehab center, contact our team today.
Begin your Recovery Today
If you are ready to take the step towards a new life, call Defining Wellness today and learn more about how we can help you.
