Many people enjoy a glass of wine or a beer to destress after a long day. However, in today’s stressful world, casual or social drinking can often become habitual drinking. This can turn into more significant problems, like alcohol addiction and health consequences. As a depressant, alcohol slows messages from the brain to the body. This is why alcohol causes physical side effects such as slurred speech, incoordination, and poor reflexes. If an individual drinks heavily for some time, it changes their brain chemistry. Alcohol addiction is characterized by uncontrolled drinking and preoccupation with alcohol. If left untreated, alcohol addiction will have significant impacts on your physical and mental health and can lead to death.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, it is critical to find an addiction facility to go through alcohol recovery. Quitting alcohol without professional help or medical attention is often ineffective and dangerous. At Northpoint Nebraska, our staff is equipped to provide care and support to patients through each stage of alcohol recovery. We provide alcohol detox and rehab to help those struggling with alcohol addiction become sober and learn how they can maintain a healthy, sober lifestyle.
Stages of Alcohol Recovery
Recovery begins before an individual starts rehab or finds a treatment program. Understanding the stages of alcohol recovery can help you better understand the treatment process and what to expect. At Northpoint Nebraska, our staff can provide those struggling with guidance and support through each stage of alcohol recovery.
The stages of alcohol recovery are:
- Precontemplation – While a person is experiencing the negative impacts of excessive drinking, they are typically not interested in changing their habits. They are likely to be in denial that they have a drinking problem. Once they realize they are struggling with substance, they move on to the next stage of alcohol recovery.
- Contemplation – At this stage, patients consider changing their habits. They may be more accepting of information about their addiction and recovery options.
- Preparation – This is the first step of action in their recovery journey. People may start making small efforts to change their behavior. Individuals are also more likely to research treatment programs and addiction facilities.
- Action – Individuals may seek support from loved ones or contact professional treatment programs. In treatment, patients receive help for the physical and mental impacts of alcohol addiction. This involves going through detox and participating in therapy programs.
- Maintenance – During treatment, after detox is complete, patients learn how they can sustain long-term sobriety. They work through the causes of their alcohol addiction and how to change their behavior and mindset to be more positive.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, it is critical to seek professional help. Trying to detox on your own can be extremely dangerous and potentially fatal. Contact a professional addiction facility that will provide you with the proper care and support you need to recover safely and successfully.
Understanding Alcohol Detox and Treatment
At Northpoint Nebraska, we use a three-step program for alcohol recovery. We provide treatment to ease withdrawal symptoms and offer alcohol treatment programs to help patients improve their mental and emotional well-being. Our approach to alcohol recovery includes detox, inpatient rehab, therapy, and counseling. A detox consists of cleansing the body of alcohol. When an individual chronically abuses alcohol, they become dependent, and their body becomes accustomed to the substance in their system. During detox, patients experience withdrawal symptoms that vary in length and severity. These can be extremely uncomfortable and painful.
Some of the common alcohol detox and withdrawal symptoms are:
- Headaches
- Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Tremors
- Abnormal rapid breathing
- Hyperthermia
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
After detox, the next stage of alcohol treatment involves participating in inpatient rehab and therapy programs. Here, patients gain an understanding of what contributed to their addiction and identify their triggers. They develop skills and techniques to cope with triggers and negative emotions. The goal of rehab and therapy is for patients to learn how to safely and effectively maintain their recovery outside rehab.
Find Alcohol Detox & Rehab at Northpoint Nebraska
If you are ready to start your alcohol recovery, contact Northpoint Nebraska at 888.351.3834 to learn more about our alcohol detox and rehab program.