Tag Archives: Alcohol Rehab

Addiction Recovery, Alcohol Abuse, Alcohol Addiction, Alcohol Rehab, Alcoholism Treatment, General Issues, Signs And Symptoms

While You Wait: Talking to Your Boss Before Alcohol Rehab

In this post, we’ll be continuing our series about the best ways to fill your time before you start addiction treatment. Today we’re talking about one of the most difficult steps you have to take before heading off to treatment: talking to your boss.

Before you talk to your boss, one important step is to get informed. Find out more about your insurance policy and the amount of time you can take off. Under the Affordable Care Act, mental and behavioral health benefits are considered essential services. All healthcare plans must cover substance abuse treatment.[1] This information will be very helpful and useful to know. You are also protected by law—specifically the Americans with Disabilities Act—when you are an addict.[2] (There are some exceptions to this law if you are currently using illegal drugs.) Once you have that information, it is time to schedule a time to talk to your boss.

When to Talk to Your Boss About Alcohol Rehab

Man talking to bossThe timing is important when you talk to your boss about going to alcohol rehab. On most occasions, you don’t want to tell them before you have a date lined up for treatment.The reason for this is if treatment takes longer than you planned, you may find yourself without a job before you were expecting it. You also don’t want to wait too long,or they may hear rumors from co-workers about your alcohol addiction treatment.

The best idea is to avoid discussing your plans for alcohol rehab with any co-workers—or anyone at work—until you have spoken with your boss. If making sure you have a job when you return is a priority, wait until you have some solid information to give to your supervisor(regarding the dates you will be gone).

How to Talk About Alcohol Rehab with Your Supervisor

You might be anxious or apprehensive to have this conversation with your boss. That’s understandable because you are simultaneously admitting that you have an alcohol addiction issue and that you will be away from work for a given period. In some cases, your boss may not be surprised at all that you are seeking alcohol addiction treatment. Even if you think that you’ve kept your alcoholism completely separate from your job, the chances are that those who work with you have picked up on the signs.

Most bosses will be glad that you are getting the help that you need to heal. However, it might be impossible for them to hold your position open in wait for your return. It’s not personal, but their business must function in your absence, and if you hold a key position to your employer’s operation, then it may be necessary for them to hire someone when you leave – and it’s not necessarily fair for that person to be fired when you come back.

Don’t lose hope. Keep things positive, and burn no bridges. Don’t blame anyone or cause a fight. You never know when a position will open up again. If not, you can always get a great reference to take with you. After you complete alcohol rehab, you can use that reference to get a new job.

Are you currently in this stage where you are not sure what to tell your boss about alcohol rehab? Feel free to contact us at Michael’s House. We are here to help you move forward.

[1] https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/mental-health-substance-abuse-coverage/ Mental Health and Substance Abuse Coverage.

[2] https://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/PHD1091/PHD1091.pdf Are You In Recovery From Alcohol and Drug Problems? Know Your Rights.

Alcohol Abuse, Alcohol Addiction, Alcohol Rehab, Alcoholism Treatment, General Issues, Sobriety, Substance Abuse

While You Wait: Preparing Yourself Mentally for Alcohol Rehab

This is the first of a six-post look at preparing for alcohol rehab. Today we talk about getting ready for rehab when you have to wait for treatment to begin.

Beginning treatment as soon as possible is always best. However you may face delays due to waitlists at your treatment program of choice. You may have to wrap up a few things at work or home before you can leave. Travel logistics may mean beginning treatment a few days or a week from now as you arrange flights or other transportation. As long as you remain mentally prepared, these delays don’t have to derail your recovery. Preparing yourself involves staying focused, relaxed and informed. It involves maintaining your commitment to starting a drug and alcohol-free life.

Contemplative manRecovery involves change. This is no secret. You want change at this point. Anything is better than the stagnation addiction provides. However there is also security and comfort in the routine thoughts and actions surrounding alcohol use. Don’t let stepping outside this comfort zone keep you from continuing with recovery. As you mentally prepare for rehab, you will begin to think about change and about life after recovery. You may worry about what the future holds. It is okay to be afraid and to worry. These are natural reactions to change. It is not okay to let this fear take over and reverse your decision to get well. Stay mentally prepared for rehab by remembering why you want rehab. Make lists of the pros and cons of continued drug use. Ask friends and family members to help you stay motivated.

Your fears about the future may be more than a reaction to change. They may stem from a co-occurring anxiety issue. Anxiety and alcohol addiction often overlap.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America[1] explains, “About 20 percent of people with social anxiety disorder also suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence…Although alcohol can temporarily reduce symptoms of social anxiety – which is the reason many turn to it – alcohol can also increase anxiety, irritability, or depression a few hours later or the next day. Even moderate amounts of alcohol can affect one’s mood and anxiety level.”

You may have begun drinking to self-medicate anxiety symptoms, or these symptoms may have arisen as a result of your drinking. No matter the cause, know that feeling more than just generally worried about rehab is perfectly normal. Acknowledge that it is okay to feel as you do, and don’t let these feelings keep you from recovery.

Woman in hoodie on beachMentally prepare yourself by practicing relaxation and stress relief techniques. Take deep breaths, go for walks, and distract yourself with favorite hobbies or entertainment. Reach out to professionals when feelings are too much to manage on your own. Your future rehab center will be more than happy to talk with you on the phone and help you mentally prepare yourself any time during your wait.

A wait before rehab provides the perfect opportunity to learn more about addiction and recovery. Take this time to read about your disease and about just what treatment involves. Learn about the science and statistics behind rehab. Read first-hand accounts from people now in active recovery. These actions will help you mentally prepare for rehab. They take fear of the unknown out of the equation, as you will learn just what to expect during your treatment.

Mentally prepare for rehab by spending time with friends and family while you wait. Loved ones can help distract you when you begin to worry about the future. They can help provide motivation if your commitment begins to falter.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration[2] shares, “Family members may have a stronger desire to move toward overall improved functioning in the family system, thus compelling and even providing leverage for the patient to seek and/or remain in treatment through periods of ambivalence about achieving a sober lifestyle.”

Let your friends and family support you as you mentally prepare for rehab. If you struggle to manage your worries or stay committed, lean on loved ones to get you through. By choosing treatment and beginning the path to recovery, you give yourself the opportunity to become a better parent, child, sibling and friend.

Make sure you check out our second installment in the “While You Wait” series: Talking to Your Boss Before Alcohol Rehab. Call Michael’s House to learn more about beginning your recovery as soon as possible. Prepare yourself for a better life by choosing our integrated, professional care.

[1] https://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder/social-anxiety-and-alcohol-abuse. “Social Anxiety and Alcohol Abuse.” Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Web. 6 Apr 2017.

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64269/. Substance Abuse Treatment and Family Therapy. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2004. Web. 6 Apr 2017.

Alcohol Rehab, Alcoholism Treatment, Drug Rehab, Drug Treatment, General Issues

What to do if Your Insurance Company Refuses to Pay for Rehab

If you struggle with substance abuse, it is important to know there are laws on the books that require group insurance health plans to cover addiction treatment.

Health insurance formsGroup health insurance plans must follow all state laws and provide for any and all additional coverage requested by an employer. The truth is that some insurance providers will do anything and everything they can to deny individuals coverage for drug and alcohol addiction treatment. The financial incentive to do so is simply too great for them not to fight payment—or to pay the least amount possible.

The following is a look at what you can do if your insurance company refuses payment or reimbursement for expenses associated with rehab treatment.

Check Your Employee Handbook

The first stop should always be your employee benefits handbook. Your company may have a policy in place that overrides the decision of the insurance company. While you may be hesitant to contact your employer’s human resource department regarding addiction treatment, as long as you are not currently using illegal drugs, you are protected by law. The Americans with Disabilities Act states that you cannot be fired by your employer for disability.[1]

Ask Government Agencies for Help

State offices are the ones responsible for the enforcement of addiction treatment insurance laws. If you feel that you are not getting the coverage required by law, contact the office of the state insurance department, state health department or even the attorney general’s office.The Affordable Care Act states that mental and behavioral health services are essential health benefits. All health insurance plans must cover counseling, mental health inpatient services and substance use disorder treatment.[2]

Ask the Rehab Center for Help

Drug and alcohol rehab centers will generally stand by you as you work through coverage issues with an insurance company. In addition, addiction treatment centers may be able to provide some alternatives to help offset the cost of care such as private financing through their network of lenders. Many treatment centers offer payment plans as well as other flexible options.

Only Work With the Best Addiction Treatment Centers

High-quality drug and alcohol rehab programs understand the real seriousness of addiction.These treatment centers will allow you to start treatment while you settle things with your insurance provider. Most importantly, you should never delay treatment due to a conflict with your insurance company. Breaking the cycle of addiction and obtaining professional help is the most important thing you can do for your future. It is important to know where you stand with the law and to get as much information up front as possible. All other matters will work themselves out over time. If you’d like to talk to one of our admissions counselors at Michael’s House, know we are here to help. We want to help you get sober and live a healthy life. Get the information and support you need so you can move forward.

[1] https://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/PHD1091/PHD1091.pdf Know Your Rights.

[2] https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/mental-health-substance-abuse-coverage/ Mental Health and Substance Abuse Coverage

Addiction Recovery, Alcohol Rehab, Drug Rehab, General Issues, Sober Living

Alternatives to a 12-Step Program

If you struggle with substance abuse or addiction, you’ve likely heard that the secret to winning the battle against your addiction is using the 12 Steps.

Whether the 12 Steps you’re using have been adjusted for a process addiction, like gambling, they remain the most widely implemented treatment module for alcoholics and addicts. However, a 12-step program is not the only available program on the market. There are alternatives available that do not include spirituality with the addiction recovery process. As a result, the alternative approaches to the traditional 12 Steps cater to the mindset of logical addicts and alcoholics on the spectrum of afflicted individuals. Let’s look closer at a few of these methods.

The SMART Recovery model

SMART recovery model groupSMART is an acronym for Self Management And Recovery Training. SMART advocates point out their model’s effectiveness in keeping abreast of current research in the addiction and alcoholism fields. They base their recovery guidelines on science rather than spiritual principles. In addition, SMART’s face-to-face forums are open to discussion among members. While Alcoholic Anonymous meetings often require members to refrain from “cross talk” or exchanging narratives throughout the course of the meeting. SMART recovery is more lenient than a traditional AA meeting. Conversation is welcomed with open arms as long as it is conducive to the topic at hand.

SMART is based on scientific research, advocates the appropriate use of prescribed medications and psychological treatments. SMART also teaches members the tools to cope with stress in a healthy way. SMART groups even touch upon alternative venues for which to have fun in sobriety.

Rational Recovery

Rational Recovery (RR) is another alternative approach to the 12 Steps. This approach utilizes Addictive Voice Recognition Technique (AVRT). RR trains participants to distinguish between the healthy, logical side of their brain and the unhealthy hemisphere.

Rational Recovery builds many of its lessons around the premise that the addictive voice, routinely personified as “the beast” which is an evil creature that dwells within all human beings as a byproduct of instinct. “The beast” seeks pleasure whether the source is from sex, drugs, or fluids. The ability to quiet the beast is where true self-discipline and AVRT techniques are put to the test.

Rational Recovery tries to narrow down addiction and alcoholism into simple blocks of distinguishable features that make it manageable for members on a daily basis. Rational Recovery is controversial in the sense that it dismisses the disease concept of addiction. Instead, this approach considers addiction to be a lack of self-will.

Many find this message to be somewhat offensive. For instance, as the authors of Rational Recovery describe the beast, they write,

“Your survival appetite is aimed at the wrong stuff, to be sure, but addiction is more a reflection of health than of a mysterious disease. The desire for pleasure fades among sick or diseased people, further suggesting that addiction is a reflection of health rather than a disease process.”

In RR, some call the human mid-brain “the party center,” because of the bond between pleasure and addiction. Of course, it is often quite stupid (self-defeating) to act on healthy desires or impulses, as in substance addictions. Adjectives such as “stupid” and “ridiculous” are commonly utilized in the context of describing traditional methods of alcoholism and addiction treatment, i.e. the 12 Steps.

Accelerated Recovery

Accelerated Recovery claims to have the best non-12-step approach to breaking dependence on alcohol. This program treats the physical and psychological problems alcoholism but does not focus on spirituality. As you can tell, less God and more science is the trend among non-12-Step recovery approaches.

There will always be alternative approaches to the 12-steps cropping up. It is important to remember that recovery is not just about stopping one isolated behavior (drug use) but learning a new way of life.[1] Human beings love to debate, and the 12-step modality as the gold standard is a topic of no exception.

No matter what approach you find is the best fit for you, it is important to get sober.

Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior.[2] If you need help with a substance abuse problem, please reach out to one of our admissions coordinators. We are there to answer any questions you have and can even help you determine what forms of treatment are covered by your insurance. Don’t wait. Make this important call today.

[1] Why the Hostility Toward the 12 Steps? Sack, David. Psychology Today. Published on Nov 20th, 2012.

[2] https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction Treatment Approaches For Drug Addiction.

Alcohol Abuse, Alcohol Addiction, Alcohol Rehab, Alcoholism Treatment, General Issues

6 Warning Signs of Alcoholism

Warning Signs of Alcoholism

 

What Are The Warning Signs Of Alcoholism To Look Out For

Many people who struggle with alcohol use really don’t think they have a problem. But most of the time, friends and loved ones around them can see the warning signs of a problem. If you feel like people get on your case about drinking or you wonder if your drinking has become problematic, you need to read this article. See if you find yourself in any of these following descriptions.

1. Drinking Excessive Amounts of Alcohol

Social or moderate drinking is defined as no more than one to two drinks per day for most people, depending on body weight and gender. Social or moderate drinking can be problematic if it causes undesirable side effects.

When people have five or more drinks in a day, it’s considered binge drinking. Many alcoholics eventually drink far more than this. It’s not uncommon for individuals with advanced alcoholism to have a dozen drinks or more each day. However, problem drinking often begins slowly and many drinkers find that they need to drink increasing amounts in order to feel the original effects of alcohol consumption.

2. Loss of Control While Drinking

At some point, many people who struggle with alcoholism make a promise to themselves or another person that they will cut back on their drinking. However, they are rarely able to keep this promise. They cannot stop drinking when they have reached a certain amount. They don’t think ahead about the consequences of drinking too much. Once they start drinking, they keep going until they are completely intoxicated.

>>> Read This Next: Why Alcohol Detox Is Important and How It Works

3. Persistent Use of Alcohol Despite Awareness of Problems

Getting a DUI or receiving divorce papers may not be enough to make an alcoholic change their life. Alcoholics are often made aware of the problems caused by their drinking. They may feel powerless to change.

Other individuals may be so caught up in their denial that they don’t understand the full impact of these consequences. Their downward spiral continues because they lose control and perspective. It may be increasingly difficult to face the problems caused by drinking, but it is possible to heal, no matter how severe the problems have been.

4. Lots of Time Spent on Alcohol-Related Activities

Alcoholics spend a great deal of time engaged in alcohol-related activities. They also may neglect nearly everything else that matters to them. Family commitments, job requirements, financial obligations, hobbies, home and property care – all of these activities go by the wayside. An alcoholic will often defend his or her actions by saying they need to unwind or that no one understands their problems.

5. Experiencing Withdrawal Symptoms

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms develop when a heavy drinker suddenly stops all alcohol use. Some physical symptoms include nausea, vomiting, insomnia, rapid heartbeat, sweating, headaches, and tremors. A person may also feel fatigue, symptoms of depression, difficulty concentrating, irritability, or anxiety. Anyone with severe withdrawal symptoms such as fever, blackouts, hallucinations, or convulsions should seek immediate medical help.

6. Increased Tolerance of Alcohol

After drinking excessively for some time, a person’s body develops a tolerance for alcohol. This occurs when drinkers need to consume more alcohol to feel the same effect that they once felt. Many alcoholics think they don’t have a problem because they don’t always feel drunk when drinking. They still do a lot of damage to their body despite a lack of feeling impaired or intoxicated.

When Symptoms Add Up for Alcoholism

What were your results? If you found just one bit of truth in this article, you may want to consider how drinking is affecting your life. It may be time to ask some questions about getting sober. Please call our addiction treatment professionals today. We understand your concerns and will help you find solutions that fit your lifestyle.

Alcohol Abuse, Alcohol Addiction, Alcohol Rehab, General Issues

Addiction Relapse: Getting Back On Track

Your drug rehab counselor says relapse can happen to anyone going through recovery. Your recovery friends tell you that relapse is part of the process, it’s not the end of the world, and you can get through it.

That’s what they say, anyway. It sure feels like the bottom of a dark pit to you.

Your efforts with sobriety are not lost just because you’ve had a relapse. The positive changes you find in recovery are never lost.You just need to find your recovery again– it’s still yours and it’s still inside you. You may feel down and out now, but you are just one step away from getting your sobriety back on track.

Take One Step Back to Sobriety

Woman in hoodie on beachThat’s right, it just takes one step to get back on the path of sobriety. What is that step? It’s the decision that you are going to be sober for the next moment, no matter what it takes. Don’t think about next week, last month, yesterday, or tomorrow.

The next moment is all you need to focus on. Before long, the next moment turns into the moment after that, and the next five minutes, and the next hour. Whatever you need to do to stay sober for the very near future will get you through the worst of it.

Get in touch with a good sober friend and start talking. Go somewhere with a lot people where you can just walk around for a while. Get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air, maybe even some sunshine. Find some good music and soak it up. Do something that distracts you from the cravings, changes your mood, gets you out of isolation, or gets you away from your triggers.

Put One Foot in Front of the Other

Black-and-white thinking is a big part of addiction. Even when you are sober, this kind of negative, all-or-nothing outlook can make sobriety challenging. You may tend to look too far out into the future with many “what if” questions.

It will help you more to stay with your current moment of reality. When you get caught up in lots of worry about staying sober in the future, you lose sight of what you can do to be sober right here and now. The future will take care of itself. Stay where you have the power; you have power in the moment you are in at this very moment.

Rebuild Your Sobriety After Relapse

Take that one small step towards sobriety and slowly build your future again. Don’t let the emotional leftovers of your relapse take away the importance of this first step. It’s the beginning of your sobriety and it’s important. If you have trouble taking this first step, talk to a drug or alcohol rehab counselor for more help. You can call us anytime to learn more about getting and staying sober.

Alcohol Abuse, Alcohol Addiction, Drug Abuse, Drug Addiction, General Issues, Sobriety

Managing Your Emotions is the Key to Sobriety

Addiction is an emotional disease. You may have turned to drugs or alcohol as a way to run away from your emotions. You may have found your emotions too painful or difficult to handle. Substances promised an easy escape.

However that escape ended up causing more emotional problems than it solved. Drugs didn’t make your life any better. They didn’t erase any emotions, and even if they buried them at first, they stopped doing so a long time ago. Sobriety is as emotional as addiction, but sober emotions are productive. They help you express yourself, process your experiences, and move forward in life. Substance use only takes you backwards. Sobriety isn’t about erasing emotions, as that is something no one can do. Sobriety involves learning to manage your emotions and to grow and become stronger as a result.

How Emotions Lead to Drug Addiction

Emotions lead to substance use. You may struggle with depression, anxiety or another mental health concern. You may face dramatic life changes or serious physical health issues. You may simply not know how to deal with everyday feelings. This is okay. You don’t have to know how to manage your mental health issue. You don’t have to know how to cope with the challenges that arise in any and every life. You just have to know that drug use isn’t the right answer. You have to reach out so you can learn. As Scientific American[1] explains,

“Recovery programs teach these fundamental principles of emotional regulation because addicts do not know them intuitively.”

If you struggle with addiction, you most likely struggle with managing emotions. This is normal. Treatment teaches emotional regulation skills for just this reason. You can learn how to healthily process thoughts and feelings.

How to Manage Emotions in Recovery

Managing emotions begins with learning how to do so. As mentioned above, treatment exists for just this reason. Therapists help you recognize unhealthy responses to feelings or situations. They help you develop positive processing and coping methods. This doesn’t mean you get to avoid emotions in recovery. You’ve tried doing that already with drugs or alcohol, and it doesn’t work. Managing emotions means learning how to experience them, accept them, move forward, and feel better. Treatment typically first teaches you distraction techniques. Distraction is not a permanent solution for emotions, but it helps you pause before having to process them. This puts time and space between you and potentially triggering thoughts or situations.

The Association for Psychological Science[2] shares, “Disengagement at an early stage can successfully modulate low- and high-intensity emotional information before it gathers force.”

Delaying–not avoiding–emotions helps you take the power out of them. It helps you keep emotions at a manageable level and to avoid impulsive reactions such as reaching for a former drug of choice. Treatment helps you develop an array of distraction techniques that will work for you. This gives you time and space to avoid relapse and manage your emotions rather than react to them.

Man listening to headphonesSome techniques for immediately managing emotions include physical activity or listening to music or watching a show. You can call up a friend or therapist and talk about how you feel or instead talk about anything but that. Consider doing the opposite of what you feel: forgiving someone if you are angry, telling a joke if you feel sad. Distraction and delaying are good ways to manage emotions and maintain sobriety. Avoidance is not. Distraction works so that you can reexamine emotions when they are less powerful, when you are more in control of your thoughts and behaviors.

At this later time, you can acknowledge how you feel or felt. You can feel embarrassed, cheated, lonely or even happy.  Once you acknowledge your emotions, you can do many things to keep them from taking over your life. Notice the thoughts that go along with these emotions. If they are negative, challenge them with something more positive. Tell yourself that your feelings will come and go and that feelings are a normal part of life. The more aware you are of your emotions, the better you can experience them, let them go, and move forward. You can remove their influence and keep your sobriety.

[1] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-nuts-and-bolts-of-emotional-sobriety/. “The Nuts and Bolts of Emotional Sobriety.” Scientific American. 1 Mar 2012. Web. 21 Mar 2017.

[2] http://people.socsci.tau.ac.il/mu/galsheppes/files/2016/10/Sheppes-G.-Scheibe-S.-Suri-G.-Gross-J.J.-2011.-Emotion-Regulation-Choice.pdf. “Emotion-Regulation Choice.” Association for Psychological Science. 29 Sep 2011. Web. 21 Mar 2017.

Addiction Recovery, Alcohol Abuse, Alcohol Addiction, Alcohol Rehab, Alcoholism Treatment, General Issues

At-Risk Alcohol Abuse Among Older People

When you think about older people drinking alcohol, so many misconceptions and stereotypes exist. A new revealing study done by the school of medicine UCLA exposes much more about risky drinking by people 60 years old and older.[1] Many people assume that drinking at an older age isn’t that much of a problem or that not much can be done if a problem exists. But a new understanding of the risks of drinking for older people can help you or a loved one get the treatment you need.

Health Risk Factors

Elderly woman drinkingAccording to the UCLA study, older drinkers are much more likely to take a variety of medication which can increase their risk of developing complications from alcohol use. Some medicines can be dangerous when combined with alcohol, and certain health conditions can significantly worsen with heavy alcohol use, especially heart and liver conditions. Some older drinkers are at risk because they drink alone, due to the recent death of a spouse or other loved one or a divorce. Older drinkers are also at great risk for injury because of more frail bones, worsened sense of balance, or weakened muscles. The National Institute on Aging lists several risk factors for older adults who drink too much over time.[2]

Drinking too much over time or as an older adult can:

  • Lead to some kinds of cancer, liver damage, immune system disorders, and brain damage.
  • Worsen some health conditions like osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure and ulcers.
  • Make some medical problems hard for doctors to find and treat because alcohol damages causes changes in the heart and blood vessels. These changes can dull pain or other symptoms that might be warning signs of a problem.
  • Increase forgetfulness and confusion in some older people which could be mistaken for signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

Older Alcohol Abuse Statistics

The UCLA study found that alcohol issues were slightly different for different cultural, educational and age groups. Caucasians were more than twice as likely to have risky drinking then Asians. Persons age 60 to 64 were more than twice as likely to have a drinking problem as those 80 years or older. Graduating from high school seemed to decrease an older person’s chances for risky drinking by 2.5 times. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, adults who are 65 years of age or older and on no medication should have no more than three drinks on a given day or seven drinks in a week.[3]

Alcohol Rehab for the Mature Adult

Older people tend to be somewhat ignored when it comes to alcoholism. People often assume that the symptoms associated with alcoholism are just a normal part of aging. But too much alcohol in the older adult can have disastrous consequences. Dangerous medication and alcohol combinations, falls, and accelerated disease can all shorten or dramatically impair a person’s quality of life. No one wants this for their older relatives.

Realizing you or a loved one has a problem and asking for help is the first and most important step in alcohol recovery no matter a person’s age. For the older person struggling with alcoholism, family support is crucial for successful treatment.

The older alcoholic may doubt that he or she can change, especially after so many years. But with family participation and encouragement, older people with at-risk drinking can improve and even save their lives by getting the right treatment. For more information about helping an older loved one struggling with alcohol abuse, call our toll-free number now.

[1] University of California, Los Angeles. “High Rates of At-Risk Drinking Among Elderly Adults, Study Finds,” Science Daily, May 1, 2010. Accessed March 20, 2017. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100429092944.htm

[2] National Institute on Aging. “Alcohol Use in Older People,” March 2012. Accessed March 20, 2017. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/alcohol-use-older-people

[3] National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “Older Adults.” Accessed March 20, 2017.  https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/alcohol-use-older-people

Alcohol Addiction, Alcohol Rehab, General Issues

10 Signs You May Need Alcohol Rehab

Many individuals who have a drinking problem fail to ask themselves the tough questions. They think they are fooling everyone into believing that their drinking is under control, when in actuality, the only person they are misleading is themselves.

The following represent the essential questions that every individual who is struggling with alcohol needs to ask about their own behavior. If you answer yes to one or more of these questions, there is a strong chance that you need alcohol rehab – and should contact a facility in your area.

10 Important Signs That You May Need Alcohol Rehab

1. You drink at socially unacceptable times of the day – including in the morning when you first wake up, or at lunch during the work day.

2. You drinking has caused you to become isolated from friends and family.

3. You drink alone, without the need for social interaction

4. You have gotten into trouble with the law as a result of your drinking problem.

5. You have seen your performance at work or school suffer as a result of drinking

6. You engage in more than two binge drinking episodes each week

7. You have missed meetings, dates or appointments because you were hungover or drunk

8. You personal relationships have suffered as a result of your drinking problem

9. You have begun to forgo activities and hobbies you once enjoyed in order to spend more time drinking.

10. Your friends and family have held an alcohol intervention to show you the impact of your drinking problem.

If you see yourself in one or more of the signs above it is time to reach out to an addiction treatment professional. For help with an alcohol addiction, contact an alcohol rehab facility in your area.