Could a good-quality men’s addiction program be what you need right now? You know that your drinking’s been spiraling out of control. People have begun commenting on it. But what goes on at the alcohol addiction treatment center Murrieta County CA locals would call?
What’s an Alcohol Use Disorder?
It’s a fancy word for a drinking problem. It starts differently for everyone. Almost all people begin with binge-drinking. Maybe you do it when you’re out with others.
Or maybe you’re looking for the alcohol’s numbing effects and drink until you reach it. However, there comes the time when the body develops a tolerance to alcohol. You now have to down more drinks for the same results. You do it, of course.
One day, you wake up to withdrawal symptoms. You might not realize it at first. You have a splitting headache, your stomach heaves, and you’re anxious. Similarly, your hands shake.
You have a drink, and the symptoms go away. When it happens, again and again, you realize that these are signs of withdrawal. This is when it hits you: You have a drinking problem. It’s time to get help.
Quitting Alcohol Cold Turkey at Home is a Bad Idea
Withdrawal is unpleasant. But when it comes to alcohol, it can be downright dangerous. That’s because alcohol is a nervous system depressant. When you no longer provide your body with the drug, the withdrawal symptoms can take on different forms.
You already know of the shakes, the gastrointestinal upset, and the headaches. Besides that, there’s a risk for seizures. Some men experience hallucinations. Similarly, there’s the risk of delirium tremens.
At a detox facility, therapists understand what you’re dealing with. They’ll help with medication-assisted treatment that controls cravings and pain. Most importantly, they monitor you throughout the experience. If you need medical intervention, they’re right there.
In a short three to five days, you wake up and no longer experience the shakes. That’s when you know that you’ve beaten the physical addiction to the drug. However, there’s still the psychological dependency — this one you can tackle while undergoing clinical care.
Rehab is the Path to Lifelong Sobriety
At a men’s rehab program in Riverside County, you get gender-specific treatment. There’s no unisex curriculum but rather an approach that builds on your unique strengths. Possible modalities include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which emphasizes the importance of healing dysfunctional patterns
- Experiential treatment as a tool for expressing yourself in alternative ways
- Exercise therapy, which encourages you to embrace a healthier lifestyle after program graduation
- Couples counseling as a tool for working on co-dependency and anger management problems
- Motivational interviewing, which is instrumental in helping you envision a life of sobriety
Almost all men make it through rehab in about 30 days. Even so, some facilities offer extended stays. Examples might include 60 and 90-day stays. These give you the time you need to heal.
Gender-Specific Aftercare
Once you finish your stay at a men’s alcohol rehab program, you have additional options. Some men return home to live with friends or loved ones. Others choose to enroll at a sober living facility. It’s an in-between step.
You don’t live on your own, but you’re no longer at the rehab center, either. Therefore, you prepare yourself to return to regular life. You look for work or return to your job. Similarly, you might decide to go back to school.
At the sober living home, you practice dealing with stressors and triggers. Therapy prepared you for most of them. But some might come out of the left field. Therefore, the encouragement of peers and the support of staff members serve as a safety net.
Some men stay for just a few months. Others remain for a year or longer. It’s up to you to decide when you’re ready to move on. But first, you have to choose to make the call for help.
Don’t wait any longer. The addiction won’t get better on its own. Rather, it’ll worsen. Call for help today while you’re thinking about it.