San Diego Addiction Treatment Center
At Healthy Life Recovery, we don’t just get people sober, we teach them how to live a vibrant, fulfilling life free from the shackles of alcohol addiction. Our alcohol rehab in San Diego offers treatment to those who are struggling with their addiction. Because of the prevalence of alcohol in American culture, a lot of people equate abstinence from alcohol with an end to their social life.
At our San Diego addiction treatment center, we know that this is not the case. We show our clients that living a life in recovery from alcoholism is by far more fulfilling than a person who is active in their addiction could possibly imagine. Our expert staff can show you how to have fun without alcohol. We believe that without the crutch of alcohol, our clients can soar.
We get to the root causes of why a person began drinking excessively. By examining the issues that the alcoholic sought to overcome with alcohol we can introduce healthy alternatives. At our alcohol rehab, we teach our clients how to use coping skills and supportive communities to help them deal with cravings and learn to live a Healthy Life.
Alcoholism is the most prominent Substance Use Disorder in America today. An estimated 88 thousand people die from alcohol-related causes every year. Alcohol the third highest cause of preventable death in the United States. However, only 6.5% of people with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) get treatment for this deadly chronic illness.
Many people who struggle with alcohol addiction are hesitant to get help. They worry that admitting that they struggle with alcohol or entering an alcohol rehab will force them to change their lifestyle. Most people are unwilling to give up their coping mechanisms for dealing with day-to-day stress, disappointment, and depression.
Unfortunately, this unwillingness to seek help at an alcohol rehab is what leads alcoholics to stay stuck in the spiral of addiction. There is no cure for Alcoholism, but there is a solution.
There are many options to choose from once an alcoholic decides to reach out for help. At our alcohol rehab in San Diego most people start with a medical detox for alcohol and then move on to an inpatient or outpatient treatment program. This is typically followed up with an aftercare program that will include support groups and a continuing care program.
To effectively treat alcohol addiction, a variety of treatments should be utilized. The most successful treatments in alcohol rehab incorporate psychotherapy, support groups, and medication.
Therapy plays an important part in helping an alcoholic to recover. By teaching a person who has become dependent upon alcohol to interact with their environment in a healthier way, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can reduce the amount of “triggers” that lead an alcoholic to use alcohol. CBT can be utilized in a group or individual environment.
A lot of people relapse after a thirty-day treatment program because they were able to become physically sober when imbibing alcohol wasn’t an option. But as soon as they were released back into their old environment, they found the urge to drink was just as strong as ever.
Relapse-prone alcoholics need to learn to moderate their expectations on life in order not to become frustrated and stressed out when things don’t go their way. An alcohol rehab helps to address the issues that those who struggle with addiction have. By delving into the deep dissatisfaction with life that typically accompanies alcoholism, an alcoholic can take steps to be more at ease with their environment and those around them.
Support Groups are key to lasting recovery from alcohol addiction. The benefits of Therapeutic Communities in treating Substance Abuse Disorders has been recognized by the medical community. These support groups have been historically useful in fostering accountability and moral support for addicts in recovery dating back almost a hundred years.
Many people are aware of organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous, but other groups have cropped up to offer new options for people looking for other ways to surround themselves with a support system. Groups like SMART Recovery and Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) offer support groups that aren’t as focused on spirituality.
Many alcohol rehab treatment programs also offer medication-assisted treatment to help ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings in recovering alcoholics. One of the most common of these medications is Naltrexone.
Naltrexone was created to black the opioid receptors in a person’s brain so that they wouldn’t experience a euphoric ‘high’ from taking prescription opiates and heroin. It was later discovered that the medication was also useful in counteracting an alcoholic’s cravings for alcohol. It has been proven to help people drink less or quit drinking entirely. It is also available in the form of a long-lasting injection called Vivitrol that allows the medication to stay in a user’s bloodstream without the need for daily oral dosages.
Outpatient rehab for alcohol addiction is a good choice for alcoholics who cannot completely walk away from their professional and familial obligations. While participating in an outpatient rehab program, alcoholics typically live in a sober living facility, or back at home with their families. They spend 5 to 8 hours a day participating in group counseling, individual therapy, and other supportive activities.
Healthy Life Recovery’s intensive outpatient program (IOP) provide structure and support for people stepping down from an inpatient rehab. During the outpatient process, our clients will be able to work through their experience with Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms (PAWS) and get support from psychological professions for any issues that they may encounter in early sobriety.
Alcohol is a very dangerous drug to quit ‘cold turkey’. Because alcohol affects every organ in the human body, a person who has become dependent on alcohol should never suddenly stop drinking without medical oversight. Along with Benzodiazepines, Alcohol is one of the few drugs that can be fatal if detox is not professionally performed. This is why going through treatment at an alcohol rehab is so important.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can range from uncomfortable to dangerous. Some mild symptoms include sweating, headaches, and shaky hands. Others are more extreme like nausea, vomiting, and insomnia. But the far end of the spectrum includes seizures, panic attacks, and nightmarish delusions.
A person’s blood pressure and heart rate will also typically raise during the detox process, which can lead to complications. Because a person will likely experience some range of these symptoms, depending on the extent of their addiction. A professional medical detox is always recommended.
After completing a medical detox due to alcohol abuse or binge drinking, inpatient treatment for alcoholism can be beneficial. Inpatient facilities offer individual therapy, group therapy, and medication management when needed. Alcohol treatment can be customized to fit individual needs and diagnoses.
Alcohol treatment at an residential treatment center involves 24/7 care while staying on site. Treatment typically lasts about 30 days and further care can be provided at an outpatient alcohol rehab center.
Sean Leonard is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. He received his master’s degree in adult geriatric primary care nurse practitioner from Walden University and a second postmaster specialty in psychiatry mental health nurse practitioner from Rocky Mountain University. Sean has experience working in various diverse settings, including an outpatient clinic, inpatient detox and rehab, psychiatric emergency, and dual diagnosis programs. His specialty areas include substance abuse, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, PTSD, ADHD, and OCD.
Dr. John Allen, MD is a psychiatrist in El Cajon, CA and has over 45 years of experience in the medical field. Dr. Allen has extensive experience in Addiction & Substance Abuse and Psychotic Disorders. He graduated from Baylor University in 1976.
