Alcohol addiction is also called alcoholism, alcohol abuse or misuse, alcohol dependence, or alcohol use disorder (AUD). It is a particularly dangerous condition because, unlike illegal street drugs or prescription drugs, alcohol is legal, easily available, and socially acceptable. This makes it harder for people to realize that their drinking patterns are problematic. Adherence to an after-care plan is crucial in maintaining recovery progress. After completing a formal treatment program, individuals often receive an after-care plan tailored to their specific needs. This plan may include ongoing therapy, support group participation, and regular check-ins with healthcare professionals.
The 12 Steps
The initial stage of alcohol recovery, known as detoxification, is a critical and challenging period that lays the groundwork for long-term sobriety. The presence of medical professionals during this phase is essential to manage these symptoms safely. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals.
- Gaining the skills to avoid relapse is a necessary part of the recovery process.
- If these symptoms make it harder for you to stay sober, medications may help.
- Understanding the importance of alcohol recovery and familiarizing oneself with the stages involved can provide individuals with a roadmap to navigate their journey effectively.
- We know the ups and downs can be confusing, and may cause you to question who you really are without alcohol.
- However, you can reverse some of the damage through a combination of healthy habits.
- In therapy, feeling better equipped in your daily life shows that your new skills are developing.
Stage 4: Rehabilitation and Therapy
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, reach out to the resources listed above and take the first step toward a better life. This progression represents the never-ending improvements that come with a successful recovery process. The left half represents your descent from casual drinking to alcohol addiction.
- Physically, this process aims to lower alcohol concentration in your blood.
- Ultimately, late recovery is about integrating sobriety into one’s daily life and ensuring that the necessary support mechanisms are in place to deal with the ups and downs of life without reverting to alcohol use.
- It’s not possible to undo the damage that was done, but it is possible to build new sources of self-respect by acknowledging past harms, repairing relationships, and maintaining the commitment to recovery.
- During treatment, some people will embrace the new, healthy habits they’re learning.
Healthy Coping Tools Instead of Alcohol Use
Individuals grappling with substance use disorder (SUD) and addiction often face complex challenges, necessitating a multifaceted approach for resolution. The journey to recovery is highly individualized, with diverse paths tailored to unique circumstances. One influential framework guiding this process is the “Transtheoretical Model of Change” (TTM), developed by Dr. James Prochaska and Dr. Carlo DiClemente. This model delineates six stages through which individuals cycle during their recovery journey, elucidating the mechanisms that drive behavioral transformations. These stages were developed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse stages of alcoholic recovery as a resource on individual drug counseling for healthcare providers, but it is also a useful model for recovery from alcohol addiction.
Detoxification is a crucial step towards recovery, but it is important to remember that it is only the beginning. Following detoxification, individuals should continue with comprehensive treatment and therapy to address the underlying causes of addiction and develop strategies for long-term sobriety. The next stage, Stage 4, focuses on rehabilitation and therapy, which we will explore in the following section. Sometimes people in this stage do show up for addiction treatment, but it’s not by their own volition.
- Additionally, sobriety strategies such as developing new hobbies, establishing routines, and seeking counseling can further enhance the recovery journey.
- Recovering alcoholics enter the maintenance stage, which can last anywhere from six months to years.
- Because families are interactive systems, everyone is affected, usually in ways they are not even aware of.
- It supports your recovery after you leave more intensive treatment, like residential rehab.
- As individuals traverse the stages – pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination – the integration of motivational interviewing ensures a tailored and responsive approach.
How Is Alcoholism Treated?
During this period, you can expect to develop new skills you may have never learned that made you more susceptible to AUD in the first place. Clinical evidence suggests that the most common causes of relapse during this stage are neglecting self-care or not attending self-help groups. So far, there’s no consensus on the medical definition of recovery in alcohol treatment literature. Naloxone is a powerful tool for preventing deaths from opioid overdoses.
However, the most common attempts to alter drinking patterns involve things like switching brands or trying to scale back from liquor to beer or wine. Relationships with family and friends begin to deteriorate as the person’s focus shifts more toward drinking. The person then deals with the stress of these alcohol-induced problems by drinking more. Alcohol has a remarkable ability to allow drinkers to forget or stop caring about their issues, which is why it’s so tempting to escalate when someone is feeling stressed. Social drinking to curb anxiety may seem harmless, and many people can do it without moving further through the stages of alcohol use.