Struggling with Alcoholism in Rochester, NY

Seated at the center of one of the largest metropolitan areas in New York, Rochester is the third most populous city in the state, weighing in at over 200,000 people and growing. As one of the very first boomtowns in America, Rochester has a long and rich history with a rapidly growing population.

Unfortunately, as is often the case in a booming metropolis, Rochester has it’s share of problems with alcohol. In the hustle and bustle of the big city, the stress of city life can often make the perfect catalyst for alcohol abuse to take root.

Here at A Better Today, we are dedicated to helping those who suffer from alcohol abuse overcome their dependency. Our therapist have a Master’s-level or higher education and specialize in co-occurring disorders and addiction counseling.

Recognizing the Signs of Abuse

There’s nothing inherently evil about alcohol. Alcohol has been around for centuries and a part of nearly every culture in the world. People everywhere have fermented what they had to make wine, beer, whiskey, mead, vodka, or whatever was the local vintage.

The problem is when somebody takes it too far, drinks too much, and can’t control themselves. How do we identify that point? How can we tell when a person’s drinking has crossed the line from recreation to abuse? There are certain warning signs to watch for that can indicate a pattern of dependency.

Perhaps the first warning sign is a developing tolerance toward alcohol. While commonly viewed as a positive or being able to “hold your alcohol,” tolerance is the first sign of a growing dependence on a substance. If it takes more alcohol than it used to in order to get the same effect, that means the body has adapted to the constant intake and is one of the first signs of addiction.

A lot of people have stories about drinking until they black out and can’t remember what happened. Some are funny, some are scary, but they’re all dangerous. Blacking out is a major warning sign of a person drinking way too much and a good indicator that once that person starts drinking, they’re unable to stop.

Denial is very common among those suffering from alcohol abuse. The reasons for this could range from guilt and shame to genuinely not recognizing the problem. Whatever the reason, if a person hides their drinking from others or lies about how often and how much he or she drinks, that should be cause for concern.

It’s pretty common to have a drink after a hard day to relax. However, when the drink becomes necessary to relax, that’s not a good sign. If a person is genuinely unable to unwind without alcohol, that’s a sign of dependency.

It’s also common to see heavy drinkers experience problems in their personal relationships. Once the drinking has turned to abuse, very often alcohol will become a source of conflict, putting strain on relationships between friends and family. This is a sign that alcohol has become more important than even those closest to that person.

When a person’s drinking has truly gotten out of their control, they will often start to neglect personal and professional responsibilities. They may call in sick to work because they are hungover or still drunk. They may be unable to pick up the kids from school because they are too drunk to drive. They may just blow off plans so they can drink. When this happens, it means alcohol has taken over all other priorities and is impairing their ability to function.

Any one of these warning signs is cause for concern. If you notice several of them, either in yourself or someone you care about, do not wait for the situation to escalate. Get help immediately before the situation gets worse.

How A Better Today Can Help

A Better Today Recovery Services offers top quality care in luxury facilities in order to make substance abuse treatment as comfortable as possible. We know that addiction is a disease and thus must be treated as one. Likewise, we know that no two people are the same and what works for one person may not work for another. That is why we tailor each person’s treatment program to suit their individual needs.

Utilizing industry-leading, fact-based research and techniques, A Better Today offers a multitude of treatment and therapy options that have been proven to help many who struggle with substance abuse. Much of our caring and compassionate staff have even been through the same struggle, having overcome their addiction and now devote themselves to helping others.

Individual and group therapy sessions are among the most common programs. Group sessions help clients develop communication skills that may have been lost or perhaps just teaches them how to communicate without the use of alcohol. Individual therapy allows for valuable one-on-one time with a therapist, helping clients break through mental blocks to talk about difficult, uncomfortable, or even outright painful subjects in order to resolve them.

We also offer family therapy sessions as part of our treatment programs. It’s no secret that substance abuse can tear families apart and at A Better Today, we want to bring families back together. Family therapy can help reestablish those channels of communication that may have been damaged by the abuse.

Physical fitness may seem like a bit of a jump (no pun intended), but it can actually play a very important role in a person’s recovery. Our facilities have access to equipment to help you with your physical fitness, which can help regulate hormones that were put out of balance by substance abuse. Physical activity, including but not limited to yoga, helps calm the mind and bring the body back into balance, promoting overall wellbeing.

A Better Today also offers access to sober living facilities. Sometimes when a person completes their treatment program, they don’t quite feel ready to get back out on their own. Sober living provides an “in between” situation where a person can practice the tools and coping mechanisms they learned in rehab while still in a safe environment surrounded by a support group.

The How & Where of Treatment

There are many reasons a person might avoid seeking treatment. One of the most prominent reasons may be the cost of going into rehab. While there’s no denying that treatment can be expensive, recent changes to the industry make it less expensive than you think.

Studies in recent years have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that addiction is, in fact, a brain-altering disease, not a moral failing. This has prompted a lot of changes in the way people view addiction and substance abuse, including the medical industry.

What this means is that healthcare insurance providers now provide coverage for substance abuse treatment the same as they would for any medical condition. At A Better Today, we accept most insurance plans and will work with you to determine the best treatment options for you. Call today to verify your insurance and see what your plan covers.

Now that the “how” is covered, the next question is “where?” While it can be sorely tempting to upset your life as little as possible, many experts strongly recommend traveling for substance abuse treatment. A change of scenery can be healthy for everyone every once in a while, but especially when entering into treatment.

Leaving one’s comfort zone behind is often a frightening prospect, but rather often a necessary one for true growth. Only when we step outside our comfort zone can we experience new things, such as new skills, new friends, and a new outlook. Rehab will bring a lot of new things and it can be difficult to accept when surrounded by the old.

Furthermore, in some cases, the home environment can actually be detrimental to the recovery process. Being surrounded by the same things, places, and people can remind a person of old habits and sometimes even encourage them to pick up said habits again. It’s best to leave potential distractions behind so that one can focus all their attention and efforts on their recovery.

Here at A Better Today, we focus all our attention and efforts on our clients’ recovery and well-being. Many of our own staff have been through the same thing, so they know firsthand the challenge of overcoming substance abuse. Help is available and it’s never too late to make a change. Call (520) 288-8484 today to start your road to recovery.

Contact Us

We're not around right now. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.

Not readable? Change text. captcha txt