Seeking to Alleviate Alcoholism from Lexington?
Lexington is a southern, budding metropolis with more than 300,000 people. Like every city in the country, however, it has an alcohol problem. When someone delves into alcoholism it can wildly distort who they are. A husband may devolve into a pubescent tyrant; a successful career woman could turn into a slothful family member; a child could turn into an adult—suddenly.
Alcoholism is an epidemic that is sweeping the nation and leaving a mess in its wake. Alcoholism preys on the weak and strong alike; it does not discriminate. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, approximately 17 percent of men and 8 percent of women will be dependent on alcohol in their lifetime. Given that, there’s a good chance that someone you know is afflicted by this perilous condition.
How People Develop Alcohol Dependence
The damages caused by alcoholism cannot be understated. Roughly, 100,000 people die each year from alcohol-related causes. If alcohol causes so much damage, why do so many people end up waylaid in alcoholism? Unfortunately, there’s no short or direct answer to this question. However, poorly developed coping skills are often a leading reason why people fall victim to alcohol abuse.
People use alcohol for a myriad of reasons and not everyone who uses it becomes dependent. The danger lies when someone uses alcohol to distract or deflect themselves from the realities of life. The hard part is that alcohol can do that in the short-term. It is classified as a depressant but it masquerades as ‘liquid joy’. When someone first begins using alcohol, they feel a sense of euphoria. Alcohol increases the amount of dopamine produced by the brain. Dopamine is located in the reward center of the brain, and in that way, alcohol tricks the brain into thinking it’s being rewarded. Long-term alcohol abuse can diminish the effect of dopamine and the person is left grasping at straws. Over a consistent period of usage, alcohol tolerance increases within the body meaning that it will take more and more alcohol in order to feel the same desired effect. In many cases, a person will never again feel the same euphoria they experienced during the early, more innocent stages of their drinking.
Though there is no cure for those who have developed a dependence on alcohol, there are plenty of treatment methods that can help people deal with the cravings and feel whole again. Unfortunately, one of the leading methods of “treatment” for alcoholism is incarceration. When people become dependent on alcohol they can do things that they wouldn’t otherwise do, which can result in criminal behavior. In most cases, the solution is institutionalization, but in reality the person needs treatment.
One organization that’s making an effort to disrupt this ineffective treatment method is A Better Today (ABT). At ABT, we try and serve as the counter-narrative in the battle for sobriety. We believe that change is perpetuated by love, support and friendship. We also use the latest psychological and medical methodologies to help effectively treat our patients.
Treatment at A Better Today
ABT sets itself apart from many treatment centers by creating treatment plans that are tailored specifically to match each individual’s needs. We don’t have a one-size-fits-all approach that we dogmatically apply to each person. Rather, we know that every person who walks through our doors is uniquely shaped by their past and their environment.
The first step in treatment at ABT is going through a medically managed withdrawal process. Detoxing from alcohol can be very dangerous but the success rate of undergoing detox with an experienced medical staff eliminates most of the dangers. Some of the common symptoms associated with detox are; shaking, diarrhea, vomiting and insomnia. In more extreme cases, the client will experience hallucinations and tremors, the latter of which could be lethal if not treated by trained medical staff.
Before beginning detox, each client be examined to determine a treatment plan. It’s imperative that the client provide full disclosure to the questions so that the staff can develop a treatment plan going forward. Due to the hazards involved with detox, we provide medications to offset the various symptoms. There is no definite timetable for completing detox, however, a typical detox does not last longer than 14 days. The amount of time each client goes through detox depends on the individual and their history with abusing alcohol. Once the detox is completed, the client will be ready to begin the rehabilitation part of treatment.
Given ABT’s commitment to providing treatment plans tailored to each person, we offer an assortment of treatment plans. Our treatment programs include; group, individual, art, music, fitness and cognitive behavioral therapy. Individual therapy is one of the pillars of ABT as it pairs our clients with a master’s level therapist who also has training in co-occurring disorders. Though not everyone who develops a dependence on alcohol will have a co-occurring disorder, many people who struggle with alcoholism do. They may have used alcohol to self-medicate and attempt to escape from the effects of their disorder. Accordingly, our therapists will help uncover the various mental issues that perpetuate dependence and help create new coping mechanisms.
Group therapy is another crucial component of treatment because hearing other people’s stories helps with motivate people to continue fighting. When someone gives their life over to alcohol, it can severely damage their ties with others and deteriorate their social skills. Group therapy can rebuild these skills by aiding in the development of healthy relationships. In addition, hearing other people’s stories is encouraging and it’s important for someone going through treatment to know that they are not alone. At ABT, the idea of community runs to the core of who we are and in group therapy our clients experience a positive and supportive community.
The timetable for completing rehab depends on the person. ABT doesn’t have a prescribed timeline for any of our clients; we believe that every client has unique needs. However, we strongly suggest when someone is finished at our treatment center, they consider transitioning to a sober living facility. Sober living facilities are houses where people freshly out of rehab go in order to transition easier back into the real world. It can be trying a challenge for someone in recovery to go from rehab to home, thus, sober living helps mitigate relapse.
ABT believes in family and because of this, we don’t give up on anybody. When people leave our doors, they don’t leave our family. We offer alumni programs to keep people who leave our facilities connected. If you want us to be in your life, we will be with you for the long haul. We make sure that everyone receives the proper attention and follow through from our staff so that they can effectively live in the world. ABT will not abandon you. We want to help you in and out of our facility.
Intervention and Traveling for Treatment
If your loved one is struggling in the quagmire of alcohol dependence, it is important that you don’t wait to get them help. It’s not a matter of if but when they will hurt themselves or others if this hasn’t occurred already. One of the best ways to address your loved one’s problems is through an intervention. An intervention is when loved ones come together to express their worries regarding a loved one’s abuse. Though holding an intervention can seem intimidating, especially in light of the hurt feelings engendered by the abuse, it is a very achievable solution to a complex problem. ABT can connect you with the resources to hire an intervention specialist who can help make the process easier for you and your family. However, even if your intervention goes smoothly, be aware that your loved one may still refuse to seek treatment. You can’t give up; they are worth it, Keep fighting. Your effort and care is a powerful tool to helping your loved one get the care they need. When your loved one makes the life affirming decision to get treatment, it is recommended that you encourage them to travel for treatment. Traveling for treatment is important because it gets your loved one out of the quagmire that catalyzed their dependence and helps them to start over in a new place.
Payment
ABT offers a wide variety of payment options to help you pay for treatment. Additionally, we accept most major insurance plans and in many cases, they can pay for most if not all of the treatment costs. Our family wants to help yours and we have the resources. It’s time for a better today.
