Alcohol & Drug Rehab in Walsall

What are the Stages Of Alcoholism?

Just like addiction recovery is a journey, and you do not become sober in a day, alcohol addiction is also a journey.

Whether it takes months or years for someone to develop alcoholism, they will most likely start off with a mild problem, and this will progress into a severe addiction.

The stages of alcoholism are: pre-alcoholism, early-stage alcoholism, middle-stage alcoholism, and end-stage alcoholism.

As you can imagine, these terms are sometimes used retrospectively, as you do not always know you are dealing with alcoholism until you are in need of urgent professional help.

1. Pre-alcoholism

This stage is the very beginning of alcohol addiction. If someone shows signs of being in the pre-alcoholism stage, they are not necessarily going to progress to the final stage of alcoholism, but there is a risk that they will.

Pre-alcoholism is defined as a mild dependence on alcohol. The individual is likely to be drinking regularly, and justifying their behaviour e.g., using certain events as a reason to get drunk, comparing their drinking to others around them and deeming it reasonable, or downplaying how much they are drinking.

2. Early-stage alcoholism

At this stage, the individual will start to drink more regularly, and/or they will drink more alcohol in each sitting. It begins to become more obvious to others that they have a drinking problem, though they can still often conceal it well.

If the individual was previously only drinking in social settings, they are likely to transition to drinking alone at this stage.

3. Middle-stage alcoholism

The middle stage of alcoholism is usually the point that the individual is completely dependent on alcohol, and cannot stop drinking without experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

It is very common for people to have serious problems in their personal life at this point, such as issues with work or relationships. Their drinking will have escalated, to the point that they may be using alcohol in the morning. They may also be less likely, or able, to hide their alcoholism from others.

4. End-stage alcoholism

The withdrawal symptoms at this stage will be severe; it would be dangerous to give up alcohol without detoxing at drug and alcohol rehab in Walsall, an outpatient clinic, or with a home detox.

Not only would you experience physical pain from detoxing, but you would also be likely to experience psychological symptoms.

If you do not get help in end-stage alcoholism, you could end up passing away from your alcoholism. This is why drug and alcohol rehab in Walsall is recommended to anyone with severe alcohol abuse disorder.

To start your journey to recovery today by reaching out to our friendly team members at Rehab 4 Alcoholism. Call us on 0800 111 4108.

How Can I Help a Family Member With Late-Stage Alcoholism?

It isn’t easy to watch your family member in late-stage alcoholism. You have to cope with the fear that they will pass away due to their alcohol problem, you have to watch them suffer from terrible symptoms, and you may even have to care for them if they are refusing professional help.

Do not neglect yourself in this process. Please reach out to your trusted friends and family members to support you at this time, whether that’s meeting with you regularly so you can offload to them, helping you out with your family member, or staging an intervention with you.

In terms of helping your loved one, all you can do is give them the offer of drug and alcohol rehab in Walsall and hope that they take it.

Some people who have resisted treatment for many years will finally accept when their issue escalates to late-stage alcoholism. However, others remain in denial until they pass away from the illness.

If you plan to stage an intervention, make sure you spend time thinking about which intervention model would work best, and whether an interventionist or family mediation sessions would be effective.

We can advise you on this if you give us a call and explain that you are looking at staging an intervention for a loved one.

How Can I Relax Without Alcohol?

It is very common for people with a substance abuse disorder to use alcohol as a way to relax.

Whether it’s colleagues having a few beers to wind down after work, or parents having a glass of wine to de-stress after the bedtime routine, alcohol dependence is normalised when the goal is to unwind.

This is one of the reasons that many people are in pre-alcoholism or early-stage alcoholism without even realising it.

When we do not understand the way the addiction cycle works, or we turn a blind eye because we want to continue to use alcohol, we can end up struggling with psychological or physical dependence before we know it.

It’s easy to believe that alcohol isn’t doing you much harm when it is causing you to feel relaxed. However, alcohol is a depressant (1).

When you drink, your brain and nervous system activity is slowed, and this can lead to confusion, impulsivity, and sluggishness. This is not good for you long term, and it often leads to depression (or other mental health issues), as opposed to a long-term state of relaxation.

We understand that it can be difficult to relax without alcohol, but there will be many more difficulties if you continue to use alcohol as a crutch. Here are some suggestions for healthier ways to relax.

1. Spend time with your loved ones

If you feel safe with your loved ones, you may be at your most relaxed when you are spending time with them. This can be a great way to take your mind off your addiction.

Most of us are so busy with work and other responsibilities that it can be hard to make time to see our family regularly. We recommend you try to schedule in regular time so that you don’t go months without seeing your loved ones.

2. Have a self-care day

We advise dedicating time to yourself every day, but ideally, you would also be having self-care days on a regular basis. This will be something to look forward to when you are stressed, and it can also distract you from difficult periods of alcohol recovery.

There are many ideas for self-care days online, and some of them are extravagant, but you can take care of yourself without spending lots of money. Some ideas are: listening to your favourite music, going on a long walk, pampering yourself, and meditating.

3. Practise a hobby

When you get busy with a new hobby, you will have less time to sit and dwell on the temptation to drink alcohol. Hobbies won’t take away your addiction, but they will help you to get more enjoyment out of life, and they will take your mind off your problems.

This is great advice for any mental health condition, making it essential for dual-diagnosis patients. It is ideal if your hobby allows you to exercise or to get creative, but the most important thing is that you enjoy the activity, and you look forward to it.

To start your journey to recovery today by reaching out to our friendly team members at Rehab 4 Alcoholism. Call us on 0800 111 4108.

How Does Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Walsall, West Midlands, Help Patients to Quit Alcohol?

When you go to drug and alcohol rehab in Walsall, you will learn how to relax without relying on alcohol. In fact, you will learn how to withdraw from alcohol completely.

The first step to sobriety is detoxing under medical supervision at a drug and alcohol rehab in Walsall. This ensures you do not have alcohol in your system. The second step is intensive therapy, which will teach you techniques to cope with relapse triggers.

At drug and alcohol rehab in Walsall, you can be open about feeling tempted to relapse. It is very common for patients to discuss this at both individual and group therapy.

When you talk about this, you are challenging any feelings of shame you are dealing with. Ultimately, it is much easier to stay away from alcohol abuse when you feel safe telling people that you are struggling, as the taboo is removed.

What Happens at Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Walsall If I Have a History of Deliriums Tremens?

Deliriums Tremens (DTs) is a condition that affects some people with alcohol abuse disorder when they detox. It usually occurs a few days into the medical detox.

The symptoms can be incredibly disturbing, and they may be even worse for someone with another physical illness, or a mental health condition.

Some common dangerous symptoms are:

• High blood pressure
• Hyperactivity
• Hallucinations
• Dehydration
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Extreme confusion

DTs are extremely dangerous, as they can kill the patient if it is not treated quickly.

Some of the symptoms overlap with ordinary withdrawal symptoms, so it is important to get a medically-assisted detox at a drug and alcohol rehab in Walsall, where qualified healthcare professionals know the difference between the two.

If you have a history of DTs, you need to tell us when you get in touch with us. If you are referring yourself to drug and alcohol rehab in Walsall, inform the inpatient rehab staff of your history.

There is a high risk that you will experience this illness again when you detox, so medical professionals will need to adapt your treatment plan to make the detox process as safe as possible for you.

How Does Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Walsall Ensure Sobriety Can Be Maintained?

Drug and alcohol rehab in Walsall is all about long-term treatment of drug or alcohol addiction. They want to know that when you leave their care, you will be able to sustain sobriety, even when you are triggered to relapse.

Detoxing is the first way that they establish this long-term recovery from addiction. If you are suffering from the physical symptoms of alcoholism, it usually means alcohol is still in your system.

However, when you detox, this problem tends to be resolved, so you can move further into your recovery journey and focus on the psychological issues caused by your drug addiction.

Therapy is the second way to ensure patients will not only be sober for a short period of time.

They will have to face their issues, including relapse triggers, which means they will figure out why they struggle with alcohol, and how they can deal with this. The causes of substance misuse will be discussed in behavioural therapy, family therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, art therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, and various other types of substance abuse counselling.

Finally, you get 1-year free aftercare at drug and alcohol rehab in Walsall, and this stops many patients from relapsing as soon as they leave residential rehab.

The plan will take into account any relapse triggers you have. For example, if you do not have any sober friends, it may recommend sober housing or self-help groups e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous.

To start your journey to recovery today by reaching out to our friendly team members at Rehab 4 Alcoholism. Call us on 0800 111 4108.

Should Someone With an Addictive Personality Go to Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Walsall?

People with many different personality types develop alcoholism, so do not put much emphasis on the personality traits you have when it comes to the cause of your alcohol abuse.

Addictive personality is not recognised by psychiatrists; the belief is that people who are impulsive and obsessive may be more vulnerable towards addiction, but there is not one type of personality that results in addiction.

If you are suffering from alcoholism, whether you are impulsive or not should not determine how you approach treatment; everyone displaying some signs and symptoms of alcohol addiction should get professional help.

Can Pregnant Women Go to Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Walsall?

Unfortunately, it is much harder for pregnant women to be accepted onto a residential treatment program at drug and alcohol rehab in Walsall.

As you would expect, alcohol detoxes are often too dangerous for pregnant women, and this is often a necessary step before a patient gets therapy.

There may be some private treatment centres willing to treat pregnant women, so get in touch with us if you are pregnant and you are ready to heal from addiction.

However, it is possible that you will struggle to find a treatment programme, as not all rehab centres are equipped to have pregnant women in their care.

Even if you are told you cannot go to drug and alcohol rehab in Walsall, you should not try to get sober alone. It is possible that there will be a suitable outpatient programme for you, and this would be much safer for you and your unborn baby.

To start your journey to recovery today by reaching out to our friendly team members at Rehab 4 Alcoholism. Call us on 0800 111 4108.

FAQs About Alcoholism

Below, we provide answers to some common questions about the drug and alcohol rehab process:

1. What happens if you mix alcohol and another substance?

There are many dangers involves with mixing alcohol with another substance. The potential outcome varies depending on what the other substance is, how much the individual takes, and whether they take it at the same time as alcohol, or separately.

For example, if you use alcohol and opioids, there is a high risk of overdose. There can also be a loss of consciousness, extreme fatigue, respiratory depression, and a risk of choking.

When cocaine and alcohol are used together, there is an increased risk of cardiac issues, strokes, seizures, and aggressive behaviour.

Whatever the substance being consumed alongside alcohol, it is always riskier to take two drugs as opposed to just one. Yet, even if you strictly consume alcohol, you are still at risk of developing a serious illness.

2. Can university students be alcoholics?

Yes, despite the normalisation of drinking among university students, some students have serious problems with alcohol. It may be easier for them to mask this problem, so it can go undetected for a long time.

Drug and alcohol rehab in Walsall is open to people of any age, so young people with alcoholism can get sober in a supportive environment. There are also some self-help groups and outpatient therapy groups aimed at people of university age, so they can meet like-minded people who want to recover from addiction.

3. Do people ever return to drinking after going to rehab for alcoholism?

Yes, some people relapse after drug and alcohol rehab in Walsall. Addiction is something that stays with you forever, and it can be extremely challenging to commit to sobriety for the rest of your life.

However, the staff at rehab do all they can to help you to stay sober.

Other patients at rehab never relapse into addiction, but they start drinking casually, in the hopes that they do not have to give up alcohol forever.

This sometimes works, but it usually fails, as people with addiction find it incredibly hard to have a moderate amount of alcohol without taking it further.

Even if they manage this for a few months or years, the risk of relapse is always higher if they are drinking alcohol at any volume.

To start your journey to recovery today by reaching out to our friendly team members at Rehab 4 Alcoholism. Call us on 0800 111 4108.

Understanding Treatment Options in Walsall

Alcohol addiction can have severe implications for you, your health, and your future. But just as importantly, your alcohol addiction has effects on your family and your loved ones around you.

As a result, everyone suffers, not just you. And if things get out of control, it’s wise to consider alcohol treatment.

Observing yourself for the following symptoms will help you make an easier decision:

• Alcohol is your main and only priority. When alcohol becomes your primary focus, your whole life suffers. Your career, your social life, your health, and the people around you. Alcohol becomes the one and only thing that seems to make sense for you. That’s when you need alcohol detox and treatment
• Your health is taking a toll. Not just your physical health, but your mental health is taking a battering. Your livers are working overtime, and your whole system is unable to cope. Mental problems include depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts
• You drink too much to get drunk. Having a barrier to how much you can drink is becoming an impossible task. Instead, you drink as much as you can and end up intoxicated and incapable of taking care of yourself
• You suffer from mental illnesses. Underlying mental problems can make alcoholism even worse, and it’s vital to treat them
• You’ve tried before but failed. This is a clear sign that you need and deserve help. Let us assist you

What is the Rehab Process in Walsall?

Our alcohol rehab Walsall facilities offer you the best possible chances for alcohol detox and alcohol treatment. Our medical professionals have years of experience with alcohol addictions and deal with them on a daily basis.

It’s not easy, but with some determination and help from us, you can do it.

First, we’ll assess you and your individual over a phone call and then a meeting. This will give us a better understanding of your history with alcohol. Then, our professionals will take their time to devise a personalized care program made specifically for you.

Next comes the period of alcohol detox. With the help of medications and close care, we’ll help you get through this period. You will encounter withdrawal symptoms that can vary in severity, but with our medical assistance, you will be kept safe and comfortable at all times.

In the meantime, you’ll have access to all of our facilities. This means group sessions, one-on-one consultations and treatment, CBT group therapy, and holistic approaches (massages, yoga). All of this is available with inpatient treatment.

After you leave our facility, we’ll keep a close eye on you. You’ll get an aftercare programme that’s devised especially for you. You’ll also welcome back anytime you feel the need.

Withdrawal Symptoms to Expect During Rehab

During alcohol detox, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms that are the most severe after 24-72 hours of consuming your last drink. One of the many benefits of inpatient treatment is the 24-hour access to medical care and attention should your withdrawal symptoms pose any health risk or major emergency.

A team of medical staff will always be on hand to administer any medication that can help alleviate symptoms, or make you more comfortable during the detox process.

Symptoms to expect include:

• Shaking
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Seizures
• Lack of appetite
• Increased heart rate

Although this seems daunting, fear of withdrawal symptoms is never a good excuse to put off going to rehab. They are far less frightful than more years or months addicted to a substance that could kill you.

Why Choose Inpatient Treatment?

Over several years of our experience, we found that inpatient treatment is by far the most effective form of treatment. The patients get a personalised plan where they get the help of professionals on a daily basis.

They also have access to our facilities and numerous above-mentioned therapies. But most importantly, the patients don’t get access to the temptations of alcohol that outpatient clients can get in their environment.

There will be no way to relapse. Our aftercare programme is committed to helping you stay clean after you leave, encouraging you to adopt the resources, skills, and coping mechanisms you learned during inpatient treatment into everyday life in the community.

Choosing the Right Recovery Programme for You

Before choosing, you should know what the programme offers in detail. You can take a tour and see if the programme is for you. Conduct research and find online reviews about the alcohol treatment facility.

Does the programme offer aftercare? Do they offer reliable, evidence-based therapies? Are they friendly? These are all questions to ask yourself.

Ongoing Recovery After Rehab

At our alcohol rehab Walsall facility, we’ll make sure you’re taken care of even after you leave us. Ongoing recovery is required; seek support from peers and family, and share your struggles.

Join support groups, and keep your mind off of alcohol. Remember, you can contact us at any time if you need us.

How to Get in Touch With Rehab 4 Alcoholism

We would love to get to know you and work out how we can help you to recover from alcoholism. This won’t happen unless you reach out to us, so please give us a call on 0800 111 4108.

Our blog is a great place to go if you are interested in the science of alcoholism; we have articles on how alcohol affects the cardiovascular system, how it damages the liver, how it relates to diabetes, and more.

For more information on treatments, beyond drug and alcohol rehab in Walsall, head here, where you will find information on treatment services such as equine therapy, alcohol addiction counselling, and rehab for the elderly.

For our patients who know that drug and alcohol rehab in Walsall is right for them, we have plenty more information about this type of treatment. Have a look at our alcohol rehab articles, covering topics such as relapse prevention plans, life after rehab, and residential rehabilitation admissions.

We also provide referrals to residential rehab for people with other types of addiction, including morphine, ketamine, cocaine, and heroin. The psychological addiction treatment for these substances is the same, but the detox is often different.