Outpatient alcohol rehab is a great way to treat alcohol use disorder without interfering with daily responsibilities like work, school, or family obligations. The patient is expected to report to the rehab facility for treatment during the day for the agreed-upon time and later heads home to be with their loved ones. An outpatient treatment program is ideal for people with a strong and stable support system at home. If you wish to consider this treatment plan, here is what to expect.
Prepare for Intensive Personal Assessment
Every patient’s needs differ when it comes to treating alcohol addiction. So, when you first arrive at the rehab center, the psychiatrist will ask personal questions concerning your case to develop a personalized treatment plan. Be ready to answer questions like how often you take alcohol, the quantity, and when last you did it. Depending on the severity of your condition, the counselor may suggest that you enroll in either of the following types of outpatient alcohol rehab programs:
- Low-intensity outpatient treatment
- Intensive outpatient treatment
- High intensive outpatient treatment.
- Continuing care groups
In the rehabilitation center, the main aim is to get to the root of your drinking problem and address it to prevent relapse. So prepare to talk about your emotions or any other underlying conditions that could be pushing you to alcohol. The psychiatric will assess if you have a mental disorder like depression or anxiety. Some questions may feel like an infringement of privacy, but this is the beginning of the healing process, and you will get used to it with time.
You Might Need to Detox
Besides answering questions, you will take a drug test to determine the level of toxins in the body. The psychiatric may recommend that you undergo medical detox. This involves withdrawing from alcohol in a monitored facility to flush out the toxins from your blood and allow healing. The psychiatric will monitor your blood pressure, temperature, breathing, and heart rate during detox. Note that if you have an alcohol use disorder, you may suffer severe withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop taking alcohol on your own.
Expect to Learn More About Addiction
Once you enroll in an outpatient treatment program, be ready to learn more about addiction. There are various educational materials in the rehab center to help you better understand your condition. You will learn the interrelation between mental disorders and drug abuse and how alcohol alters the brain’s functionality. The treatment program also involves various activities to eliminate distractions and keep the patients engaged throughout the day.
You will know what it takes to avoid alcohol and how to deal with triggers. There are even breaks in between sessions to help you practice what you learned. You will acquire new skills to address your challenges and develop an abstinence strategy with the help of your therapist. Through the structured ways of living learned in the rehab center, you will find it easier to keep off alcohol even when you get home.
You Will Participate in Communicative Sessions
There are various therapy sessions offered in an outpatient treatment program. One of them is group therapy. You will spend your day with people who understand your situation better. During the sessions, you will interact with other patients going through the recovery journey just like you. With such people, you can talk about the struggles, trauma, and cravings which will help ease any feelings of guilt associated with addiction.
You will also listen to other people‘s experiences and share new techniques to cope with addiction. During treatment, you even have a chance to join a support group and connect with a safe network of people to help you overcome your struggles. These support groups also help patients create accountability and allow them to interact with and make sober friends.
The Treatment Encourages Your Family Member’s Participation
For the outpatient program, you don’t live within the rehab facility. It’s therefore important that your family members accompany you to some sessions. The counselor will help your loved ones better understand your condition. This way, they can be more supportive in your recovery journey. Note that your addiction also negatively affects your family members. They might feel disappointed, ashamed, anxious, or stressed, which may affect their health. The counselors will help them better cope with the situation.
The Bottom Line
An outpatient program can help you develop commitment towards recovery. With the right support and treatment, you will surely overcome alcohol addiction and maintain long-term sobriety. There is no better time to start your recovery journey than today. Ready to get started? Call us today at 844-844-3463.