Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers In California: Take Time To Recover And Heal

Alcohol abuse is a very difficult form of addiction to treat. Part of the problem is that the substance is legal and socially acceptable to consume. Many people don’t see what the problem is with having “a few drinks.” They don’t see that a person who is an alcoholic is not a social drinker and has a serious, life-threatening disease.

Signs of Alcoholism

How can you spot the signs of alcoholism in yourself or someone you love? Here are some red flags to be aware of:

  • Loss of Control over Alcohol Use

An alcoholic drinks more than he or she wants to, and longer than he or she intends to, despite making promises to the contrary.

  • Inability to Quit Drinking

Despite wanting to cut down or stop drinking, the person has not been successful.

  • Lack of Interest in Other Activities Because of Alcohol

Alcohol use takes time away from activities that were enjoyable in the past, such as sports, hobbies, or spending time with family and friends.

  • Continuing to Drink Even Though it is Causing Problems

An alcoholic will continue to drink in spite of the negative consequences for his or her life, including damaged personal relationships, trouble at school or at work, or health problems.

Denial a Common Reaction to the Problem of Alcoholism

When confronted with a suspicion or the knowledge that there is an issue with alcohol, the first reaction on the part of an addict is usually denial. The person wants to deflect attention away from the problem so that they don’t have to deal with it. He or she may not realize that they have a substance abuse issue. The person may think he or she has been successful at hiding it from friends, family, and his or her employer.

Allowing someone to continue to deny the problem is not the answer. A much better choice is to persuade him or her to agree to get help from an alcohol recovery inpatient program.

Going to a treatment center in the California Mountains allows clients to get away from their “regular” lives and the stresses that fed into their addictions. They have the opportunity to go to a peaceful place where they can slow down and take the time to focus on themselves, possibly for the first time in their lives.

Focus on Recovery in California Mountains 

Through the counseling and group therapy programs, they can examine the reasons they became addicted and develop strategies for dealing with triggers that will tempt them to reach for a drink when they go back to their homes. The staff at the center helps clients get involved in a variety of sober activities, including hiking, day trips, meditation, and yoga, which help prepare clients for independent living once the primary course of treatment has been completed.

Above It All Treatment helps alcoholics get sober by assisting them in getting involved in healthy activities.  Contact us if you or a loved one is suffering from addiction.

Alcohol Centers Offer Help by Treating the Underlying Cause of Addiction

Are you concerned about the amount of alcohol that your loved one is drinking? Has the problem gotten to the point where the problem is harder to hide? Since drinking is legal (for adults) and socially acceptable, it can be difficult to determine when someone you care for has crossed the line to alcoholism.

Denial Part of the Problem

It makes matters worse when people don’t come right out and say the word “alcoholic.” We tend to talk around the issue instead and use words that sugar coat the issue of addiction, rather than face it head on. How many of these expressions have you used or heard around alcohol abuse?

  • “Joe sure likes to tie one on.”
  • “Mike can really hold his liquor.”
  • “Kim has a bit of a ‘drinking problem’.”
  • “It’s a good thing that Sam only drinks beer. I’d be concerned if he was drinking hard liquor.”

When people don’t come right out describe alcohol abuse as exactly what it is – alcoholism, it is much harder to get people into alcohol treatment centers where they can get the help they need.

Don’t Wait to Get Help for Alcohol Addiction

If you know someone who has a problem with drinking, the best thing you can do for your loved one is to admit it to yourself first. Get the person you care for into a treatment program.

All they need to get started is a willingness to change. The treatment will start with alcohol addiction detox. During this stage, your loved one will stop using alcohol. He or she will be monitored as the toxic physical effects of the substance wear off. The process is closely monitored by fully trained personnel. If medical attention is needed, clients are transported to the local hospital emergency room.

Alcohol Addiction Counseling

After the detoxification stage is finished, the focus of the treatment turns to helping clients identify the factors that made them turn to alcohol. Through individual and group counseling sessions, your loved one will be able to learn about the emotional triggers that make him or her want to pick up a bottle and drink.

A California alcohol rehab center provides 12-step programs to clients. They offer fellowship and support through sharing personal accounts of struggles with alcohol. Many people find being in the room with other people who have been through similar experiences very helpful. They feel a real connection with other clients who are going through recovery at the same time.

Unless the underlying root of the problem is dealt with, a person will leave the treatment center and slip back into his or her familiar ways of coping with stress, boredom, anxiety or depression after the course of treatment has been completed. This is the best way to tackle the issue for long-term recovery.

You don’t have to wait one more day to get help for a loved one’s drinking. Contact a recovery specialist at Above It All Recovery Center today.

Surrender – The First Step to Recovery

“We know that little good can come to any alcoholic who joins A.A. unless he has first accepted his devastating weakness and all its consequences. Until he so humbles himself, his sobriety–if any–will be precarious. Of real happiness he will find none at all. Proved beyond doubt by an immense experience, this is one of the facts of A.A. life. The principle that we shall find no enduring strength until we first admit complete defeat is the main taproot from which our whole Society has sprung and flowered. When first challenged to admit defeat, most of us revolted. We had approached A.A. expecting to be taught self-confidence. Then we had been told that so far as alcohol is concerned, self-confidence was no good whatever; in fact, it was a total liability. Our sponsors declared that we were the victims of a mental obsession so subtly powerful that no amount of human willpower could break it. There was, they said, no such thing as the personal conquest of this compulsion by the unaided will. Relentlessly deepening our dilemma, our sponsors pointed out our increasing sensitivity to alcohol–an allergy, they called it. The tyrant alcohol wielded a double-edged sword over us: first we were smitten by an insane urge that condemned us to go on drinking, and then by an allergy of the body that insured we would ultimately destroy ourselves in the process. Few indeed were those who, so assailed, had ever won through in single-handed combat. It was a statistical fact that alcoholics almost never recovered on their own resources.”

– From the chapter on Step One from The AA Twelve and Twelve

 

As alcoholics trying to get sober the first step whether we plan to go to an alcohol rehab, AA, or other alcohol programs is to admit that we are powerless over alcohol and that our lives had become unmanageable. It isn’t until we admit complete defeat that we can move forward. If we do not surrender to the fact that we are alcoholics many of us will not be willing to go to any lengths to receive help and stay sober. We must realize we suffer from an allergy of the body and a spiritual malady that no amount of will power can fix.

If we are to recover from this seemingly hopeless state of mind and body we must be rid of the things that bind us through doing this work on ourselves.

Above It All Treatment is here to help – Call Now!

 

Step Ten: Inventory

“This thought brings us to Step Ten, which suggests we continue to take personal inventory and continue to set right any new mistakes as we go along. We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code.”

-from the chapter “Working with others” from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous…

Taking the Next Step

As alcoholics in the middle of receiving 12 step treatment it can be hard for us to get used to the idea of taking inventory. It is part of the cleaning house process. We must be diligent about keeping our side of the street clean so that we can be of maximum service to others. When we are able to trust in god, clean house, and work with others the rest just kind of falls into place. In a detox, AA, or at Above It All Treatment Center we learn how to become functioning members of society again. Through doing this work we can begin to heal and become happily and usefully whole. We will know a new freedom and a new happiness, and be able to achieve long-term sobriety.

Character Building

“But in other instances only the closest scrutiny will reveal what our true motives were. There are cases where our ancient enemy, rationalization, has stepped in and has justified conduct which was really wrong. The temptation here is to imagine that we had good motives and reasons when we really didn’t. We ‘constructively criticized’ someone who needed it, when our real motive was to win a useless argument. Or, the person concerned not being present; we thought we were helping others to understand him, when in actuality our true motive was to feel superior by pulling him down. We sometimes hurt those we love because they need to be ‘taught a lesson,’ when we really want to punish. We were depressed and complained we felt bad, when in fact we were mainly asking for sympathy and attention. This odd trait of mind and emotion, this perverse wish to hide a bad motive underneath a good one, permeates human affairs from top to bottom. This subtle and elusive kind of self-righteousness can underlie the smallest act or thought. Learning daily to spot, admit, and correct these flaws is the essence of character-building and good living. An honest regret for harms done, a genuine gratitude for blessings received, and a willingness to try for better things tomorrow will be the permanent assets we shall seek.”

-from the chapter on Step Ten from the AA Twelve and Twelve.

Putting What We Learn Into Practice

Most of us at some point and time both during the height of our using, and even after receiving addiction treatment, have had a hard time taking care of ourselves and the relationships we have had with others. Many of us know all too well what it’s like to sacrifice doing the healthy and right thing in order to continue feeling okay in the moment. This leads to the punishing, and harmful cycles it talks about in the excerpt above. If we do not get help, and we remain spiritually sick, then we will continue these behaviors as well as continue rationalizing them. Through a drug addiction detox, AA or 30-90 day rehab facilities we can begin to learn how to take care of ourselves and live an honest life.

It is through this as well as continuing to strive for personal growth that we can begin to heal and become happily and usefully whole.

Alcoholism Diagnosis

Many times, determining whether someone is an actual alcoholic or not is really not all that important. If someone’s drinking and drugging has advanced to the point to where it has become a problem for them and those around them, then it is a problem, period. If the person has tried to quit — swore to themselves and others “never again!” — And simply cannot stop, then chances are they have become dependent or addicted.

Alcohol problems occur at different levels of severity, from mild and annoying to life-threatening. Although alcohol dependence (alcoholism) is the most severe problem, less severe drinking problems can also be dangerous. The term “alcoholism” refers to a disease known as alcohol dependence syndrome, the most severe stage of a range of drinking problems.

Alcoholism is called a progressive disease, meaning that over time the symptoms and effects of drinking alcohol become more intense and severe. The symptoms in the early stages differ from those during later stages as the disease progresses from binge drinking to alcohol abuse to alcohol

Alcoholism and addictions can develop so slowly and insidiously that you sometimes don’t notice the effects that it has on your life and others around you. These self-assessment quizzes are designed to help you determine just how much you may have been affected and whether or not you need to seek help.

Because alcoholics are likely to deny or minimize the amount of alcohol they consume, most alcohol screening tests ask questions about problems usually caused by excessive drinking, rather than ask about how much the person drinks. More and more short tests have been developed in recent years so they can be easily administered in busy healthcare settings.

Because one of the most common symptoms of alcoholism is denial, diagnosing alcoholism can be difficult — the diagnosis depends on the individual’s willingness to answer questions about their drinking honestly. Usually, the friends and family members closest to the drinker see the problem long before it is diagnosed in a medical setting.

Mental health professionals are increasingly considering alcoholism and addiction as diseases that flourish in and are enabled by family systems. Family members react to the alcoholic with particular behavioral patterns. They may enable the addiction to continue by shielding the addict from the negative consequences of his actions. Such behaviors are referred to as codependence. In this way, the alcoholic is said to suffer from the disease of addiction, whereas the family members suffer from the disease of codependence.

Alcoholism is one of the leading causes of a dysfunctional family. As of 2001, there were an estimated 26.8 million children of alcoholics (COAs) in the United States, with as many as 11 million of them under the age of 18. Children of addicts have an increased suicide rate and on average have total health care costs 32 percent greater than children of nonalcoholic families.

At Above It All Treatment Centers, we are here for you.  We can diagnose and treat you for any type of alcohol ism or alcohol abuse.  We will follow you through the diagnosis to the completion of your personally tailored program to allow you every chance at a successful recovery. Contact us today so we can show you the path to recovery

California Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers a Place where the Focus is on Recovery

Addiction to alcohol is a difficult problem to beat. Unlike a problem with street drugs, it hides behind an air of respectability and degrees of dependency. It’s a legal product for adults to buy and consume. As long as people aren’t found drunk in a public place or drive while under the influence, they are considered to be fine. Just about everyone can name someone they know who probably drinks too much, but they would hesitate to use the word “alcoholic” to describe a friend or a relative. It sounds almost…dirty.

Bringing the Issue Out to the Open Allows Progress to Begin

As difficult as it is to admit that there is an addiction problem, saying the word is a necessary part of the process. Once the issue is out in the open, it’s easier to make a decision as a family that you will no longer allow your addicted relative to call the shots in your relationship. Rather than waiting for the alcoholic in your life to hit rock bottom, it’s possible to bring the bottom up by holding an intervention where he or she is encouraged to go for treatment now. You and your family can explain you will no longer be held hostage by a loved one’s addiction and the behaviors that accompany it.

Above It All Treatment Gives You  a Safe Place to Recover

At Above it All Treatment Center, our alcohol rehab program has been developed so our clients can focus on their recovery without any outside distractions. The chance of success is greatly increased when an alcoholic is taken out of his or her regular surroundings and away from the people who form his or her usual circle of friends. If drinking takes up a large part of his or her social time, that pattern needs to be changed.

The 28-day inpatient alcohol rehab program starts with detoxification. Alcohol withdrawal must be treated seriously and requires medical supervision in some cases. Once your loved one has been freed from the influence of alcohol, the true work of treating the addiction begins.

Someone who has been using alcohol as an anesthetic to deal with anxiety, depression, stress, or any other negative emotion will need to learn different coping methods. This may seem like a daunting task at first but with the help and support of experienced counselors and people who are walking the same path, it can be done. Everyone who is seeking help at the facility can identify with the issues that led to picking up the first drink and can offer support in staying sober.

This type of environment is key to allowing an alcoholic to focus on getting well, without the distractions and pressures of everyday life that may encourage him or her to start drinking again before developing appropriate coping skills. The first step to getting help is only a phone call away. Why don’t you call now to find out more about this effective treatment option?

Following Your Dreams in Sobriety

When it comes to recovery and sobriety we have to follow our dreams. Sometimes we have to commence to outgrow fear, take risks, and show ourselves what we are capable of. It’s one of the blessings and gifts that we receive. We receive alcohol addiction help, get sober, and as a result get to chase our dreams. If we are spiritually fit we get to go anywhere and do anything we want. There are many different opinions within the rooms around what is right or wrong good or bad but we learn through the help of a 30 day rehab program, A.A., or drug addiction detox how to build a foundation and follow our gut. We will come to know how to intuitively handle situations that use to baffle us and we will eventually learn when something doesn’t work for us or isn’t going to long before putting ourselves in harm’s way. We can begin to rely upon a power greater than ourselves and if we go with God in our hearts and sobriety in our minds we can accomplish anything. We got sober not only so we could escape from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body but also so that we could create a life worth living, and that we could be proud of. It’s a life beyond our wildest dreams. We get to live happy, healthy, and free lives. Let this be the first day of the rest of your life. Go and chase you dreams, enjoy sobriety, and live this amazing life we were given to the fullest!

Why Should You Seek Alcohol Rehab

Without the aid of alcohol rehab, a drinking problem won’t go away on its own. Instead, it becomes more and more damaging to both the alcoholic, and his or her family.

What we know is this: In nearly every case, alcohol and drug abuse are nothing more than symptoms of a much larger problem. Most often, substance abuse is used as a coping mechanism to avoid feelings of guilt or shame; sometimes it is used to address a spiritual malady, or to fill an emptiness that can’t be resolved without assistance from an outside source. You build walls to protect yourself from harmful feelings, but as those barriers go up, your willpower goes down… and soon you find yourself trapped in a never-ending cycle, with no resolution in sight. The farther you travel down the path of addiction, the harder it is to see how lost you really are, or to regain your footing after a stumble.

At Above It All Treatment Center, our clinical treatment will help you tear down those walls and map a route to move past them. Our highly trained, professional and compassionate staff stands ready to help you every step of the way. With our support, you will soon begin to function productively, without the feelings of guilt and shame and other barriers holding you back now.

The true strength of the Above It All program lies in its blend of clinical therapies and a 12-step immersion program; this powerful combination creates a synergistic balance that is unique to Above It All Treatment Center. As you progress in the program, you will be assigned specific Big Book studies best suited to help you work though the steps.

There is hope. With the right alcohol rehab program — treatment available with our help — alcoholics can, and have, learned to conquer their disease.

Alcohol rehabilitation is, simply put, an alcoholic’s best shot at starting a healthier, happier new life. The path won’t always be easy — the process begins with an alcohol detox period of several days, during which the body is cleansed of the toxins that come from wine, liquor or beer. The cleaning process can include unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, depression and sweats or chills, but it’s necessary in combating the disease.

Once the detox is complete, the patient will continue with intensive, inpatient counseling that provides a chance to get to the bottom of the issues that caused the alcoholism in the first place. This is sometimes done through group therapy sessions where the patient can receive emotional support from others also starting a new life in recovery.

If you find that you or a family member are in need of alcohol rehabilitation, please contact us today and get started on the road to recovery.  Above It All Treatment Center is here to help you every step of the way.

Being of Service

“It is not a matter of giving that is in question, but when and how to give. That often makes the difference between failure and success. The minute we put our work on a service plane, the alcoholic commences to rely upon our assistance rather than upon God. He clamors for this or that, claiming he cannot master alcohol until his material needs are cared for. Nonsense. Some of us have taken very hard knocks to learn this truth: job or no job – wife or no wife- we simply do not stop drinking so long as we place dependence upon other people ahead of dependence on God. Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trusts in God and clean house.” – Pg.98 Working With Others from the Big Book Of Alcoholics Anonymous

It is normal to want to help other alcoholics out when they are having a hard time with problems other than alcohol however if it is not the right kind of help we could be potentially harming them as far as stunting their sobriety is concerned. After all most of us had gotten to the place where we were willing to ask for alcohol addiction help because we were so desperate. It was painful and difficult at times but we almost always came out the other side. To help out financially or with a place to stay could mean robbing someone of that experience. These struggles for many were what kept us going at times we might have given up. It’s what also makes our new sober life that much more amazing because we were so broken, and beat down that everything else seemed pretty great and we were open to the alternative life sobriety had to offer. Therefore if we come across a newcomer we can help them along the path of recovery instead of taking it on for them. If they need jobs or a home we can work with them on the steps so that they once again can become employable if they are not and we can make suggestions for sober living, an affordable rehab, AA, or rehabs that take insurance etc. We may also share our experience, strength, and hope so that they may be able to see that we went through the same struggles, were able to stay sober, and that through God and sobriety anything is possible.