The H.O.W to in Alcohol Rehab

Many alcoholics may wonder "how" they can succeed in alcohol rehab. Many alcoholics may wonder "how" they can even consider alcohol rehab. The disease of alcoholism is always lurking on the shoulder of the alcoholic. Wanting the alcoholic to give in to doubts, to give in to fear, so that the disease may once again manifest itself through the alcoholic.

There is a H.O.W to succeed in alcohol or drug rehab. Honesty...Open-Mindedness...and Willingness. With these adopted attitudes, the alcoholic increases their chance of success in rehab, not to mention, success in sustained recovery.

If you or a loved one is suffering from the disease of alcoholism, please call our 24hour HelpLine @ 866-478-9898.

Owning up to Alcoholism

Although alcoholism is a disease, it is very important for the alcoholic to "own up" to their part of the disease. Oftentimes when the alcoholic is in alcohol rehab, they are taught that although they have a disease, they are responsible for allowing the disease to continue. How so, you may ask? Let's look at the alcoholic that continues to blame others for their misfortune, if they continue to place blame on others, they are not taking responsibility of the part of the disease that wants the alcoholic to place blame. If the alcoholic were to assume responsibility, they are then allowed to look within themselves, understand the disease of alcoholism and move forward in a healthier way. And as a result are more likely not to relapse. Taking responsibility for the disease of alcoholism is an integral part of sustained recovery!

To find out more about the best alcohol rehab, please call our 24 hour help line at
1-866-478-9898.

Too Young For Recovery?

There are those out there who feel that recovery can only really happen at or after a certain age. The concept is vaguely attached to the idea that the alcoholic/addict must hit absolute bottom for recovery to begin. In other words, to get sober, the alcoholic/addict must experience the loss of everything s/he holds dear or experience life threatening physical challenges in order to get it; "it" being the motivation to change their behavior and thinking, the very fabric of who they are.

It can be this kind of thinking that occasionally dissuades the young person from seeking effective alcohol or drug treatment. However, make no mistake--recovery can be obtained and maintained at any age. Moreover, not every addict has to lose everything in order for the process of recovery to begin. Rock bottom can look different for different people. Perhaps it is the loss of a job; maybe it takes the form of a divorce; to some it might be the estrangement of children.

But to others, rock bottom may be peer disapproval. Or getting arrested for underage drinking. Or getting into a single fight at a concert.

More and more, younger and younger people are beginning at earlier ages to recognize the ways in which alcohol and drugs may be eroding the quality of their lives. And more and more of them are making the choice (not being forced) to do something about it. Age is no longer any kind of a deciding factor. Nor is the extent to which the person has experienced loss. What seems to matter is a willingness to look at pattern of use and it's effect on one's life and decide that change is possible. Regardless of age

Too young for recovery? Never--absolutely not.

Alcoholism and Brain Function... or lack thereof!

(This is a continuation of the blogs on the relationship between alcoholism and nutritional deficiencies) Our body is a complex system with many interacting parts. One example is how alcoholism affects the pancreas, which then affects the brain. Let me explain. Chronic alcohol use can cause impaired insulin secretion from the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone that controls our blood sugar, also known as blood glucose. Alcoholism can result in both overly elevated blood sugar (making you look like you might be diabetic) as well as low blood sugar if too much insulin is secreted.

Guess what the "food" is for the brain? Glucose. Remember alcoholism can produce a state of low glucose in the body. The brain uses glucose in order to work properly. It is the fuel of the brain. Let's make this simple: low blood sugar = starving brain = brain does not work well = you don't think straight, you make poor decisions, you don't function like you used to.

Got that? But wait, there is yet another way alcoholism affects the brain. Remember how we talked previously about impaired B-Vitamin and other vitamin absorption as well as poor nutrition with alcoholism? Chronic alcohol use results in a thiamine deficiency. Thiamin is one of those B-Vitamins. Guess what thiamine does? If you guessed that it is involved in glucose metabolism, you guessed correctly!

No big deal, right? A little vitamin deficiency shouldn't be that bad. Well, chronic thiamin deficiency, which is seen time and time again in alcoholics, causes certain areas of the brain to shrink, also called atrophy. These areas of the brain are involved with different things, some of which are memory. The alcoholic begins to develop a condition called Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome. Wernicke's encephalopathy, as it is called, rears it's ugly head most commonly with ataxia (trouble walking straight), an eye condition called nystagmus, and confusion. It can lead to coma or death on occassion. Next comes Korsakoff's psychosis. It is a combination of psychosis, amnesia for recent and past events, and confabulation. In other words, you become psychotic, can't remember what you the hell you did today or yesterday (although memories from a long time ago might still be there), and you make up stories when people ask you a question to try to hide the fact that you can't remember (confabulation).

These conditions can all be treated to varying degrees, depending on how progressed the condition is. Success depends on the competent staff at a "best" alcohol rehab. By that I mean an alcohol rehab that takes a holistic approach to you as an individual, looking at your physical needs as well as emotional, psychological and spiritual needs.

Alcoholic and Addicts New In Recovery: The Challenge With Rules

Alcoholics and addicts new in recovery are a notoriously undisciplined bunch. They have difficulty accepting rules enforced on them by others and are quick to buck any type of external authority. It would seem that this can be for many a manifestation of their addictive disease, and once through with alcohol detoxification or drug withdrawal, they must begin to accept rules that have been set down by others.

Sometimes these rules are those set forth by drug rehabilitation centers. Others must face up to rules designed and implemented by the courts or the probation officer. On occasion, the family attempts to exert increasing control on the alcoholic/addict by creating specified instructions for acceptable behavior.

Regardless of where the rules come from, newly recovering alcoholics and addicts have a difficult time adhering or complying. Part of the disease of alcoholism and addiction is an unnerving and continuous self-absorption. It is, by its very nature, a disease that insists that the sufferer (the alcoholic/addict) attend only to their needs. This should be obvious--we're talking about people whose primary drive is to get and stay drunk or high, regardless of the consequences.

True recovery begins when sober alcoholics recognize this tendency to put themselves first and to put themselves above whatever laws that should direct their behavior. These misdirected souls need to accept direction. As recovery continues, they may begin to internalize a sense of immediate right and wrong, but until that time, others have to set down the rules, to lay down the law. And all should expect the alcoholic/addict to try and find their way around these very same rules.

The Emotional Life of the Newly Sober

Individuals new to sobriety often find their early days in alcohol and addiction treatment centers marked by significant swings in experienced emotions. Early in rehab, the alcoholic/addict may be plagued by a variety of uncomfortable and challenging feelings that can overwhelm their ability to cope. This is certainly not surprising given that most folks in drug rehab are experiencing for the first time release from the anesthetizing effects of their drug of choice, be it alcohol, cocaine, heroin, or whatever.

Early in recovery, as the mind re-awakens, the newly sober may find themselves gripped with marked anxiety, a tremendous sense of fear--sometimes about the things that have occurred in the past, sometimes of the consequences of their use, sometimes of an uncertain future. And sometimes they experience marked fear for no identifiable reason. In many instances, underlying anxiety disorders, undiagnosed and self-medicated for years surface to trouble the alcoholic/addict.

For others, early sobriety can lead to the re-emergence of painful memories of trauma in childhood which can spill out in the form of deep and penetrating sadness, hostile and aggressive feelings of anger, or inordinate shame. And as is regularly discussed in alcoholics anonymous meetings and associated literature, newly sober alcoholic/addicts in the early stages of recovery are particularly prone to resentment--the sense of focussed and bitter anger based on perceived past slights or harms that can lead directly to relapse.

Not all emotions in the newly sober are negative. Frequently in the early days of alcohol and drug rehabilitation and treatment, the alcoholic/addict experiences tremendous feeling of joy. They often describe a "pink cloud' or feeling of prolonged euphoria that can serve to reinforce new found sobriety.

With time, continued treatment, a recovery based lifestyle and supportive environment, the alcoholic addict can develop those skills that allows him/her to modulate his/her emotions, to achieve a sense of balance to his/her internal affective life, and to find appropriate releases when emotions pass individual "critical levels". Even after years of chemical numbing, the alcoholic/addict can redevelop the capacity to feel.

The Gift of Alcohol Rehab

I am of a mixed opinion when some people first opt for outpatient treatment for their alcoholism. At some level, it makes sense to try the lowest level of care first, then if that fails go to a higher level of care. Plus, I think it is human nature to want to try the "easiest" or "cheapest" thing first.

On the other hand, I wonder what you would do if you or a loved one were diagnosed with a disease that could kill you. It could also kill others, given the right conditions, and would have the effect of ruining your family. Would you opt for the "cheapest" or "easiest" treatment you could find? Or, would you treat it immediately and as aggressively as you could in order to save your life and, possibly, the lives of others with whom you might come into contact?

When I think of addiction in those terms, it helps provide some clarity. The obvious answer becomes to treat as aggressively as possible. Once the aggressive treatment is finished, then you move to the outpatient arena. However, if for some reason the disease begins to relapse, you return to the aggressive treatment (modifying the treatment approach a bit in order to target the areas that allowed the relapse to occur).

We all know addiction kills. People who are high or drunk are the most common cause of fatal traffic accidents (of course denial for the addict is key here.... the "it won't happen with me because..." syndrome). And, countless people die every day directly from the toxic effects of the substance they are using (denial also works pretty well here, too).

Give yourself or your family member the tremendous gift of alcohol rehab or drug rehab. It is one of the most wonderful gifts that you could give. It might just save your life, the life of a loved one, or the life of someone else. It might save your family, your marriage, your job, your sanity. Getting treatment or not? Which one do you think is the "cheapest", really? Not getting the proper treatment may be the costliest decision you'll ever make.

John Neuhaus, M.D.

The Ways In Which Alcoholism Kills

Ever hear this expression: alcoholism is a chronic, progressive, and lethal disease. It's bandied about in addiction circles, drug rehab centers, and in 12-step meetings with great regularity. And it's entirely true.

Alcoholism is chronic: once diagnosed, once the disease is manifest, the alcoholic must spend the rest of his or her life managing the illness.

Alcoholism is progressive: an untreated alcoholic will continue to get worse and worse as time goes on. Even if he stops for a while, once an alcoholic begins drinking again, he will rapidly find himself worse off than when he stopped.

Alcoholism is lethal: eventually the disease will kill the alcoholic.

But the lethality of alcoholism can take many forms. The most obvious form is that of physical death. Alcoholism is a slow physical killer in most cases, however. Over time, the alcoholic finds his or her organs slowly atrophied and it can take decades before the body finally succumbs.

Along the way, there can be many other deaths. Alcoholism is known to kill off marriages. Alcohol has led to death of many careers. It murders dignity and self-respect. It can slaughter family relations. Alcoholism is so lethal, that eventually it will kill off everything you hold dear.

The saddest thing about these fatalities is that they need not occur. Proper alcoholism treatment is available. In a suitable drug rehab, this process of death can be halted.

Although alcoholism is a fatal disease, alcohol treatment can lead to a whole new life. Seek help if you think you have a problem. It will be a slow tortuous series of smaller deaths before the body eventually gives in. At Paradise Recovery, we are committed to helping all manner of addicted people halt the process of self-destruction and to live to their fullest potential.

Denial of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction - Take the Test

Denial...the part of the alcoholism disease or drug addiction disease that tells them they don't have a disease. How many times have you heard about the alcoholic or drug addict minimizing the effects of their disease, not wanting to see the reality of their addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Here's an easy way to tell if you or a loved one may be in denial of alcoholism or drug addiction, as taken from excerpts in the Narcotics Anonymous step working guide:

1. Have you or the alcoholic or drug addict given plausible but untrue reasons for you or their behavior?

2. Have you or the alcoholic or drug addict compulsively acted on an obsession, and then acted as if you or they had actually planned to act that way?

3. How have you or the alcoholic or drug addict blamed other people for you or their behavior?

4. How have you or the alcoholic or drug addict compared you or their addiction or alcoholism with others' addiction or alcoholism?

5. Are you or the alcoholic or drug addict avoiding action because you or they are afraid to be ashamed when facing the results of alcoholism or drug addiction? Are you or the alcoholic or drug addict avoiding taking action because of what others may think?

The list can go on, however these are the key elements of denial that those with alcoholism and drug addiction contend with. This is both a test for alcoholism and a test for drug addiction, they may be a different substance, however the disease manifests itself the same.

If you or a loved one answers "yes" to more than one question, you may want to look into alcohol treatment or drug treatment, also referred to as alcohol rehab or drug rehab. There, professionals will be helpful in unraveling the disease of alcoholism and drug addiction, starting you on your path of sustained recovery.

Blessings to you.....

Healing Alcoholism...Healing Drug Addiction

The process of healing begins with self, begins from within. Typically for alcoholism or drug addiction, the alcoholic or drug addict tends to find blame in people, places or things outside of themselves, essentially robbing themselves of true healing from within.

Drug addiction and alcoholism are both a cunning and baffling disease, that oftentimes, the drug addict or alcoholic cannot see a way to recover. Well, there is, through healing the self, the drug addict and alcoholic can experience sustained recovery. Drug rehabs and alcohol rehabs offer the drug addict and alcoholic the opportunity to essentially begin treatment with self, to identify core issues that led to their alcoholism or drug addiction. There is hope for recovery when you start from within!

The Disease that says it's Not a Disease

One of the most curious phenomena of people in need of alcohol or drug rehabilitation is the defense of denial. Denial serves to prevent the sufferer from fully comprehending the extent to which their alcoholism or drug dependence is affecting their physical health, their relationships, their employment, their entire lives. Despite lives that are falling apart or in disrepair, alcoholics and drug abusers are notorious at their ability to turn a blind eye to reality, to what is actually happening. They suffer from a disease that can actually say to them, "You're not really sick. This is all to be expected. You don't need addiction treatment." Alcoholics and drug addicts are uniquely able to trick themselves into thinking they don't need addiction treatment or drug rehabilitation. Despite the deadly consequences of this thinking. When people are diagnosed with cancer, they often will actively seek to find an appropriate treatment. The light goes on quickly and they jump into pursuit of saving their own lives.

Not so with alcohol rehab and drug rehab. Alcoholics and addicts often do the exact opposite--they go to great ends to avoid treatment, to avoid taking the medicine that will save their lives.

The problem is very real. The need for treatment quite obvious. Curious that the patient is the last to recognize this.

What makes private rehabs work?

The term "rehab" has become quite sexy in the past year. From the Spears to the Lohans, from most members of the Baldwin Family to dozens of trust fund babies across the country. We even have award-winning Amy Winehouse singing about rehabs! Rehab has become "cool".
Imagine not even ten years ago when the social stigma attached to rehabs, otherwise known as primary treatment were "low life" or "down and out" or "weak". Today, people from all segments of society are checking-in to rehabs with less of a stigma. Their families are hiring interventionists, in some cases forking out big bucks, and taking more of a total family approach to the disease of addiction, instead of merely blaming the alcoholic/addict of their flaws and infirmities.
Studies are showing that the 'ole 28-Day model is becoming a preferred treatment of the past. Today, we are seeing people staying in rehabs from 30 to 60 to 90+ days. They are extending their experience of "stopping to smell recovery" much longer than there alcoholic and addict predecessors. Why is that? Is it because there is a new way to treat alcoholics and drug addicts? Are alcoholics and addicts more patient than addicts in the past?
The private rehab experience ensures that the client will receive individualized care and begin to touch on the core issues that may be maintaining their drinking or using. I don't believe there's been independent studies that look at the outcomes of private rehabs vs. state operated rehabs, but I wouldn't be surprised that the outcomes would be similar.
The purpose of rehabs, in general, is to introduce the client to many tools, ways, or therapies that they may continue after their relatively brief stay in primary treatment. The rehab experience is sort of a retreat, a calming of the chaos, insanity that has affected their loved ones and families.
What makes rehab work? YOU! If you feel you may have an addiction of some kind, please contact a trusted friend or family member...someone who will not judge you, but support you in making a courageous move to get the help you need and want.


Recuperatio Primoris!


Aloha,

Dr. Bill Heran
Honolulu, Hawaii
March 14, 2008