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How to Choose the Best Rehab Center For Alcohol Addiction

a person in a club looks dejectedly at a bottle of liquor

Have friends or family members said they’re worried that you have an alcohol problem? Are you seeing signs in your life telling you to make a change? If so, it’s time to explore options for getting help.

You are not alone in this struggle. Did you know that seven percent of American adults have an alcohol use disorder (AUD)? Every year 95,000 people in the U.S. die from the effects of using alcohol.

It’s important to find the best San Diego alcohol rehabilitation center to meet your needs. Keep reading to learn more about AUD and the treatment options available.

How Is Alcohol Addiction Defined?

You’ll often hear the words addiction and alcohol use disorder used interchangeably. Addiction specifically describes engaging in harmful behavior despite the consequences. An AUD refers to a condition where the person uses alcohol even though it causes big problems.

AUD can cause both mental and physical health issues. This results in the impaired performance of responsibilities at school, work, and home.

Interpersonal relationships also become problematic. Another common signal is engaging in a pattern of binge drinking alcohol.

Binge drinking involves consuming alcohol in large quantities over a short time. This raises the person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 g/dl or higher. This usually takes five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women within two hours.

AUD is also characterized by drinking excessive alcohol in dangerous or inappropriate places. The pattern of alcohol use causes problems in the person’s family, social, or work life. They may also end up having problems with law enforcement.

An AUD diagnosis requires the presence of at least two of these symptoms.

The Benefit of Early Treatment

AUD is classified as a chronic medical disease that’s treatable. The condition may be mild, moderate, or severe. When this disease persists for a long time, it changes the brain and makes it easier to relapse.

It involves a combination of several factors and life experiences. Persistent alcohol abuse changes the complex interaction between brain circuits.

Issues in your environment and genetics can also make you more susceptible to addiction. Unfortunately, only ten percent of individuals with this problem seek treatment.

The good news is people at all levels of AUD can achieve and maintain recovery. Getting treatment early can reduce the progression of symptoms and consequences. This improves mental health, relationships, work situation, and legal status.

Those who engage in the early intervention also have a higher rate of abstinence.

Treatment Approaches to Help with Getting Sober

Each person’s situation is unique and complex. Thus, treatment plans and recovery prognosis is different for every individual. The following provides an overview of therapy approaches.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

MI uses an empathetic focus aimed at meeting the client “where they are”. This has proven effective even if the person has poor motivation for change. It involves several key MI counseling principles.

Ambivalence is accepted as a natural part of addiction. Both the client and the counselor must work together and contribute. Each session strives to provide support, empathy, and direction for positive change.

MI has shown many benefits for rehab therapy. More clients actively participate in sessions and complete the treatment program. They also have longer periods without a relapse after rehab.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Many programs use CBT as a first-line therapeutic approach. CBT strives to challenge and “re-wire” the person’s thinking patterns. This can provide a first step to changing problematic behaviors.

For some individuals, their patterns stem from past events or trauma. CBT helps you recognize negative and unrealistic thoughts that contribute to your AUD. Now you can learn ways to change these into more realistic and positive ideas.

You also learn specific strategies to help with problem-solving and coping. Examples include mindfulness and breathing exercises.

CBT teaches you methods for preventing or avoiding stress. It also gives you tools to recognize and eliminate triggers for addictive behavior.

Finding the Best San Diego Alcohol Rehabilitation Option

Before entering a rehab program, you will need to undergo safe alcohol detox. Next, you’ll want to find treatment at the best alcohol rehabilitation center available.

The APEX Rehab Alcohol Therapy Program, located in San Diego, offers all levels of care. This includes intensive, integrated inpatient and outpatient programs followed by sobriety maintenance.

Inpatient admissions may last from one to three months, or longer if needed. Patients have 24-hour personalized professional supervision. MI and CBT techniques help you work on underlying issues and make positive changes.

Besides counseling, you may also receive medications to help with your recovery. A licensed physician oversees this part of your treatment plan. They help manage the physical and emotional discomfort of abstinence.

You’ll receive healthy nutrition to restore common AUD vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Exercise is also part of the treatment plan. Engaging in physical activity releases endorphins which enhance your mood.

This program also provides other activities to complement your treatment plan. Examples include yoga, acupressure, massage, holistic healing, and experiential therapy.

The last stage is staying sober. This can last for the rest of your life. It’s vital to remain in a support network to help you practice coping strategies and avoid triggers.

Is It Time to Seek Help for Alcohol Addiction?

Are you ready to work on recovery? APEX Recovery is a California-licensed San Diego alcohol rehabilitation center. We’re one of the few Southern California centers accredited to treat five substance abuse levels.

We offer drug and alcohol detox, inpatient residential, and outpatient care. APEX’s treatment plans have proven effective for long-term recovery.

The experienced counselors also provide care for mental disorders including dual diagnoses. We use psychological, medical, and holistic approaches.

Our office accepts most insurance plans. Currently, we don’t take Medi-Cal, but there are self-pay options. Get a free consultation to begin your journey toward recovery.

Call Our Toll-Free Hotline 24/7 at 877.881.2689