Alcohol Rehab in Fort Collins CO

Recovering from any form of alcohol use disorder is your decision. Pathfinders Recovery Center in Aurora offers a way out of the grip of alcohol use disorder for those in Fort Collins and gives you the tools you need to make a complete recovery with time.

What sort of support can you get from Pathfinders? Read on and find out more about what we can offer you, and how we can help you get back on your feet for good!

What Is Alcohol?

Alcohol is one of the most widely abused drugs in the United States. It has a long history of misuse and is the third-leading cause of preventable death in the United States. It is a chemical depressant, which means that it affects the body.

Alcohol intake slows down and changes the way your brain works. It affects your ability to think clearly and move normally. Alcohol can also affect your judgment, vision, and hearing.

The Dangers of Excessive Drinking

Drug and alcohol addiction are serious issues. When addicted to alcohol, it can take over your life, causing many problems. Excessive substance use can also lead to death if untreated. Let’s examine some of the ways that substance abuse negatively impacts the quality of life of those struggling and their loved ones.

Mental and Physical Health

Drug and alcohol addictions wreak havoc on the body and mind. We will go into detail on the ways that the body suffers from alcohol addiction later, but for now, keep this in mind. Long-term substance abuse damages the body, sometimes irreparably. It can also create or exacerbate already existing mental health issues.

Relationships

The relationships in the life of one dealing with alcohol addiction often experience strain, abuse, and estrangement. This is a tragic consequence of substance abuse. This is all-encompassing and can include family, professional colleagues, and more.

Financial Hardships

All forms of excessive substance use disorder can result in financial hardships. Excessive consumption of alcohol very quickly racks up huge bills. The habit can also render one incapable of performing adequately at or holding a job, which can result in a loss of income. Despite this, the addiction often still holds strong, which can lead to the next danger of alcohol addiction.

Legal Consequences

Alcohol abuse often results in run-ins with the law and, subsequently, legal consequences. Persons without the financial means to acquire alcohol may steal the substance or money to purchase it, often from family members. Shoplifting is a crime and results in a criminal record.

There are also consequences to driving while intoxicated, which alcoholics often do. This goes all the way from fines, suspension of a license, and even up to jail time in the cases of car accidents or manslaughter that result in death due to a person driving under the influence.

What Are The Signs of Alcohol Addiction?

Recognizing the signs of alcohol addiction can be invaluable. Recognizing the habit can facilitate early recovery and alcohol rehab. Keep reading to learn some of the more common indicators that you or someone you love might be dealing with a dependence on alcohol.

Tolerance – Over time consistently drinking, the body gets used to the effects of alcohol, so more is needed to get the same feeling. This is tolerance and is one of the primary ways to recognize addiction.

Habitual consumption – Drinking more than planned, drinking secretly due to fear of judgment, or drinking more than usual (for example, after a particularly stressful day), are all potential signs that one may have an alcohol abuse problem.

Inability to stop drinking – Difficulty with halting the routine consumption of alcohol speaks to dependence. If you or a loved one find themselves compulsively drinking, despite the erosion or detrimental effects to one’s life, productivity, and relationships, the help of an addiction treatment center should be sought as soon as possible.

Who Can Fall Victim to Alcohol Misuse?

Alcoholism is characterized by the excessive use of alcohol that results in adverse consequences. It is the most common form of a substance use disorder, with approximately 15.1 million people in the United States and 350 million people worldwide suffering from alcoholism.

Alcoholics are often called “alcoholics” or “alcohol abusers” to emphasize the medical nature of the problem rather than its social consequences. This is a misnomer and can be confusing because both terms are used in everyday speech, but alcoholism does not imply that it is the fault of the person.

The following are some of the risk factors for developing an addiction to alcohol.

Genetic Predisposition – When there is a family history of alcohol addiction, there is a statistically higher chance that someone further down the line may be at risk for developing a substance abuse disorder.

Environmental Factors – The amount of stress, lifestyle habits, the environment that one lives in, levels of isolation, relationships, and more all affect how likely it is that someone may develop an addiction to drinking alcohol.

Pre-Existing Conditions – Mental health disorders that are present may result in addiction. The truth is that mental health issues like depression may result in persons developing substance abuse habits as a means of trying to cope and self-medicate. The truth is that, invariably, these habits end up making the initial disorder worse.

How Does Alcohol Abuse Affect the Human Body?

Alcohol abuse can lead to serious health problems and even death. The long-term effects of alcohol addiction on the human body include:

• Increased risk for stroke, heart disease, and liver disease
• Increased risk for certain types of cancer
• Impaired memory, learning ability, and judgment
• Memory loss or dementia (cognitive decline) from long-term heavy drinking

What Happens When You Stop Drinking Alcohol?

After drinking alcohol for a long time, stopping causes withdrawal symptoms. The severity of these symptoms depends on how much you drink and how long you have been drinking. Withdrawal from alcohol can occur after consuming a single large dose of alcohol or after prolonged use of small amounts of alcohol. It is most likely to happen when someone suddenly stops drinking after being dependent on the substance.

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include:

• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Shaking hands and body tremors (tremors) or shaking in general (chills)
• Seizures that sometimes lead to death (delirium tremens)
• Confusion and mental fog
• Depression and other mental health conditions

The truth is that these are very unpleasant symptoms, and depending on the severity of the addiction, they can often prove too much. This is one of the major reasons persons can be hesitant to engage with the substance abuse treatment process, to begin with. The truth is that rehab centers are often a person’s best chance at kicking the habit.

The Benefits of Seeking Addiction Treatment

Seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder can be an extremely difficult decision. It involves admitting that you have a problem and seeking help from others. The benefits of seeking alcohol addiction treatment can be substantial, however.

Your health improves – The damage you do to your liver, brain, skin, and body begins to be reduced and even turned back once you stop drinking. This is one of the biggest reasons to seek the assistance of a rehab center.

You’ll sleep better – Alcohol disrupts your sleep cycle by interfering with the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates your circadian rhythm. This disruption may explain why many people report having trouble falling asleep after drinking alcohol — or waking up during the night — especially when they drink before bedtime.

Treatment of underlying issues – A good treatment program can virtually revolutionize your life. Beyond just overcoming addiction, the suite of mental health services that addiction treatment providers incorporate into their programs is essential for the recovery process.

What are the Treatment Options for Alcohol Addiction

The right treatment program understands that effective drug treatment requires a multi-faceted approach, incorporating detox, evidence-based treatment programs administered by a qualified clinical professional, and, many times, the inclusion of a support system. Bottom line; individualized care is key.

Medically Supervised Detox

This is the first step of the recovery journey. Drug abuse renders the body dependent on the substance, and once it is removed, the body rebels. This is where substance abuse treatment begins. High-quality alcohol rehab centers are keen on relapse prevention, and one of the major ways this is done is via detox. Medical staff is on hand to ensure that it is as painless as possible.

Individual and Group Therapy

In a lot of ways, therapy is where the core recovery services are framed for those dealing with drug and alcohol problems. It is here that a mental health professional can administer mental health treatment to diagnose disorders, unpack trauma and treat it via trauma therapy, and empower the person with the coping skills required for life.

There are various types of therapy often used in substance abuse treatment. A few of them are:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – This is a type of talk therapy that helps individuals to recognize distorted thoughts and beliefs and then to learn how to replace them with healthier ones. This is exceptionally helpful in alcohol rehab.

Dialectical behavioral therapy – This is based on the idea that the way we think about ourselves and our lives influences our behavior. When we have negative thoughts about ourselves or the world, it can lead us to behave in unhealthy ways. By changing our thinking patterns, we can change behaviors and improve our quality of life.

Group Therapy – This is a form of psychotherapy involving a group of people who meet to discuss problems, share experiences and learn from each other. Group therapy is particularly beneficial for people with substance use disorders because it provides a safe place to talk about their challenges.

Family Therapy – Family-focused treatment programs can be effective for those who have completed treatment and are trying to maintain sobriety. They also provide an opportunity to learn new skills and cope with the challenges associated with maintaining recovery once you leave the facility.

Build a Strong Foundation for Life After Addiction!

If you are in Fort Collins, Colorado, and struggling to curb your drinking, make the choice to reach out to Pathfinders Recovery. Our treatment centers have a long and proven track record of helping clients overcome their alcohol use disorder.

If you or your loved one want to achieve lasting sobriety, Pathfinders will give you the tools and foundation to make it happen. Reach out to us today and take back your life!