If you are wondering how to get sober from alcohol, you are probably also feeling anxious, scared, or uncertain of what to do. That’s where this guide can come in handy. Below, we go through the four steps on how to get sober from alcohol so that you feel like yourself once again.
1. Admit That You Need Help to Get Sober from Alcohol
You might have heard that the first step in how to get sober from alcohol is admitting that you need help. In truth, this is often the hardest step—after all, committing to recovery means acknowledging that your current lifestyle is causing you distress. It can also be hard to recognize when drinking alcohol has become a problem.
Oftentimes, drinking is a social activity. But the habit of drinking after a stressful day or going out with friends to unwind can actually be an indication of an alcohol addiction.
Some signs to look out for include:
- Drinking to the point of intoxication or blacking out
- Having three to four (or more) drinks most days of the week
- Turning to alcohol in times of emotional distress
- Experiencing worsened mental health symptoms when drinking
- Going through withdrawal symptoms when not drinking
If you are familiar with these signs of an alcohol use disorder, it is probably time to seek out help. Working out how to get sober from alcohol is not an independent task. Rather, it takes a team of support to get you to the next steps of the recovery process. One of the most important things to remember when you’re wondering how to get sober from alcohol is that you don’t have to do it alone.
2. Get Sober from Alcohol with a Medical Detox
This next step in how to get sober from alcohol is crucial to achieving long-lasting recovery. Some people think that they might just be able to quit drinking on their own. They think that in order to get sober, they have to go through the process of detoxing at home, alone. But this is far from the truth.
In actuality, it’s much safer and much more effective to detox at a treatment facility that provides medically supervised detox. This type of detox ensures that you are monitored as any addictive substance leaves your body. The reason behind detoxing is more than just to get your body “clean” and prepped for the rest of the work that goes into recovery. It also allows you to get any medical attention you might need for physical or mental health challenges that arise while detoxing.
The withdrawal symptoms from alcohol can be quite uncomfortable and, in some cases, pose a threat to the person’s safety. Some side effects of alcohol withdrawal include:
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Tremors
- Increased anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
As you can see, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can become very severe. This is just one of the reasons why any plan on how to get sober from alcohol must include a medical detox.
Another reason is that people are much more likely to relapse if they try to detox at home. Because the withdrawal symptoms are challenging to cope with, people often relapse during the detox phase. This is especially true if they are in an environment that has access to alcohol.
But detoxing at a mental health and addiction recovery center provides you with a supportive environment that is free of alcohol. You are able to stay at the facility through the detox process and beyond to get effective treatment for alcoholism. This is the best plan for avoiding relapse and increasing your chances of obtaining long-term recovery.
3. Find Inpatient Treatment to Get Sober from Alcohol
Everybody’s treatment plan at a recovery center varies depending on what their individual needs are. Many people need more than just the standard 12-steps—they also need to heal from untreated mental health disorders on top of their struggle with substance abuse. This method that addresses both aspects within recovery is called dual diagnosis treatment.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), having co-occurring disorders, such as an addiction to alcohol on top of depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, etc., can greatly interfere with your ability to make informed decisions, form healthy relationships, and be who you truly are. Almost eight million people struggle with a substance use disorder and a mental health condition. And when they don’t get the right kind of treatment for these conditions, they risk making their mental and physical health worse as a result.
In dual diagnosis treatment, on the other hand, patients are able to address the underlying causes behind their addiction to drugs or alcohol. For this reason, a dual diagnosis program is often the next step after detox in how to get sober from alcohol.
In dual diagnosis treatment, you will have the opportunity to:
- Participate in mutual support groups to develop healthy coping skills
- Learn helpful thought and behavioral patterns through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Gain support in explaining your addiction and mental health needs to family members
- Undergo discharge planning to build a long-term recovery plan
4. Commit to Quitting Drinking
Of course, recovery doesn’t stop once you leave alcohol rehab. Recovery is something you have to continuously work toward. Though this can seem overwhelming, help and support are out there.
The therapies and opportunities listed above will provide you with the chance to learn useful skills that can help you to stay sober even through the most difficult times. And, with the right treatment program, you’ll be able to build a life-long support system of people who are willing to lend you a helping hand whenever you need it.
We pride ourselves on this type of support at Georgetown Behavioral Hospital. Whether you are on step one of the process on how to get sober from alcohol or you need to start the steps all over again, we’ve got your back.
For more information on how you can get sober from alcohol starting today, give our experts a call at 937-483-4930. Not quite ready to talk? We understand how overwhelming this process can be. We’re also here to take your questions, inquiries, and more through our online contact method which is completely confidential.
The path toward recovery might seem far away right now, but you’re closer than you think. We are here to support you as you take that first step on this long journey. It’s well worth it.
