You may be absolutely sure that alcohol is causing problems in your life. You may have tried to quit drinking or in some way moderate your drinking for months without any significant change to the ongoing issues created by your alcoholic behavior. You know that alcohol rehab is an option, but you’re still not quite sure whether or not it’s the right option for you or if it’s something that you should pursue right now. The following questions are designed to help you determine whether or not you are ready to get the most out of alcohol detox and addiction treatment. Answer them honestly and thoughtfully. If you would like assistance or if you would like to discuss the possibility of drug addiction treatment as the next step in your life, contact us at The Canyon today.

What Will Alcohol Rehab Do for You Now?

Why would you benefit from coming to treatment now? Has something happened recently to show you just how serious your alcohol addiction has become or the devastating effects it has on your life? Do you feel empowered to take on treatment now knowing that things can only get worse if you continue? This can be a very powerful reason to choose alcohol rehab help.

What’s Your Alcohol Treatment History?

Have you ever been to alcohol addiction treatment before? If so, consider what worked for you and what didn’t. If you chose a less intensive outpatient program, you may consider an inpatient treatment. If you chose an inpatient rehab before, you may opt for a different style of inpatient recovery this time. If you have never been to alcohol rehab, choose the most intensive program that you can find to give yourself the most solid start in recovery as possible.

Do You Have a Plan to Cover the Costs of Alcohol Rehab?

Are you familiar with your resources for paying for alcohol rehab? Many avoid getting the help that they need because they fear that they won’t have the money to pay for a truly comprehensive treatment program. Often, they assume this before they even look into the details. The fact is that many health insurance policies will cover part of the cost of treatment and that financing options are available to help you pay for the remaining amount. All you have to do is ask.

Are You Ready to Go to Alcohol Rehab?

Have you talked to your boss, your landlord, your roommates about leaving for an extended period? Have you made arrangements for your children and/ or pets? What about your bills and your mail? Have you talked to those closest to you and prepared them for what to expect? Do you know what to expect? Have you taken a moment to look over the literature provided by the rehab so you know what to pack, what not to pack and the schedule of therapies and treatments that may be included in your program?

Are you ready for alcohol rehab? If so, contact us today. We can help you prepare for a new life without addiction. Call now.

Your loved one has spent the last weeks or months at an alcohol rehab receiving detox and addiction treatment and now you are preparing for his or her return. While they were away, you had a chance to focus on yourself in a way that you haven’t since you first realized that your loved one was living with cocaine addiction, heroin addiction, alcoholism, prescription drug addiction or other addiction. Now that they are coming home, this is your chance to prepare yourself physically and mentally so that it’s as positive an experience as it can be.

Preparing for Your Loved One’s Return from Alcohol Rehab Socially

Hopefully you’ve been investing some time in developing a social network of positive people who are supportive of you and what you’re going through with your loved one’s addiction. Whether this is through old friends, new friends, family members or 12-step support groups, this is an essential part of your life that you will need to maintain after your loved one returns home.

Keep in mind that your loved one may be uncomfortable with you discussing your issues with their addiction with other people. Remind him or her that they have the freedom to do this at their own 12-step meetings and with their friends and that isolating you is not good or appropriate.

Preparing for Your Loved One’s Return from Alcohol Rehab Physically

Emotional exhaustion and stress take a physical toll on the body and though you are likely recovered from the experience of living with your loved one’s addiction, you will need to do a little maintenance to stay in the state. Sometimes it’s as simple as a yoga class, regular workouts or time spent in the sauna at the gym. Others prefer a more pampered relaxation experience and opt for regular spa stays or massage. If you have a regular routine that keeps you relaxed and physically fit, don’t neglect it after your loved one returns. Stick to your schedule no matter what.

Preparing for Your Loved One’s Return from Alcohol Rehab Mentally

You’ll certainly have a number of expectations when your loved one comes home after alcohol addiction treatment. Sobriety, certainly, is one of those expectations, but you may also have hopes that your loved one will be in a better mood, not be sick like they were during addiction, and treat you better. The best thing to do is to let go of all your ideas about how things “should” be after alcohol rehab. Your loved one may feel pressured and resentful of your ideas, and if you press them, fights could result. Instead, give your loved one the space they need to build a new life for themselves in recovery. They will need to be able to attend 12-step meetings, go to personal therapy, look for jobs, go to work, and make new friends who are also clean and sober.

By all means, encourage your loved one in these pursuits and voice your concerns if you believe that he or she is making choices that will lead to relapse. Ultimately, however, you cannot control whether or not relapse occurs. All you can do is decide how you will handle it if it does happen ahead of time and then follow through.

Viral YouTube radio announcer Ted Williams recently admitted that the alcohol addiction that made him homeless still required attention and he enrolled in an alcohol rehab to get the help that he needs. Unfortunately, the word is that Williams has decided to leave alcohol rehab early.

Williams told Dr. Phil that he had been drinking heavily since his overnight success and found it hard to manage his newfound fame. Issues with family exacerbated the problem, and though the man with the golden voice promised Dr. Phil that he would get help, it seems that his attempts at treatment were short-lived.

Long-Term, Inpatient Alcohol Rehab Provides the Best Evidence-Based Treatment for Addiction

All the studies say the same thing: the longer you spend in rehab, the more successful you will be in recovery. Success is defined by how long you avoid relapse after treatment and, if you do slip, how long that slip lasts. Spending 24 hours a day in an alcohol rehab facility gives you the chance to make a clean break from the family issues that are plaguing you, avoid the expectations and pressures of others, and just focus on yourself and your health. The more treatments, classes, therapies and activities you take part in during treatment, the better you will do. More involvement, more time and more focus adds up to long-term success in alcohol addiction recovery.

Retread: Getting the Alcohol Addiction Treatment You Need to Succeed

Though long-term alcohol addiction treatment is the best way to make real progress in recovery and truly learn how to stay away from drugs and alcohol, every little bit helps. Many addicts and alcoholics have multiple trips to drug rehab in their history – some call themselves “retreads” to define their repeat relapses and returns to treatment. Some describe a successful first trip to alcohol rehab followed up by years of abstinence only to end up back in rehab after relapsing over a trauma or loss and losing themselves in alcoholism again. Others say it took multiple trips to alcohol rehab for the concepts to really stick, but each time they went, another seed was planted and then another and another until the techniques and skills taught in recovery overran the addiction.

Don’t Give Up: Get the Alcohol Rehab Help You Need

The most important thing to remember is that giving up is not an option. Alcohol addiction is lifelong illness and the longer you drink, the harder it is to beat. Reversing the long-term effects of alcohol abuse on the brain and the body can take years, just as building up the addiction that caused the damage was years in the making, as well. The gift is in knowing that there is always hope, that no relapse is final and that a return to alcohol rehab to regain your footing in recovery is always an option.

If you would like to learn more about our drug and alcohol addiction treatment facility, contact us today. We support men and women who are fighting drug and alcohol addiction at any level and are ready to learn how they can take back control of their lives. Call now.

When you go home after alcohol rehab, you will need to make some changes in your life to accommodate your new goals and direction. Letting go of alcohol and drug abuse often means letting go of some of the people that you used to use with. It can also mean changing your schedule so that you aren’t frequenting the places you used to use and replacing those people and places with new and positive ones. The bad news is that this isn’t always easy. It can take a little bit of time and may mean a few unhappy people in your life. The good news is that you will be replacing the potential triggers and harmful situations with new, positive and supportive people and activities that will allow you to live a long time without drug and alcohol addiction.

Change #1 After Alcohol Rehab: Assess Your Relationships

Your relationships with your friends and partner are the first thing that you may need to change when you come home after alcohol rehab. If you were drinking with your partner or your friends – and they are still drinking or using other drugs – then you just can’t hang out with them for awhile. It may not make sense to those you care about, but when you are constantly around someone who is drunk – even if they don’t technically drink in front of you – it makes you want to drink. And when you’re trying to stay sober, that’s the last thing you need.

Sometimes, even if your partner or close friend does not drink, the stress of the relationship can be too much to handle in early recovery. If your relationship with someone is defined by drama and fighting, you will eventually drink over the situation if you don’t limit your involvement with them and find new friends who bring positivity and happiness into your life.

Change #2 After Alcohol Rehab: Take a Look at Your Schedule

What did you used to do before you went to alcohol rehab? Go to bars? Out to clubs? Drink and watch the game? Your schedule after you come home from drug rehab should, obviously, drop all drinking-related activities and activities that happen in bars. If your habits included stopping by the same liquor store on the way home every day, change the way you go home. With all the free time available in your schedule when you remove drinking, you can try just about anything: take a class at the community college, start working out or jogging, spend more time with your kids or other family members, pick up extra hours at work, start attending sports events or cultural events in person. The choice is up to you!

Alcohol Rehab at The Canyon

If you have not yet enrolled in an alcohol rehab program, contact us at The Canyon today. We can get you started on a treatment program that will change your life and provide you with the emotional coping skills you need to avoid relapse when you return. Call now for more information.

Success at an alcohol addiction treatment center starts with a little preparation and a handful of tips to help you get off on the right foot. Below you will find five tips for a successful stay at any inpatient alcohol rehab.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment Success Tip #1: Pack Appropriately

The alcohol addiction treatment center you choose will send a sheet that lets you know exactly what you should and shouldn’t bring with you to rehab. Though there is a little room for interpretation in clothing and personal items, it’s very important that you not include any of the items on the ‘no-no’ list. Obviously, no drugs or alcohol is allowed, but electronics and other items may be limited as well. Make sure to follow the rules so that your first day goes as smoothly as possible.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment Success Tip #2: Familiarize Yourself with the Rules

Every alcohol rehab has rules. There are specific schedules to follow complete with getting up and going to bed at certain times. Meal times are set, as are the menus. There are rules about when and how often you can communicate with friends and family back home. There are also curfews and rules about where you can go, for how long, when and who you can go with.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment Success Tip #3: Plan to Include Your Family

If your family lives close to the rehab, you may have the option to include them in family therapy if it’s appropriate for your treatment. Even if they are an airplane ride away, they can certainly be involved in family visitation days and for your “graduation” when you complete the program. Planning ahead can allow them to make arrangements if possible. Either way, you can certainly call home and write and include your family as much or as little as you like in your treatment.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment Success Tip #4: Don’t Binge

Many are tempted to binge on alcohol or other drugs before they go to alcohol rehab. The prospect of sobriety can be daunting and, as a result, they go way overboard with their drinking before they go. Ultimately, this just causes more hardship than it’s worth. Your first day at alcohol rehab will be uncomfortable enough – throwing a hangover on top of everything else is just doing yourself a disservice.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment Success Tip #5: Get Some Rest

Rather than partying before heading into alcohol addiction treatment, get some rest. Hang out with your family and close friends and have a quiet night in. Eat healthy, drink lots of water and try not to drink at all. It will make your first week much easier and help you get started on the right foot.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment: Start Today

If you are ready to choose alcohol rehab, call us at The Canyon today. We can give you all the information you need to help you make good choices before, during and after alcohol rehab. Call now.

There are a number of different warning signs that can let you know that alcoholism has become a serious problem for you. It’s not always easy to see it for yourself when you’re actively living with addiction, but if the following signs describe your experience and you drink heavily or often, then alcoholism may be a problem for you.

If you are struggling with alcoholism, help is just a phone call away. Here at The Canyon, we can help you get the treatment you need to change your life.

Alcoholism Warning Sign #1: Lying About How Much You Drink

Lying is always a sign of trying to hide something that you know is wrong, and when you lie about drinking, it’s clear that there’s a problem. No one will judge you for having a glass of wine with dinner or occasionally overindulging on the weekend or at a game. But if you are drinking so much and so often that you feel more comfortable lying to those who care about you than admit it, then it’s a warning sign of alcoholism.

Alcoholism Warning Sign #2: Hiding Your Drinking or Hiding Alcohol

In the same way, those who drink in secret or sneak off to drink know on some level that they are drinking too much. Hiding bottles of alcohol in the car, at work or around the house to make it easier to take a drink when you want one is another sign that alcoholism is an issue for you that requires treatment.

Alcoholism Warning Sign #3: Losing Your Job Due to Alcoholic Behavior

Drinking on the job or before work is an obvious sign that your drinking has hit a critical point. Chances are, you won’t keep your secret long, and you’ll lose your job as a result. What may be less obvious is when you miss work frequently or are too ill or drunk to maintain employment, it’s a sure sign that alcoholism is a serious issue for you.

Alcoholism Warning Sign #4: Losing Your Spouse or Partner Due to Alcoholism

If your spouse is yelling at you constantly that you are drinking too much, he or she may be onto something. Those closest to you are the first ones to recognize when you have a serious problem – and their swift departure when you refuse to stop drinking can be a sure sign that your alcoholism has reached a crisis point.

Alcoholism Warning Sign #5: Trying to Quit Without Success

One of the surest signs that alcoholism is an issue for you is when you yourself decide that it’s time to stop drinking – and you can’t do it. Those who try to quit drinking at home on their own with little to no success are struck with a serious realization: either get professional alcohol addiction treatment or continue addictive drinking interminably.

If you are ready to begin an alcohol rehab program, The Canyon is here to help. Contact us today to get more information and begin your journey to a new life without alcohol.

Typically in the recovery world, there are two schools of thought concerning whether or not you should have a relationship while you’re going through detox and treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. The first is simple: don’t do it. Just don’t do it. Don’t date. Don’t hook up. And do not, under any circumstances, get romantically attached. The other school of thought is that two people are stronger together than one alone, that this other person can be like a partner and the two of you will be better equipped to handle temptation and, in essence, help each other stay clean.

Relationships During Addiction Treatment Recovery: The Power of Distraction

Some people enroll in a photography class when they first stop using drugs and alcohol. Others clean their house from top to bottom. Others spend their time in support group meetings and in service to others through volunteer work in the community. We do these things to replace the role of drugs in our lives, to find a way to pass the time, to find something else to think about outside of ourselves, our problems and the things that may have played a part in the development of drug addiction in the first place. A relationship can serve the same purpose: it’s fun. At least in the beginning. It’s something to do, something to think about. This new person can seem like a gift after addiction, one of the many new leases on life you’ve been given.

The problem is when this ‘distraction’ becomes an obsession. What’s that saying? “Scratch an addict, and you’ll find a codependent.” When your relationship takes your focus off of yourself to the point that you and your drug addiction treatment and recovery become secondary, distraction turns into disaster.

Relationships During Addiction Treatment Recovery: The Power of a Breakup

Just as bad as allowing your relationship to turn into an obsession is when the relationship goes downhill. In the beginning, it feels like this will never happen, but ask yourself: have you ever been in a relationship that hasn’t ultimately ended? When your emotional safety is bound up in a relationship, you’re setting yourself up to fail when the two of you inevitably have problems or decide to go your separate ways.

Even those who handle substance use well—only indulging moderately or only on rare occasions—will get drunk or high over a breakup. It’s hard to fight with someone you love, much less lose them, and if you’re freshly out of drug rehab, then you’re emotionally vulnerable and the experience is that much harder. An added pitfall is the potential for overdose that often occurs after a time of non-use and the risk of other associated risks due to driving and other poor decisions made under the influence. Even if these things don’t happen, a slip quickly turns into a relapse and relapse turns into regular use, and soon all that you’ve gained in drug rehab is nothing but a memory and you’re right back where you started. Over a relationship.

So what do you think? Bad idea? Good idea? Any circumstances to avoid or tips to pass along to those who are considering a relationship in early recovery? Tell us what you think.