Alcohol Detox Archives - Drug and Alcohol Rehab Los Angeles California

Is Alcoholism a Progressive Disease?

Written by admin on January 6, 2023. Posted in Alcohol Detox, Alcohol Rehab, Alcohol Use Disorder.

Alcoholism is a progressive disease that can take over a person’s life. As a person’s tolerance to alcohol increases, they need to drink more to get the same feeling. Some people quit or cut back when the consequences become too much to bear. However, others cannot control their drinking habits without professional help and support. At Believe Detox Center, we know that anyone can recover from alcoholism with support and treatment. Since alcoholism is a disease, it can be treated like any other to prevent relapses or worsening of symptoms. Still, it is best to get help as soon as a person recognizes the problem to stop the progressive nature of alcoholism.

What is a Progressive Disease?

A disease like alcoholism or other substance use disorders is progressive because the symptoms worsen over time when left untreated. Not all diseases are progressive. For instance, colds and cases of flu generally run their course over a few days. In addition, some chronic diseases, like cerebral palsy, generally display the same level and severity of symptoms throughout a person’s lifetime.

However, a progressive disease will continue to get worse, especially when left untreated. In some cases, treatment can slow the natural progression of the disease. Parkinson’s disease, for example, gets worse over time, however, a person can slow this progression with medical interventions and lifestyle changes.

The Progression of Alcoholism

The progression of alcoholism, like other progressive diseases, begins in stages. The first stage occurs when a person first begins to drink. Often, people get their first exposure to alcohol at a time in life when they have few responsibilities. They might be young, single, and without children. Thus, the negative consequences of drinking might be relatively minor issues, like being late for work or having a hangover.

Increase in Responsibilities in Life

As a person’s life advances, they gain more responsibilities. They could be on a career path that provides them with fulfillment and affords their lifestyle. The person might also be married or have children, so they have responsibilities for the care and welfare of others. Thus, the consequences of drinking could be greater.

Developing Out-of-Control Drinking Habits

At the same time, as the person continues drinking, they develop a higher tolerance for alcohol and could become physically dependent on it. This means that if they stop drinking or attempt to cut back, they have symptoms of withdrawal. They may also have strong cravings for alcohol that are difficult to control and distract them from everyday life.

Thus, as a person loses control of their drinking, they also lose control of other areas in their life. This can lead to severe consequences for the person’s social, physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

The Consequences of Alcoholism

In the beginning stages of alcoholism, a person drinks for a benefit or reward. Common examples are feeling more confident, less anxious in social situations, or having a sense of belonging. Minor consequences, like a hangover, aren’t enough to outweigh these benefits.

However, as time goes on, the consequences become more severe. As the disease progresses, a person can suffer greater losses while being physically unable to quit without professional help.

Consequences of untreated alcoholism might include the following:

Problems in relationships with family and friends
Decreased performance at work or in school
Loss of interest in hobbies and fulfilling activities
Mental fog and difficulty concentrating
Hangovers that worsen in severity over time
Issues at work, like absenteeism, tardiness, and conflicts
Injuries from loss of coordination when drinking
Reckless behaviors, like drunk driving, leading to legal problems
Developing physical health issues, like liver or heart disease
A weakened immune system, leaving a person more likely to get sick
Emotional health issues like low self-esteem
Mental health disorders like anxiety or depression
Life-threatening withdrawal symptoms when a person attempts to quit “cold turkey”

When a person is unable to stop drinking despite consequences like these, they need treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Is Alcohol Use Disorder the Same as Alcoholism?

Alcoholism is an everyday term for alcohol use disorder (AUD), so they are essentially the same thing. AUD is a spectral disorder, meaning that a person can have varying degrees of severity in their symptoms. Since alcoholism is progressive, the longer a person drinks, the more likely it is for them to have a higher severity of symptoms. However, a person doesn’t need to hit “rock bottom” to get help.

A person doesn’t need to experience severe consequences to get better. In fact, some people in the early stages of alcoholism quit drinking or cut back before things get worse. But, others are unable to simply stop or cut back. Without help, they could continue to spiral as their lives and their alcoholism gets out of control.

Stop the Progression of Alcoholism Today

Fortunately, there are treatment options available for any stage of alcoholism. Because alcohol affects everyone differently, each person needs an individualized treatment plan to address their unique needs as well as the stage of their alcoholism. Believe Detox Center in Los Angeles, California, offers several options to treat alcoholism, such as detox services, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), psychotherapy, and aftercare. Contact us today to stop the progression of alcoholism and begin living a healthy and prosperous life.

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Residential Alcohol Rehab: Definition, Types of Treatment, and More

Written by admin on February 14, 2022. Posted in Alcohol Detox.

Have you been curious about residential alcohol rehab but aren’t sure if it’s right for you? Does it seem like there are so many “residential treatment centers” that all tend to blur together? Here in Southern California, there certainly aren’t many residential centers to choose from. At Believe Detox Center, we do everything in our power to stand out from the rest. At our residential detox and rehabilitation, we work on those underlying traumas and causes so that you can get back to the life that you want.

Residential Alcohol Rehab Defined

Essentially, our “residential” rehab is just that: a home-like environment. Indeed, from the outside, Believe Detox Center certainly looks like a large, plush home. That said, the residential treatment is a comprehensive, non-hospitalization setup that’s specifically designed to help with addiction. This is true whether you’re addicted to drugs, alcohol, and so forth. Another reason this treatment is called “residential” – you stay here overnight. Through this treatment, you can devote all of your time, energy, and focus to recovery, just as our experts devote all of the time, energy, and focus to you.

Your Residential Stay at Believe: Made to Fit Your Needs

Often, the question we’re asked most after telling a prospective patient that residential treatment will keep them here overnight is: “how long should I stay?” As you might imagine, that depends. Specifically, it depends on what treatment plan our experts determine is right for you. Many of our patients who’ve found lasting success outside of Believe Detox Center have been best served by Long-Term treatment. That means that you’re here for more than thirty days. Some go up to a year. Short-Term treatment, on the other hand, lasts two to three weeks. On average, our patients see the best results during a 28-day stay.

In-Home Detox: How Does It Work?

Written by admin on February 11, 2022. Posted in Alcohol Detox.

Have you been looking to detox but don’t feel like you can leave your job, your family, and your home for a period of time? Does it feel like there’s nothing you can do to stop abusing alcohol and/or toxic substances (or even cut back?) The good news is that there is hope. There is something you can do. Namely, in-home detox. With our help, you’ll be able to successfully detoxify, clearing all of the toxins out of your system so that you can start fresh and anew, from the comfort of your own home.

How it Starts

The first step is a thorough, comprehensive evaluation. Our medical professionals will go through your history, all of the medications you’ve taken, your history with drugs and/or alcohol, and so much more. With the information gained from your evaluation, we’ll put together a treatment plan that’s designed entirely for you. Then, we’ll give that information to your in-home detox nurse, so that they can start the detoxification process from inside your home.

In-Home Detox Through to the End

Even in your home, detoxification may not be easy. Even surrounded by loved ones, by your belongings, in your home and bed, detoxification can be a tremendous challenge. Withdrawal symptoms can be difficult, painful, and even dangerous. That’s where our in-house detox nurse can help. They’ll stay with you, monitoring you throughout the process. That way, they can step in and intervene if necessary, managing your symptoms. While we put together a complete home detox plan, our medical staff has the experience as well as the authority to be able to alter them as needed. By watching over you, monitoring your nutritional intake, sleep, and more, our staff will ensure that your detox is easier than it would be otherwise.

Benefits of Detoxing at Home

The obvious benefit is, of course, that you’re at home. You aren’t in a bed you’ve never been before at a detox facility you’ve only ever seen online surrounded by people you’ve just met. Instead, you’re in your bed, surrounded by your loved ones. Additionally, as our medical staff will be at your home, they’ll be able to get a far clearer idea of your environment, of what potentially triggered your substance abuse as well as the support circles that you have in your life. This information can make your ongoing treatment plan much more focused and specific to your needs.

In-Home Detox in Los Angeles

Detoxing in your home is, for many, the very first step towards leading a healthy, happy, and sober life. However, it is also just that: the first step. So many of our patients, once they’ve come through detoxification in their home, then move on to continued care. Indeed, with the information our staff gets from your evaluation as well as your detox, we’re able to put together a treatment plan that can put you in charge of your own life, so that you can lead the life that you want, free from those toxic substances that have held you back. For more about how our in-home detox in Los Angeles can help, call us at (818) 308-3118.

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What You Can Expect from Drug and Alcohol Detox Programs

Written by admin on February 4, 2022. Posted in Alcohol Detox.

Have you been researching drug and alcohol detox programs but feel like so few of them tell you what your treatment will actually entail? Are you tired of looking at one site or another that just shows you pretty pictures of a facility without getting into specifics? We know that when you’re looking for a treatment program, whether for yourself or someone that you love, you want to have as much information as possible. At Believe Detox Center, we’re always glad to provide more information about what treatment may entail.

An Initiation that Sets a Foundation

The first step is, for so many struggling with addiction (or their loved ones), the hardest. You reach out and call a facility like ours. Then, you’ll talk on the phone to one of our treatment professionals. They’ll ask you some brief questions and then we’ll go into the specifics of your treatment, how you’ll pay, etc. From there, the next step is usually a thorough evaluation from our medical professionals. They’ll find out your medical history, your drug/alcohol abuse history, and so much more. With that information, they’ll put together a treatment plan for you.

A Fresh Start for a New Life

Detoxification is, in a very real way, about a fresh start. That’s quite literally what it is. No matter where you detox, the process is about clearing all of those toxins out of your body, all while being monitored and overseen by a trained, experienced medical professional. The withdrawal symptoms may be difficult or even dangerous, but with help, you’ll be able to manage them. Then, when you come out of that, you’ll be able to start a new phase of your life, thus developing the skills to be able to maintain that sobriety/abstinence long into the future.

A Brighter Future

We work with you to be able to improve your body as well as your mind, thus positively impacting all phases of your life. While you’re here, you’ll learn strategies to be able to better manage and avoid those triggers which may have held you back in the past. But, it’s not like everything here will be directed just around that. Our staff will help you to discover those underlying traumas, those root causes of which your addictions are symptoms. Then, we’ll help you to overcome those problems so that you can lead the life that you want.

The Best Day to Start with Drug and Alcohol Detox Programs: Today

If you’re in the midst of addiction as you’re reading this, it’s likely that everything you’ve read above sounds unlikely, or even impossible. However, that’s not the case. You can lead a healthy, happy, and sober life. It is possible. No matter how hopeless or challenging it may seem at one time or another, you can succeed. If you want to learn more about how we can help you or someone you love, simply give us a call at (818) 308-3118.

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How to Know When it’s Time to go to an Alcohol Detox in Los Angeles

Written by admin on December 8, 2021. Posted in Alcohol Detox.

Have you been wondering whether or not it’s time to go to alcohol detox in Los Angeles and the surrounding area? Do you feel like it might be time to talk to someone you love about getting help with their drinking? The short, pithy answer is to say that, if you feel like you should get help with your drinking, you probably should. That said, there are other reasons to come to alcohol detox.

If You Haven’t Had a Drink in Six Hours But Feel…

For many who struggle with alcohol addiction, the first symptoms of withdrawal can appear as early as six hours from the time you stop drinking. The majority will feel an awful hangover that doesn’t lessen but worsens over time. This can also lead to excessive sweating, headaches, vomiting, agitation, anxiety, or even vomiting and an inability to sleep. Many people feel this not long after having.

What You May Feel A Day or Two After Your Last Drink

If you are unable to keep from drinking for 24 to 48 hours, then you should reach out to a detox facility immediately. That said, the period of a day or two after drinking is considered by many to be the time during alcohol withdrawal when someone struggling with addiction is most at risk. This is the time when someone could experience high blood pressure, nightmares, and even heart irregularities, palpitations, and worse. Additionally, many have hallucinations, feel confused, or even go through seizures/delirium tremens. When you’re at our detox facility, you’ll always be watched over by our staff. We can lessen all of the symptoms that you’ll face so that your detox can be as smooth as possible.

Behaviors You May Exhibit

Beyond the physical symptoms, there are behaviors clients have exhibited that have shown them it’s time to go to detox. For example, they may find that they spend so much of their time trying to get alcohol. In turn, they find that misusing alcohol has placed a strain on so many of their relationships, with friends, family, co-workers, and the like. If your alcohol tolerance has become so high if you find that you lack interest in so many of the activities that used to bring you joy, coming to detox very well could be the best decision you could make.

You Can’t Quit or Stop

Indeed, this is the most common reason that people come to a detox. They can’t stop drinking. Or rather, they can try to stop but find that they simply cannot. Many come to us after they tried to cut back on their drinking for a while and discovered that they were unable to do so. If you find yourself in this category, there’s nothing “weak” about you. All it means is that you need help from experienced professionals to be able to clear those toxins out of your body. We’ve helped so many who are in the same situation that you are right now.

After Alcohol Detox in Los Angeles

Detox is an important, genuinely life-saving step for so many. Through detox, people can clean all of those dangerous toxins out of their bodies, all while being overseen by medical professionals. That said, while detox is an important step, it is also often an important first step. So many who have come through our detox then move on to our other treatments, so that they’re able to take the next steps on their journey of recovery. For more information or to start the process, you can reach us at (818) 308-3118.