Alcoholism Treatment Center

For many people, recognizing they are struggling with alcohol addiction can take years. Once an individual can no longer deny their addiction and the negative effects it has on their mind, body, career, finances, and important relationships, it can be difficult to fully accept that they are at a turning point in the road. When they get to this point in their addiction, it is important to seek residential treatment for their alcoholism before it spirals any further out of control.

One of the most important goals of our alcohol treatment program is to prepare clients for life after residential care. When clients leave treatment they have to face a lot of distractions, temptations, and triggers while trying to stay sober. At Alta Mira, clients learn many things that will help them later, such as trigger avoidance, relapse prevention, healthy coping strategies, and stress-relief techniques. Highlights of our alcoholism treatment program include:

• State of the art care, including detoxification and therapy
• Privacy and confidentiality
• Luxury residences with private and shared room options
• High-end, private-pay treatment
• Comprehensive neuropsychological testing and assessments
• Transformational recovery program with outstanding treatment outcomes

Getting help for alcoholism is a big decision. But it is an important and potentially life-transforming move for anyone who has tried to manage drinking on their own and failed.

Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder, is an addiction to alcohol or a pattern of misuse of alcohol that is problematic.

Exact causes of alcoholism are often difficult to identify, but anyone who misuses alcohol and drinks a lot is at risk of developing a dependence. Some people are also more genetically predisposed to any type of addictive disorder, which can cause a quicker deterioration from problem drinking to alcoholism. As with other addictions, drinking alcohol regularly and in large quantities can cause changes to the brain over time that make it difficult to stop drinking. Some of the known risk factors that make someone more vulnerable to developing alcoholism include:

• A family history of alcoholism or other addictions
• Beginning drinking at an early age
• Binge drinking or steady drinking over a long period of time
• Having a mental illness, especially untreated
• Having a partner or friends that drink heavily
• Childhood trauma

Alcoholism and Co-Occurring Disorders

It is not uncommon for alcoholism to occur with other disorders, especially mental illnesses. Any mental illness may co-occur with alcoholism, but depression and anxiety are the most common. The connection exists because some people with undiagnosed or untreated mental illnesses use alcohol to self-medicate. Drinking too much can also trigger symptoms of depression and anxiety or make them worse. Both addiction and mental illness also have common risk factors, another explanation for why they often co-occur.

There are also several physical health problems that can co-occur with alcoholism, mostly because of the damage drinking alcohol causes to the body over time. For example, fatty liver and alcoholic hepatitis are not uncommon in heavy drinkers because of how alcohol damages the liver. Also linked with alcoholism are chronic pancreatitis, malnutrition, cancer of the mouth, esophagus, and larynx, and dental problems.

Another common co-occurring issue with alcoholism is addiction to other substances. People who misuse alcohol also may misuse illicit or prescription drugs for similar reasons. This can be very dangerous, though, as certain combinations of alcohol and drugs can increase physical health problems and even increase the risk of overdose. For example, mixing alcohol with other depressants, like benzodiazepines or opioids, is dangerous because of the additive effects.

There is no cure for any addiction, but when it is viewed as a chronic illness and treated accordingly alcoholism—or, alcohol use disorder—can be managed.

The most effective alcohol addiction treatment is a combination of strategies that include long-term care at a residential alcohol treatment center, behavioral therapies, social support, and treatment of any co-occurring conditions.

Residential alcohol rehab begins with a period of medically supervised detox. This is then followed by one-on-one therapy sessions that help the patient determine what underlies his or her drinking problems and that teach the patient how to change behaviors and make more positive choices. Effective treatment for alcoholism also typically includes working in groups, family therapy sessions, alternative therapies, nutrition, exercise, and planning for ongoing care after the residential stay is over.

Getting help for problematic alcohol use is a big decision. But it is an important and potentially life-transforming move for anyone who has tried to manage drinking on their own and failed. Alta Mira is staffed by caring professionals with experience helping people make long-term changes in their behaviors.

Only you can decide it is time to stop this decline in alcohol addiction. Only you can make the first move, but you can move into the arms of people who care and who understand the challenges you face. Realizing you have a problem and having the desire to change are motivating factors for getting help.

Reaching out to loved ones and professionals who understand alcohol addiction should be your next move. It’s frightening to think about going through withdrawal, our medically supervised detox can help you manage the symptoms of withdrawal. As you stabilize during our 30 Day Detox, Stabilization, and Assessment period, you will physically and mentally be preparing yourself for the next phase of your recovery transformation.

How to Help a Loved One Get Treatment for Alcoholism

Addiction is not a choice nor a sign of weakness. It is a condition of the brain that can respond to targeted treatment. When your loved one comes to Alta Mira, they will finally have a chance to be free from the debilitating effects of addiction.

While you can have an influence on your loved one’s decision to seek treatment, an individual struggling with alcoholism must take ultimate responsibility for their own recovery. Your support and encouragement may be what finally convinces them to seek help for their struggles with alcohol addiction. Your love and optimism can persuade them that change really is possible.

No matter how long your family member or close friend has had problems with alcohol, there is always hope. Treatment works for those who are motivated to get better, and for those whose loved ones are ready, willing, and eager to participate in the recovery process.

If you feel your loved one is in need of an intervention, our admissions team can work with you to help find the right interventionist to fit your family’s needs.

During your stay at Alta Mira, you’ll have an individualized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. This will include comprehensive services for any co-occurring conditions that might be complicating or supporting your alcohol addiction.

• Comprehensive Neuropsychological Testing and Assessment
• Individualized Treatment Plans
• Evidence-Based Treatment Modalities
• Holistic and Experiential Therapies

Our Transformational Alcoholism Treatment Program

Your first 30 days of treatment at Alta Mira is referred to as your Detox, Stabilization, Assessment period, which begins with private, medically supervised detox. During this time, our detox specialists will keep you safe and secure, monitored 24/7, as you rest in the privacy of your own room. You can also expect:

• Weekly meetings with a psychiatrist
• Weekly meetings with a medical doctor
• Neuropsychological testing and advanced psychological testing
• Orientation to our recovery fundamentals and self-regulation skills development
• In-depth family engagement and the option for loved ones to attend multiple 3-day family programs
• Introduction to therapy groups

Following 30 days of stabilization, clients move on to the next phase of their recovery process at Alta Mira, which we call our Transformational Program. Key elements of our complete 90-day transformational alcohol treatment program include:

• Three individual intensive psychotherapy sessions per week
• Weekly meetings with a medical doctor
• Participation in advanced workshops to support introspection, foundational change toward recovery, and relapse prevention
• Expanded neuropsychological assessment and continued weekly psychiatrist meetings inform tailored treatment adjustments and a refined individualized clinical approach
• Practice and integration of recovery principles and self-regulation skills and continued family work to support improved individual outcomes
• Intensive Workshops

We believe individuals are best able to focus on their recovery when immersed in a secure, serene, healing setting. That’s why we provide comfortable surroundings while maintaining the most advanced luxury alcoholism treatment in Northern California. Clients can expect compassionate care from our best-in-class alcohol addiction specialists.

Seeking a helping hand to guide you through these difficult times is not an easy decision. Our caring and experienced team at Alta Mira can help guide you through the next steps toward achieving lasting recovery.

Don’t let alcoholism control your life. To begin your life-changing transformation, contact us today.