Alcoholism can certainly put a dent in any marriage. If your spouse is addicted to alcoholic substances and the behavioral changes are already damaging your marriage and family life, then it is time to look for centers that can offer effective alcohol rehab. Not all programs in a San Diego detox center are created equally. When researching alcohol rehabs, there are several key factors to look for.
A good balance of detox and counseling
No alcohol rehab program is complete without the San Diego detox process because unless the substance is removed from the addicted person’s system, the addiction will not be treated properly. Alcoholic substance triggers the neurons in the brain, and this affects the patient’s perception of the world. Unless a detox is completed first, no further treatments may be carried out successfully. On the other hand, you should not settle for a rehabilitation center that only offers detox to addicted patients.
Detox alone will not cure the addiction because this condition is both a physiological and a psychological problem. While the detoxification process treats the physiological aspect of the addiction, it does not help the patient overcome its psychological triggers. One-on-one counseling and group counseling sessions are necessary for the success of any alcohol rehab program.
Beyond the addiction
A successful alcohol rehab program also considers other problems that may have triggered the addiction or are feeding the addiction. There is a possibility that the patient was suffering from depression or other personality disorders prior to the alcohol addiction. If this is the case, these problems need to be dealt with immediately following detox. If the alcohol rehabs center you have shortlisted has enough experts in their team who can treat these problems, you are in good hands.
Sometimes, the problem is not just with the patient. There is a strong possibility that the patient turned to drink alcohol to escape from pressures from work, family, or the spouse. There are other cases when alcohol drinking is triggered by peer pressure. If this is the case, the counseling side of the alcohol rehab program should be able to let the patient process the problem. At the end of the inpatient program, he or she should know how to fight these factors off and how to convert the craving for alcohol into something more productive and healthy.
It should involve you.
When you let an interventionist take over so that your spouse can be rehabilitated from alcoholism, the problem is still in your hands. You should be involved in the rehabilitation process, and you should choose a center that keeps you updated about your spouse’s condition. Good programs also process partners and other family members who were affected by the patient’s substance addiction. They allow these people to overcome whatever grudges they may be holding because the patient allowed himself or herself to be addicted.
This prepares the household for a productive outpatient recovery process. The family and/or the spouse need to forgive the patient for his/her shortcomings, so they could, in turn, be a strong support system during the outpatient program. Without support, an addict may suffer from relapses or become worse. Of course, outpatient counseling is still in order during the latter stages of recovery.