Living with alcoholism is not an enjoyable lifestyle for anybody. It requires a lot of effort to maintain the ability to constantly drink. Alcoholics often have to hide their drinking from their loved ones which may require ingenious hiding places and a web of lies. For many peopl arriving at an alcohol rehab center is a great relief: it signals the end of a chaotic and difficult lifestyle!

Nobody really likes the word "alcoholic" when they first start thinking about coming into sobriety. It's still quite stigmatized to be considered an alcoholic and many people misunderstand what the term means. It grates up against them to think they might be alcoholic. Furthermore most alcoholics are the *last* people to know that they have a problem that needs professional care in an alcohol rehab center. It is usually their friends and families who work themselves to exhaustion trying to convince them that they have a problem.

Alcoholics often use all sorts of excuses to try and deny that their problem needs them to go to an alcohol rehab center. Mom might say that drinking a few glasses of wine in the evening doesn't make her an alcoholic because she never passes out. Or Dad might argue that he never drinks during the week and so he can't be an alcoholic. The truth is that alcoholism has many different forms, all of which can be dangerous.

So who is needing alcohol rehab?

A very crude rule of thumb that we can use to see who is alcoholic is to simply take away the alcohol. An alcoholic might loudly proclaim that he/she can live without the booze, but just you try take it away and you'll see a different picture! People who struggle to live without alcohol are the people who should go to an alcohol rehab center to regain their freedom. If a person can't enjoy life without alcohol then an alcohol rehab center can help him/her to find new meaning in life. And the experiment of trying to live without alcohol can't be dangerous right? Wrong! Always consult with your doctor when stopping drinking as it can be very dangerous to do this outside of an alcohol rehab center or proper medical supervision.

What is alcoholism?

We see alcoholism as an illness and not some sort of moral failing. It is a fatal illness that kills people through it's direct effect on the body (e.g.: organ failure) or through accidental death (e.g.: car crashes) or suicide. It is a progressive illness which means that it gets worse over time and people are not likely to spontaneously get better.

Alcoholism is a disease that affects the people around the alcoholic. It tears families apart and destroys friendships. It interferes with work, relaxation, and every other aspect of life. Alcoholics do not mean to sow such chaos but are in the grip of a compulsion which is out of their control.

We have seen many alcoholics arrive in alcohol rehab centers in South Africa saying that they have tried to stop drinking alone but failed.
For many people alcohol rehab is the last chance to regain physical health and try to turn around their lives. Alcohol treatment saves the lives of alcoholics and improves the lives of all around them.

Okay - Alcohol Rehab is for me, now what?

This is often the point where families find themselves in need of guidance. Once an alcoholic has admitted that there is a problem that needs treatment in an alcohol rehab center what then? A lot of awareness campaigns focus on the consequences of alcoholism without providing any clear guidance about how to combat it.

Alcoholism is extremely unlikely to spontaneously get better. Admission to an alcohol rehab is required for the overwhelming majority of alcoholics. We Do Recover can help you to choose an alcohol rehab center.

There are many options that lead to recovery from alcoholism and alcohol rehab is just one of them. It is probably the safest option to choose to "detox" in an alcohol rehab center under medical supervision because this can be dangerous if you attempt it at home. Alcohol rehab also has a higher success rate of staying clean than doing it independently. Although it is just one of many options, alcohol rehab comes up trumps for safety and success.

Alcohol rehab can be difficult

Don't let anybody kid you into believing that alcohol rehab is going to be easy. Many people who arrive in an alcohol rehab center have been drinking for much of their adult lives. They have firmly entrenched beliefs, habits, and behaviours that support their alcoholism. Changing the way you think and behave is not an easy task. Facing up to the painful emotions of your past can be downright uncomfortable. Alcohol rehab programs are rigorous because they need to cover a lot of ground.

Yet the short-term discomfort of facing up to alcoholism is a great deal less daunting than the prospect of living in chaotic misery until eventually you die of alcoholism. Which could be worse: 4 weeks in a supportive environment in an alcohol rehab center or a lifetime of the consequences of alcoholism - lost dignity, financial ruin, divorce, lost jobs, car crashes,legal troubles, organ failure, and death?

The right alcohol rehab for you

Alcohol rehab might seem less unattractive now. Most people who start looking for an alcohol rehab become overwhelmed by options. Most alcohol rehab facilities will promise the world but who really delivers?

There is no one single alcohol rehab center that is better than all other facilities in every respect. Each alcohol rehab is different and each individual is different. The trick is to match the person to the alcohol rehab that is most likely going to meet their individual needs.

It certainly helps if you know what your needs are. This will help you to see if the alcohol rehab program will address these needs. By having some idea of what you hope to achieve in an alcohol rehab you will be able to ask the clinical staff if they will be able to guide you to accomplishing this.

We Do Recover can help you to realize what your needs are and to discover which alcohol rehab centers in South Africa offer the sort of program that you want.

Comfortable alcohol rehab centers

Would you believe that certain alcohol rehabs were known to chain their patients up? How is it possible to find alcohol recovery if you are in such an environment? n alcohol rehab program is an emotionally difficult time that requires a lot of effort, courage, and committment. You should be able to find alcohol recovery in a serene environment that helps you to relax and unwind between the sessions of self-discovery. We know facilities and we've spoken to ex-patients.

If you would like help in choosing an alcohol rehab center in South Africa that is affordable, effective, and comfortable please contact us. We would love to help you - and it's free!