Why Your Loved One Needs Addiction Treatment

January 10th, 2019

The Importance of Treatment Programs

If you have a loved one struggling with addiction, you understand the difficulties of seeking treatment. Addiction faces extreme stigma from society and many people refrain from seeking help due to shame or denial. However, struggling with addiction alone can have dangerous consequences, such as health troubles, money issues and potential overdose.

If your loved one has shared their struggles with you, chances are you are a trusted person in their life. Seeking a treatment program for your loved one is one of the best ways you can help them through their addiction. These programs can provide numerous benefits to people struggling with substance abuse – and your loved one will have a better chance at a clean, healthy life by completing one.

Seeking Help Alone Can Be Difficult

Even though millions of Americans struggle with drug and alcohol addiction, very few people seek treatment. In fact, only one in 10 people struggling with addiction enroll in a treatment program. For other health problems, such as diabetes or kidney disease, people are not as hesitant to seek help. Why is this number so low?

The fact is that drug and alcohol addiction is a stigma in American society. People who abuse substances are seen as criminal, scary, or crazy. Because of this portrayal, many people hide their addictions from their friends, families, and acquaintances.

However, hiding an addiction can be extremely dangerous and unhealthy. Addiction treatment programs can help your loved one overcome the stigma, develop healthy coping strategies, and safely detox from their substance.

Withdrawal Symptom Management

One of the top benefits of a professional treatment program is withdrawal symptom management. When your loved one stops using drugs or alcohol, they can experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Without professional monitoring and treatment, these symptoms can become unbearable and painful. These symptoms can end a decision to become sober very quickly.

Depending on the circumstances, your loved one may experience:

  • Seizures
  • Irritation and aggressiveness
  • Chills and fever
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Muscle pain
  • A coma
  • Abdominal pain
  • Insomnia
  • Shaking

Your loved one can safely manage these symptoms with minimal pain by receiving professional treatment. The first part of a drug and alcohol treatment program is known as detox, which may last for several days.

The purpose of this process is to remove remaining substances in your loved one’s body. During this time, professionals will monitor your loved one’s withdrawal symptoms and can provide medication to help manage them if needed.

In addition, your loved one will receive emotional and psychological support throughout the process. This treatment will help your loved one experience less severe withdrawal symptoms and stay away from temptations, allowing for the full detox cycle to complete.

Avoiding “Cold Turkey” Failure

Many people decide to just stop using their substance of choice, believing that going “cold turkey” is an effective path to sobriety. However, this is usually not the case. This strategy only works for some people – particularly those who have only used for a short period of time.

Most people, especially regular, long-term users, experience extreme withdrawal symptoms during this process. Often, they begin using again shortly after deciding to quit. When your loved one enrolls at a professional treatment center, they will have the medical supervision necessary for a safe detox.

Your loved one will also avoid temptation because, at a residential treatment center, they will have absolutely no access to drugs and alcohol. Your loved one will increase their chances of reaching sobriety when they seek professional help.

Access to Necessary Therapies and Treatments

Treatment centers also provide access to addiction therapies and treatments that your loved one may not have access to otherwise. For example, Windmill Wellness Ranch offers numerous programs designed to benefit our clients’ mental, spiritual, and physical health, including:

  • Therapy twice weekly with a master-level therapist 
  • Multiple modalities to address trauma, including: EMDR, IFS, CPT, and Sound Healing
  • Individualized recovery coaching
  • Tailored treatment for military veterans and first responders
  • Specialized treatments such as Brain Frequency and Neuro-Emotional Technique
  • Weekly focused therapy groups for complex trauma, self-image, mental health solutions, sex and love addiction, and family patterns of addiction
  • Recovery fellowships including both 12 Step and SMART Recovery
  • Extensive family support including both our weekly family workshop and our SMART Recovery Family & Friends meeting
  • A welcoming and affirming environment for any sexual orientation or gender identity, including help navigating coming out and/or transitioning while finding recovery
  • Use of the best new technologies available, such as the Trac9 system, to help individualize treatment and catch potential pitfalls before they happen
  • Physical recreational activities, including a full gym, extensive hiking trails, basketball, tennis, volleyball, a pool, and more 
  • Relapse prevention planning
  • Educational groups on topics such as the biology of addiction, positive psychology, healthy relationships, shame resilience, anger management, and more
  • Stress management
  • Life skills development and accountability management
  • Individualized nutritional and fitness coaching
  • Daily meditation
  • Experienced work with Employee Assistance Programs
  • Long-term alumni and aftercare support

All of the treatment programs your loved one will encounter have a basis in scientific research. Substance abuse experts design these programs to help relieve the symptoms of addiction and withdrawal. In addition, your loved one will learn important coping strategies to help them maintain their sobriety after they leave the facility.

Development of a Healthy Lifestyle

A balanced diet and a regular exercise routine are key strategies for reaching sobriety. Many rehabilitation programs, including Windmill Wellness Ranch, offer physical fitness and recreational activities for residents. Exercise is key to producing natural endorphins, building energy, and strengthening your loved one’s body and mind for recovery.

Diets full of fatty, sugary, or fried foods can make anyone feel sluggish and depressed. Within professional treatment programs, your loved one will receive a healthy, balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, and quality sources of protein. Eating this supervised diet will help your loved one gain the strength they need to handle withdrawal and progress through the recovery process.

Creation of a Peer Support System

If you have not struggled with addiction yourself, you can only provide limited support to your loved one. You can still provide necessary emotional assistance, but your loved one needs a group of people who understand the struggles of addiction. Many treatment centers design their programs to help clients develop social support systems with one another.

Through group therapy, recreational programming, and residential living, your loved one can develop relationships with other people who understand their struggles. When they leave the facility, your loved one can keep in touch with the friends they made. These groups help hold each other accountable through their sobriety journeys. For long-term recovery, these people are a valuable resource for your loved one to have.

In addition, a residential treatment program will keep your loved one away from negative influences. Outside of the facility, your loved one may have friends who do not support them in their recovery journey.

Visit Windmill Wellness Ranch Today

If your loved one needs a holistic, comprehensive approach to addiction recovery, Windmill Wellness Ranch can help. Our private facility in Canyon Lake, Texas offers treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. We offer programs such as art therapy, meditation, cognitive behavioral therapies, as well as individual and group counseling.

Contact Windmill Wellness Ranch today to learn more about our treatment philosophy and how to enroll.

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Created specifically for those who have loved ones that struggle with addiction.