Alcohol Recovery and Faith
Because there are many types of alcoholics with a wide range of varying needs, there are also many types of alcohol recovery options to choose from. Many people find success through the traditional route—medical intervention combined with addiction therapy and support group meetings—but others find conventional rehab lacking in one way or another. For people of faith, for example, standard treatment programs may seem to lack a crucial spiritual element.
For a recovering alcoholic who sees faith as integral to getting sober, there are numerous options. Most major metropolitan areas have multiple quality rehab programs that are backed by or closely associated with churches and other houses of worship. Meanwhile, if you call around and speak to the best alcohol recovery facilities in your area, you may find that some have procedures for patients who want faith to be part of the process. If there are no in-house religious officials on hand, there may be regular services at the facility for people of faith.
No matter what route you take, it is important to remember that while spiritual support can be helpful during recovery, it is no substitute for medical care. Severe, long-term alcoholics in particular need medical supervision through detox and the early stages of alcohol recovery. Alcohol detox is a medical treatment which involves the cessation of alcohol intake while introducing other drugs into the body which produce the same effect; this prevents the body from suffering withdrawal symptoms. With the help of medical professionals, the patient's body is gently weaned off of alcohol dependence.
Meanwhile, many recovering alcoholics need psychological treatment for co-morbid conditions. Spirituality can help with these issues, but trained medical professionals have areas of expertise that will be useful in the rough early going. If you are a person of faith, then spiritual engagement will undoubtedly be a source of strength over the years of sobriety. But do not let your faith discourage you from entering a mainstream, reputable alcohol recovery program. In fact, spiritual beliefs work well in combination with the Twelve Steps and other major recovery philosophies. And in the short term, you are going to need the aid of medical experts to get you through the detox and stabilization stages.
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