Alcohol abuse is like a heavy chain around your neck that is dragging you down. If you keep drinking, your life is only going to be brought down to the point that you may not be able to pick yourself up again. You can't even remember how it started. It's no longer about having a drink to relax or to enjoy with a group of friends at the end of the day. It's something that is at the center of everything you do. You're thinking about what you have to drink at home, where you can get more, and when you can have the next one. An important realization has finally hit. You need to get help before it is too late.

The most challenging part is accepting how long it will be necessary to go away to a rehab facility to pick up the shattered pieces of your life. You may have heard that rehab lasts a month. Actually, the length of treatment varies according to the needs of the patient and what is affordable. The better the health insurance program, the longer a period of time is covered. Patients with a solid financial foundation can afford a lengthier stay as needed. It's a different story for individuals with limited health plans or resources to pay for treatment.

Provided you have the resources available, your treatment plan could be: 

• 21 days
• 30 days
• 60 days 
• 90 days

After being discharged from inpatient treatment, it's recommended that the client go to outpatient treatment and stay in a sober house.

It can be overwhelming to consider going away for any length of time. It's tough to be away from your family and your work. You are likely to be concerned with your job and what you are going to do about lost wages while undergoing treatment. It's important to remember that entering a rehab program will be worth the cost when you see the returns.

Detox: The First Step

Your treatment in an alcohol rehab facility will involve several stages, whether you are only in the program for three weeks or you end up staying a month or more.

The first part of the recovery process is detox, when you will cease all use of alcohol. The severity of your withdrawal will depend on how much alcohol you consume in a day and how long it has been a problem. Within hours of the last drink you had, you will begin to feel the effects of alcohol withdrawal. Nausea, anxiety, depression, and paranoia are some of the many effects of going through withdrawal..

Listen to the Experts for Advice

Once you make it through detox, therapy can begin. You will meet with an counselor on a one-on-one basis to discuss alcohol abuse in your life, how it started, and what may trigger a return to alcohol abuse. You need to find a better way to deal with challenges in life. There are healthy outlets, such as exercise, stress relief, and meditation that can steer you clear of substance abuse. Group counseling is a part of the recovery experience as well. It is advised to continue to go to support group meetings to stay on track once you have left your recovery program. 

You may be worried about what will happen after a full month of treatment. This concern may even turn you away from getting help. Don't let the length of your treatment stay be a roadblock that stops you from finding freedom from alcohol abuse. Treatment should unlock doors to a brighter future. While you might be hesitant to commit to a longer term of treatment, remember that it's temporary. Be open minded with the counselors - they are making recommendations based on their professional opinions and experiences. Your life is at stake, and anything you put before your sobriety, you will lose.

Recovery from alcohol abuse will take one day at a time. Let today be the first day of the rest of your life, a life that is heading in a positive direction.