Addiction is a chronic illness that affects people from all backgrounds, situations and circumstances. Since it is an issue that affects a broad cross-section of American society, it is considered a personal – and relapsing – illness that requires specialist treatment. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there are around 15,000 specialized centers offering treatment for substance abuse and addiction across the country.

Generally, there are two types of drug and alcohol rehab: outpatient or inpatient programs. An inpatient program is residential and requires the individual to stay at the facility for the duration of their treatment. Outpatient alcohol rehab San Francisco allows patients to remain at home and continue in their daily lives while they get the help they need in therapy sessions arranged at their convenience.

Everyone is different and the choice whether to opt for residential or outpatient treatment should be considered carefully. In this article, we focus on outpatient addiction treatment and take a closer look at the kind of people who will most benefit from this more flexible approach to rehab.

There are generally two types of patient who will benefit from outpatient alcohol rehab San Francisco:

Highly toxic substances such as opioids or benzodiazepines when used in combination with alcohol can cause significant withdrawal symptoms in detox. This is because of the potentially life-threatening process of expelling these chemicals from the body. Inpatient detox is always recommended for people who have severe addiction or who are at risk from a potentially dangerous withdrawal as around-the-clock medical assistance is available.

Patients on an outpatient alcohol rehab San Francisco are allowed more flexibility than those on a residential program. This can work well for people who have caregiving roles at home or who hold a position of responsibility at the workplace. Naturally, there are cases where people may prefer the more flexible option of outpatient rehab San Francisco but they may not be eligible according to their case history. The principle factor in choosing a rehab facility should be the individual’s needs in the first instance, with those of any dependents taking second place.

For those who therapists feel will benefit from an outpatient program, there is access to most if not all of the services available at a residential rehab center. The difference is that therapy sessions aren’t structured or as regular with outpatient rehab San Francisco. Outpatients are able to arrange therapy sessions around their responsibilities, scheduling more sessions each week if they feel the need for extra support. When someone is in the early stages of addiction, it can be extremely beneficial for their lives not to be disrupted while they get the treatment they need.

Outpatient rehab San Francisco is also extremely invaluable as a form of aftercare for patients leaving residential rehab. In the last few days of an inpatient program, patients can become anxious about returning home. Outpatient care provides them with extra support for as long as they require in the days, weeks, months and even years after leaving a treatment center. Outpatient care essentially helps patients manage the transition from rehab back into their everyday lives.

As mentioned above, outpatients have access to the same services as offered in residential treatment centers although they vary from program to program. At Elevate addiction San Francisco alcohol recovery, we offer an outpatient treatment program that focuses on the following topics:

The Elevate outpatient program tackles these specific topics related to addiction to focus and motivation to achieving and maintaining sobriety according to a patient’s personal objectives.

Another important component in the Elevate addiction San Francisco alcohol recovery program is mindfulness, an ancient art that encourages self-awareness. Many people who have been battling substance abuse have lost the ability to live in the moment. One of the characteristics of addiction is that substance abuse becomes a compulsion that preoccupies the mind. When people are continually thinking ahead to the next time they obtain and use substances, they lose the capacity to stand still and take in the moment they’re in.

Mindfulness practices focus on deep-breathing and meditation and equips outpatients with effective tools to silence negative internal dialogue and just be. As the mind zooms in on feelings, thoughts and physical sensations and breathing becomes regulated, patients are able to tap into a calm and relaxed state. Over time of practicing mindfulness, rehab patients can use the technique as relapse prevention in recovery.

Elevate addiction San Francisco alcohol recovery programs also include components from the following evidence based treatment methods:

According to an article published by NIDA, evidence-based behavioral therapies are shown to promote a long-term recovery. This is mainly because these therapies help people manage their addiction, providing them with strategies that support their continuing recovery. Behavioral therapies get to the root of addiction by addressing the negative thoughts, feelings and emotions individuals deal with that make them abuse substances. Once these negative traits that drive addictive behavior have been identified, a behavioral therapist will then seek to adapt responses and actions to potential stressors or cravings. Since behavioral therapies are evidence-based, it is possible to monitor a patient’s progress in outpatient rehab and recovery while personalizing therapy for their individual needs.