Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Delamere

Alcohol affects the brain’s reward system which triggers the release of dopamine, the feel good chemical, every time alcohol is consumed.

This hit of dopamine makes you feel so good your brain wants to experience it again. Over time, your brain adapts to this euphoria and needs an increasing amount of alcohol to achieve the same effect.

Building up a tolerance to alcohol can eventually lead to mental and physical dependence and, ultimately, addiction.

An addiction intervention is often the most appropriate first step towards rehab treatment for those who have become too unwell and entrenched in their illness to understand that their life is at risk.

Most people seek intervention as a last means however the earlier an addiction is treated, the less pain and misery the individual and those around them suffer.

Remembering that every time an addicted person drinks could well be their last, and that addictions only become progressively worse over time, it is advised that the right addiction help is sought sooner rather than later.

At Delamere, we offer addiction intervention support led by our professionals, who will ensure that the atmosphere stays supportive and that there are clear goals which should be met.

Treatment for alcoholism depends on the severity of addiction, individual needs and existing medical conditions.

An alcohol detox may include medications such as benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants and thiamine to manage symptoms.

This is supported by a range of talking therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI), as well as holistic therapies, such as equine therapy, art therapy, yoga and meditation.

Everyone responds differently to alcohol addiction treatment and has different treatment needs. The longer an alcohol addiction is left untreated, the more ingrained the thinking, behaviours, and beliefs associated with it become.

However, at Delamere, we believe that our deliberately intensive, immersive, and comprehensive treatment programme encourages profound transformations within a relatively short space of time.

As a general guideline, we recommend a minimum of 4 weeks of inpatient treatment. It takes time for the fog of intoxication to lift and for emotions to settle.

We believe rushing this process can be a mistake, so where we feel necessary, we recommend an extension to treatment time. Once your inpatient stay is complete, we continue to offer our out-patient support services for up to 12 months.

If you’ve recognised a problem with alcohol, it’s important to get treatment. With every year that goes by your alcohol addiction is doing more damage to your physical, emotional and mental health.

Long-term damage from alcohol addiction can include liver damage, heart disease, cancer, stroke and cognitive decline.

At Delamere, guests have help not only with stopping but also with learning how to stay stopped, with treatment that addresses both body and mind.

When the residential phase of treatment has come to an end, usually after 4 -12 weeks, we show guests how to take advantage of aftercare services such as those offered by Alcoholics Anonymous, and ongoing maintenance activities to ease the transition to life beyond the retreat.

Our ‘Bloom’ phase focuses on supporting guests through the early recovery stages. Each week, guests reconvene with a small peer group, alongside a dedicated Bloom Mentor, and work through our bespoke syllabus of twelve weekly modules which have been crafted to support the first three months of recovery.

Following this, our aftercare programme runs for 12 months and comprises weekly sessions during which guests can return to the clinic or attend sessions remotely.