Alcoholism may be a chronic and complex disease, but it can be treated with evidence-based therapies and experienced medical and clinical professionals. Treatment for alcoholism usually starts with medical detoxification. Alcohol, like other central nervous system depressants, can cause potentially deadly side effects during withdrawal.Repeated abuse of alcohol forces your brain to adapt to the presence of alcohol. It may start to produce excitatory effects to counteract the effects of the alcohol, which continue to be suppressed.When you stop drinking, the excitatory chemicals in your brain come back dramatically, causing an overactive nervous system. This can cause anxiety, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, irritability, confusion, seizures, and a serious medical complication called delirium tremens (DTs).In medical detox, you will be treated and monitored by medical professionals to alleviate uncomfortable symptoms and avoid potentially dangerous medical complications.After detox, clinicians will help you find the next level of care that’s right for you. If you have become addicted to alcohol, it will take more than a week of detox to recovery effectively. Addiction treatment involves several levels of care, from inpatient/residential services to outpatient treatment. During treatment, you will work through a treatment plan that you create with your primary therapist. This may include a variety of therapy options, such as individual therapy sessions, group therapy, behavioral therapies, and others.The purpose of these therapies will be to help you achieve sobriety. You may learn to identify triggers, develop strategies to avoid relapse, and address any underlying issues like a mental health problem.