Understanding Alcohol Detox and Withdrawal
The first step in your recovery treatment process will be alcohol detox. This is when you separate yourself from alcohol in a safe and supervised manner. It is an essential part of recovery but is also one of the most challenging. Make sure you seek help from medical professionals at a rehab center; detoxing without proper care is even more difficult and can be dangerous. Rehabs centers offer both inpatient and outpatient detox programs.
We will help you find an alcohol rehab treatment program that fits both your addiction situation and your financial needs.
Inpatient detoxing is when you stay at the rehab treatment facility for the duration of your detox process. Outpatient detoxing is when you visit the rehab treatment facility for support and care but primarily stay at home. In either case, the medical staff of the rehab center will oversee your detox process. If you have a severe case of alcoholism, it is generally best to opt for inpatient care. Additionally, if you begin suffering symptoms of delirium, a more supervised regimen may be a beneficial choice. Detox programs for alcohol addiction can take place in hospitals, medical clinics, or other specialized locations. Find the right treatment facility for you
When entering a rehab program, you should expect to be placed in a medical facility unless you have specifically chosen an outpatient program. Although the prospect of inpatient care may seem daunting, it is often easier than outpatient detoxing and is considered the gold standard of rehabilitation. During the process, you will likely experience withdrawal symptoms including anxiety, shakiness, depression, and rapid mood swings. Detoxing can be as short as 24 hours but may last several weeks. You should be prepared to experience these side effects; fortunately, the care of the rehab center staff will make them easier to manager. They will likely give you drugs such as Chloradiazepide, Oxazepam, or Halazepam to help you during detox.
To learn more about this process, contact us at 877-251-4813. We will walk you through what will happen during detox and recommend some rehab centers that will help you through the process and that will accept your insurance. Making the call will set you on the path to recovery; don’t wait to get help.
What to Expect at the Start of Detox
Although the most significant symptoms occur during the first seven to 10 days, the alcohol detox process takes around six weeks in total. During that time, you will experience a wide range of emotions, some of which may feel unfamiliar. Here is what you can expect during the process.
The First Three Weeks
The most intense side effects will likely occur during the first three weeks. These symptoms may include tremors, intense anxiety, shakiness, strange dreams, high blood pressure, and hallucinations. These are the side effects of withdrawal and happen because your brain and body have gotten used to operating while under the influence of alcohol. During this period, your doctor may provide you with anxiety and/or seizure drugs to help with the symptoms.
- Stage 1 (The First Hours): Shortly after you stop drinking, you will begin to experience anxiety, shaking, and nausea.
- Stage 2 (24 to 48 Hours): Within one to two days of having stopped drinking, you may start to also experience hyperactivity, sweating, and confusion. Your heart rate and blood pressure will likely increase and you may have trouble eating and sleeping.
- Stage 3 (Beyond 48 Hours): Your next symptoms may include seizures and high fever. You are more likely to experience these if you have a history of epilepsy.
- Stage 4 (Two to Seven Days): In a small number of cases, patients may experience delirium tremens, a condition that causes confusion, shaking, sweating, hallucinations, seizures, and hyperthermia. This is the most dangerous stage (in rare cases it can be fatal) and typically lasts three-to-five days.
Three to Six Weeks
In the second three weeks, the more severe symptoms of withdrawal will likely subside. By week three, your body will have gotten rid of enough alcohol that you won’t feel the side effects of detox as much. However, you may still experience some continuing symptoms such as anxiety or insomnia, although these are likely to be less severe. This may continue for months after the detox process.
You can go through the detox process at home or at a treatment center. If you elect to detox at home, maintain regular contact with a medical professional for supervision and care. We can help you find an inpatient or outpatient detox program to suit your needs.
Call us today at 877-251-4813 so we can help you find a treatment center to give you care.
Getting Through Alcohol Detox
While detoxing from alcohol, you will likely experience a variety of symptoms and issues. You may experience anxiety that is severe enough to make you depressed. Although detoxing is an essential step towards a better life, you should be prepared to struggle through the process. The best way to ensure a successful detox is to seek the help of a medical care staff.
Rehab-Finder.Org has guided many alcohol rehab patients to the right treatment facilities to help them successfully endure the detox process. It will be a challenging process; so, you should align yourself with the support you need. Call us today at 877-251-4813 to learn more about what to expect and to find a treatment center that can help you. We will make sure you find a program that suits your needs and accepts your insurance. Call 877-251-4813 to get started.
Inpatient and Outpatient Detox Programs
There are many programs and resources available to help you with your rehab process. The two major categories of programs are inpatient and outpatient. Each has its pros and cons and choosing the right one for you can help ensure your success.
Inpatient
Inpatient detoxing is the most common option and is typically considered the gold standard for alcohol rehab. Typically, the detox process will be part of a larger inpatient treatment program. You will stay in the rehab facility and have access to constant care from the medical staff. Learn more about inpatient treatment.
Outpatient
In many ways outpatient programs are like inpatient ones. You will receive care from the treatment center medical staff that will likely take place as part of a larger treatment regimen. Outpatient detoxing is most successful for patients living in stable home environments with the support of loved ones.
Most alcohol-rehab patients benefit the most from inpatient detoxing. This arrangement places a higher focus on you, leading to a higher likelihood of success. Nonetheless, it is important to select the treatment plan that is best suited to your needs.
We will partner with you to help you find the treatment you need. You will have the change to take control of your life again.
The Detoxification Process
Although challenging, detoxing from alcohol is quite simple to understand. It is a process aimed at getting alcohol out of your system. In some cases, this may mean gradually weaning off the drug by reducing intake. This tapering off will usually take several days or weeks. You should do this under the supervision of a doctor. Trying to wean yourself off alcohol is dangerous and more likely to be unsuccessful. Your doctor may recommend taking drugs for anxiety or seizures to help you manage the withdrawal symptoms better. The anti-anxiety drugs are called Benzodiazepines; some examples include Chlordiazepoxide, Oxazepam, and Halazepam. Other anxiety medications such as Valium, Xanax, and Ativan can be addicting themselves and are rarely used.
Drinking plenty of water and taking vitamins while detoxing can help to make detoxing easier. Similarly, it is recommended that you eat a diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Alcoholism can often result in poor nutrition, so eating healthy is especially important when detoxing.
We at Rehab-Finder.Org want to empower you to take control of your life again. Call us today at 877-251-4813 so we can help you get past your fears and make your life whole again.
Why Home Detoxing Is Dangerous
There are many risks associated with the detox process and proper medical care is essential. The low expense and seeming ease makes many alcoholics believe that detoxing at home is the right choice. This misconception is further amplified by the belief that detoxing is just a matter of quitting use.
Most people are not ready to self-manage detoxing at home. There are many dangers of withdrawal including delirium, anxiety, hallucinations, increased heartbeat, and seizures. In certain cases, particularly when proper care is not being provided, detoxing can be deadly. At-home detoxing can be very risky.
If you are prescribed Benzodiazepines but do not follow the instructions of your doctor, you may experience even more side effects to detoxing such as insomnia and jitteriness. Misusing Benzodiazepines can be fatal. It is best to use them under the supervision of your doctor.
Additionally, the intensity of initial withdrawal symptoms makes detoxing difficult. Without the support and care of a trained medical staff, your chances of successful rehabilitation are significantly diminished.
Thinking About At-Home Detox Kits?
You may see at-home detox kits for sale in various stores. These kits are drugs that claim to be able to help you get you over alcohol addiction within a certain number of days. Many of them contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to help with nutritional issues related to alcohol abuse. For example, they may contain B-complex vitamins, Vitamin C, folate, biotin, alpha lipoic acid, L-Cysteine Hcl, and N-Acetylcysteine. The kit will likely claim that these ingredients work together to eliminate the excess alcohol in your system. However, these alcohol detox kits are unlikely to deliver on these claims and can potentially be very dangerous.
The Fallacy of Alcohol Detox Kits
There is no scientific evidence that indicates alcohol detox kits are effective at helping you get alcohol out of your system. Similarly, the belief that your body is building up toxins that need to be removed is false. Your body is naturally set up to be able to eliminate unwanted toxins ingested while eating or drinking.
However, the real danger of detox kits may be more severe than false claims. The aim of detox kits is to damage your body and mind quickly and substantially with the goal of a fast fix for alcohol addiction at a good price. Of course, detoxing isn’t easy and looking for a quick fix is not the right choice. Beyond the typical dangers of detoxing at home without medical supervision, detox kits can result in serious side effects such as psychosis.
In one example from 2011, a 19-year-old Asian man used a detox kit on the advice of a friend and experienced a bad reaction. He began hallucinating, thinking that gang members were after him for betraying them and that he was an FBI informant. Interestingly, after receiving proper care in a hospital, the man was found to have no problems within six months.
Anyone could have a similar story if trying to use an alcohol detox kit. Detoxing is a very difficult process and can be dangerous without proper care. Furthermore, your goal should be to set yourself up for success, not to find an easy fix. Treatment in a rehab center can be affordable even without insurance. Contact us to learn about the options that will line you up for a successful recovery.
The Stages of Alcohol Addiction Recovery
You may be wondering what the overall rehab treatment process will be like. Here are the four main steps of every rehab program.
- Intake: Upon arriving at the rehab facility, you will be assessed by the medical staff to help determine the right treatment and rehab program for your needs.
- Detox: Following intake, you will begin the detox process. This can either take place as an inpatient or outpatient treatment service. You will be monitored by the staff while you go through withdrawal. This can last as little as a day or may last a couple weeks.
- Rehab: Once your system is largely free of alcohol, you will be able to start treatment for your addiction. You will meet others, attend talks and workshops, and participate in counseling. All of this is aimed at equipping you with the strategies you need to stay sober.
- Aftercare: Once the first three steps are complete, you will go back to your regular life. Although less intense than detoxing, this can be the hardest step in many ways. You will be challenged by temptations to return to drinking. However, if you adhere to your aftercare program, such as a 12-step program or further counseling, you can successfully continue your sobriety. Learn more about aftercare.
What to do If a Loved One Is Struggling With Alcohol Abuse
If one of your loved ones is struggling with an alcohol abuse problem, don’t wait to get him or her into a treatment program that can help. The first step is to address the issue. This can be a scary prospect and needs to be done with care. Here are some guidelines for successfully encouraging someone to seek help.
- Get Help: Bring together other friends and family who can talk with the addicted individual. Choose people he or she respects and who can stay calm.
- Intervene When He or She Isn’t Drinking: Trying to address the issue when the person is drinking or highly stressed will lessen the chances of success. Often, having an intervention in the early part of the day is the best choice.
- Stay Calm and Nonaccusative: If the person feels attacked, he or she is unlikely to seek help. Be calm, supportive, and nonaccusative; however, don’t back down or sympathize. Identify the issue and talk about ways to overcome it.
- Determine If Professional Help Is Needed: While some people can quit on their own, if he or she has been drinking for a few years or has previously tried to quit and failed, professional help is needed. Contact us to learn about treatment programs in your area.
- Consider an Interventionist: Holding an intervention isn’t easy. Consider reaching out to an experienced interventionist for help with the process. This choice may set your loved one up for a successful recovery.
Alcohol Detox Kits Should Not Be Used in Place of a Treatment Program
At-home detoxing using an alcohol detox kit may seem like the most accessible way to get clean. You may be tired of struggling with alcohol addiction and want an easy way to take back control. The unfortunate truth is that these kits are not effective at helping you remove alcohol from your system.
These kits can actually make your detox process worse and cause severe side effects. However, even if you don’t experience such a reaction, you are less likely to successfully detox without the supervision of trained professionals. Additionally, detoxing is only one of the steps towards recovery. Don’t fall for the promises made by these kits; seek treatment that can truly help you recover.
We will help you find an alcohol rehab treatment program that fits both your addiction situation and your financial needs. There are many facilities available; we can offer you the guidance to find one that can help and accepts your insurance. Once you have completed a short time in the rehab center, you will be on your way to a happier and healthier life.
Match the Treatment Program to Your Needs
If you are reading this section of the page, you are probably ready to get help. Now you are faced with the task of finding the right treatment program for you. Fortunately, you don’t have to do this alone. Contact us to get started finding the resources that can help you take control back.
There is so much to life that you are missing out on due to your alcohol addiction. Perhaps you want to go hiking or you want to take up a new hobby such as painting. You may also want to reconnect with loved ones whom you’ve hurt through drinking. All of this can be available to you again. All you have to do is take the first step and seek help.
Call 877-251-4813 so our team at Rehab-Finder.org can help you find a treatment program that offers the options you need to get sober. We’ll also help you find a program that is covered by your insurance; or, if you don’t have insurance, we’ll help you find an affordable treatment program. The time to get help is now.
Contact Rehab-Finder.Org at 877-251-4813 for more help understanding alcohol detox and withdrawal.
