What to Expect When Detoxing From Alcohol

Find help

If you want to quit drinking alcohol but were hesitant because of the withdrawal symptoms, you are not alone. The symptoms can be difficult to manage and even dangerous. You may have even tried to quit before but the symptoms were too severe to continue on.

We want you to know that you can make alcohol detoxing easier for yourself and that it is worth the fight. The amount of life and happiness you can gain from beating it is worth the battle. In this article, we are going to go over what you can do to attempt an alcohol detox.

What is alcohol detoxing?

Alcohol detox is the first step in treating alcoholism. A detox will completely flush your body from alcohol. This will start the withdrawal symptoms that can last around two weeks. It is only after alcohol detoxing that you can focus on the other aspects of recovery.

Alcohol is a depressant that your brain can become dependent on with prolonged use. If this has started to set in, your body needs time to adjust back to a normal state. This is what causes withdrawal symptoms that a proper alcohol detox will help you overcome

What to expect when detoxing from alcohol?

When you start alcohol detoxing, what you can expect are several withdrawal symptoms. These can range from mild intensity to severe depending on how set in the alcoholism is.

Symptoms can include:

  • Anxiety
  • Cold sweats
  • Nausea
  • Insomnia
  • Headaches
  • Tremors
  • Seizures
  • Hallucinations
  • Disorientation

Can I do an alcohol detox at home?

While not recommended, it is possible to do an alcohol detox at home. If you have been a heavy drinker for a long time, we highly recommend you seek a professional detox.

In rare cases, you could experience delirium tremens during the detox which is a serious reason not to do one at home. This withdrawal symptom can become life-threatening.

Furthermore, it is incredibly difficult to fight the urge to find alcohol while experiencing withdrawal. If you are going to perform an alcohol detox at home, read on for what can help you complete it.

What helps an alcohol detox?

The best thing that helps an alcohol detox are professionals. Other than that, you are going to want to make sure to stay well hydrated, eat full and healthy meals, have friends and family support, moderate exercise and keep yourself occupied.

It is a lot more difficult than it sounds which is why the best thing aside from professional help is planning.

Set the meals that you are going to eat, make sure you have enough clean water available to you and plan the activities that you are going to do. Make sure these are things that engage you and that you enjoy doing them.

Ultimately, there is no better help than a professional medical detox. This will give you the support and structure you need along with a team of professionals that can monitor your situation and adjust the detox to help you in the best way possible.

If you want help taking the next step toward completing an alcohol detox at home or with professionals, call Get Help. Our team will walk you through everything you need to know and prepare you for the tough but rewarding experience you have ahead.