What is an Alcohol Detox and How can it Help?
You may think that a life without alcohol is impossible considering how accustomed you may have become to it. However, a life without alcohol is totally possible. An alcohol-free lifestyle is achievable when you begin the detox process.
The road to recovery from alcoholism is difficult, requiring carefully considered methods of regaining sobriety and quelling addiction for good. One major step towards that solution is alcohol detoxification.
Put simply, detox is the process wherein alcohol is removed from your system, but in a gradual manner, carefully managed throughout every single step. Medical supervision is an integral part of this process, but not the only one.
If withdrawal symptoms are overwhelmingly difficult and obstructive to you, controlled prescription medication is applied to lessen their severity and make it easier for you to heal and cope with them.
How Does Alcohol Affect Your Mind and Body?
Chronic and excessive drinking can create a chemical imbalance in your brain. Since alcohol is a powerful depressant, when taken excessively, the brain produces more neurotransmitters that act as stimulants to balance it out.
This is why when people struggling with alcohol use disorder (AUD) suddenly detox, they will feel different levels of alcohol withdrawal. This can be very uncomfortable and difficult especially when the brain tries to rebalance the chemicals.
When you stop drinking it takes a few days for your brain to process that it doesn’t need to produce neurotransmitters. During that ‘processing time’, the brain can overload you with neurotransmitters when in reality it no longer needs them. This is when you start to feel the effects of withdrawal symptoms until the alcohol detox is complete.
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Why is Detox Required to Come off Alcohol
Alcohol detox can be done safely at home for most people who don’t have a chronic drinking problem and only want to regulate their alcohol consumption. This is why some people join months like “Sober October” or “Dry January” to test avoiding it for 30 days. Most people will still experience varying degrees of alcohol withdrawal symptoms during the detox period.
However, it’s not safe when people with alcohol addiction try to do it on their own. It can be very dangerous for them and can be life-threatening.
Addiction is a serious condition, and getting rid of it does not happen overnight. Unfortunately, many addicts, be it from alcohol, hard drugs, or any other substance, try to quit without external assistance. This type of sudden abstaining from substance intake is popularly known as “quitting cold turkey”, and medical experts advise against it.
When you try to quit cold turkey, you’re preventing your body from receiving the substance that, though harmful, has become part of its equilibrium. When that substance no longer enters the organism, it begins to react in different ways, both mild and severe.
These reactions are symptoms of withdrawal, and they will inevitably cause a person to revert back to substance intake just to reduce their intensity. Quite often, people will quit cold turkey and go back to substance abuse several times during a brief period, i.e., engaging in the so-called “yo-yo effect”.
Assisted detoxification and other forms of therapy are therefore necessary. Individuals who quit cold turkey can experience a wide range of withdrawal symptoms that they will likely not be able to cope with on their own. Said symptoms include, among others:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Headaches
- Abdominal pain
- Sweating
- Shaking
- Shivering
- Nightmares
- Insomnia
- Irregular/increased heart rate
- Intense and increased cravings for the addictive substance
- Psychological side effects (including but not limited to anxiety,
depression, paranoia, and mood swings)
The Importance of Medically Assisted Alcohol Detox
While detox isn’t life-threatening, for some chronic and excessive drinkers they may feel withdrawal symptoms intensely. These intense withdrawal symptoms are called delirium tremens (DTs), and people suffering from it need to be guided by medical professionals constantly. Although severe symptoms of withdrawal are not that common, they can be dangerous, even fatal. The most intense of these symptoms are:
- Hallucinations
- Whole body tremors
- Seizures
- Hypertension
Experts in the field of combating addiction, especially alcohol addiction, are trained and fully equipped to tackle this condition, but everyday individuals are not. Therefore, if you’re afflicted by delirium tremens on your own, away from a proper treatment facility, your chances of survival decrease drastically.
Medication for Alcohol Detox
There are many detox medications that medical professionals will give to their patients when they are at risk of acquiring severe withdrawal symptoms during the treatment.
Here are just some of the detox medications:
- Benzodiazepines
(lorazepam, alprazolam, diazepam) administered to reduce the risk of seizures - Neuroleptic medication
To calm and soothe the central nervous system - Nutritional supplements
To rebalance nutrient deficiencies in the body
How Long Does it take to Detox from Alcohol?
Detoxification processes will vary from person to person. Generally, it will require anywhere between 7 and 10 days to properly detox an individual. A number of different factors play a vital role in the length of the process, including:
- The amount of time that your body has been exposed to and/or dependent
on the addictive substance (in this case, alcohol) - Both the amount of alcohol you drink and the frequency of intake
- The severity of withdrawal symptoms
- Your overall physical, psychological and mental health
How Long Does Alcohol Stay in the Body?
As is the case with any nutritional substance, it takes our body a certain amount of time to either absorb or expel the elements of that substance’s original structure. Alcohol, for example, will leave the human body in the following time spans:
- Blood: Up to 6 hours
- Urine: between 12 and 24 hours
- Breath: between 12 and 24 hours
- Saliva: between 12 and 24 hours
- Hair: up to 90 days
Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction
ends up being the biggest step of your life
Tiptoe if you must, but take the step
Alcohol Detox at AddictionRehab
At AddictionRehab our medical experts will provide a detoxification programme on an inpatient basis. In other words, you will be placed within one of our facilities throughout your treatment, under full supervision by addiction specialists.
Typically, when you enrol in our of our specialist centres in the UK, you can expect to receive the following treatment as part of your alcohol detox:
- A secure and safe clinical environment tailored perfectly for your specific types of treatment and support
- Round-the-clock medical and nursing care (this includes making sure your comfort levels are acceptable, as well as having immediate access to proper medical advice should you require it)
- Treatment teams with the highest qualifications
- A detailed programme specifically tailored to your level of addiction and health needs (note that all detox plans in top-tier UK facilities are structured within National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines)
- Controlled medication specifically meant for tackling withdrawal symptoms, as well as minimising any lingering psychological distress that prevents proper sleep and a managed recovery process
- Family involvement throughout the detoxification process (this includes any and all additional treatment that you are required to receive, with your consent and the written approval of expert medical practitioners)
- State-of-the-art, fully-equipped detoxification bedrooms, complete with en-suite facilities equally designed for optimal comfort and rest
- An entire range of different entertainment and well-being activities designed to help you pass the time and compensate for alcohol intake during the most severe withdrawal symptoms
FREE Alcohol Addiction Assessment
If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol addiction, we understand the challenges you’re facing and we’re here to offer compassionate help.
Our highly trained advisers are available to speak to you right away, simply call 0808 252 3379 today.
We can discuss your concerns in complete confidence, explore the options for treatment, and help you to understand what will work best for you.
We’ll also help you to book your free alcohol addiction assessment there and then, with appointments usually available within only a few days.
We understand that taking the first step can be the most difficult, but we’re here to support – with no pressure or judgement.
Professional and compassionate help is just a phone call or click away.
Addiction Treatment After Detox
Nearly every form of professional addiction treatment is made up of multiple steps, each of them containing a range of health-promoting, substance-eliminating activities. For instance, while you’re getting your treatment, you’ll be going through exercise and yoga programmes, certain physical and psychological relaxation methods, and even animal therapy. These activities will also be tailored to your specific needs, taking both your addiction level and medical history into account.
One highly effective form of treatment involves group therapy. In essence, you will be spending time and interacting with other individuals who have had problems with substance abuse. These programmes offer an opportunity to learn from the past experiences of your in-group partners, as well as connect and heal together in the most effective manner possible.
Naturally, inpatient care is merely one major segment of the entire healing process. Aftercare is the next crucial step, wherein experts help you integrate into society. Throughout this time, you will also attend meetings and schedule checkups with professionals so they can assess your health and provide additional advice going forward. Remember, recovering from addiction is a lifelong process, and the more active you are in combating the affliction, the less likely you are to relapse and require secondary, tertiary, or even quaternary treatment.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment Specialists
Without a doubt, alcohol addiction can negatively affect all aspects of your life, including your health and mental well-being. But thankfully, with the right approach and quality care, this disorder is highly treatable.
With their vast and relevant experience, our addiction specialists can provide you with effective support and treatment. While they aid you in overcoming the negative effects of excessive and prolonged alcohol intake, they’ll also help you get to the bottom of the issue and tackle the root causes behind your dependency.
Furthermore, each of our facilities offers a supportive environment, surrounding you with compassion, peace, and tranquillity. Thanks to that, you’ll be able to fully focus on your recovery without distractions. So, if alcohol addiction is affecting your health and relationships and reducing the quality of your life, it’s time to put a stop to it. Visit one of our centres, and we’ll guide you back to health and well-being.
Start your recovery today!
