Battling alcohol withdrawal can be the hardest thing you ever do. First, you must detox your body of all impurities & undergo safe alcohol detox treatment.
There are ways to go about safe alcohol detox treatment.
In a medical detox unit, you should receive good quality medical care and psychological support aimed at keeping you dry after completion of the detox. It is often acknowledged to be the first step of recovery. Withdrawals usually begin 6 to 8 hours after intoxication and can last for 48 hours relative to how often and how much a person drinks. Vitamins, lots of fluids, rest and a healthy diet are vital for safe withdrawal, and it is always safer to seek help from a professional. Alcohol detox is the beginning of a fresh start and is often the first step required for health problems related to alcohol use disorders.
What is alcohol detox treatment?
Treatment is a preliminary step towards recovery when a person clears their system of alcohol. It is the body’s way of removing an unwanted substance. When a person suffering from alcoholism stops drinking, they will experience alcohol detox symptoms, which can be uncomfortable, painful and sometimes frightening. Detox periods can be dangerous to do alone and should be monitored by a professional so that variables like diet, fluid intake, rest, and medication is supervised.
When a long-term heavy drinker abruptly stops drinking, they may experience factors including delirium tremens, hallucinations, seizures, other psychotic episodes, and heart complications. Although some people experience relatively mild withdrawal symptoms, disease processes, or events that accompany withdrawal can cause significant illness and death.
How alcohol affects your body
According to Healthline, the effects of alcohol on the body are numerous. You can experience:
- Behavioural changes
- Blackouts
- Slurred speech
- Cancer
- alcohol poisoning
- Heart damage
- Liver damage
- Fatigue
- Dependence
- Muscle cramps
- Lack of coordination
- Numbness
- Sexual dysfunction
- Infertility
Sadly, this list doesn’t encompass every effect that alcohol abuse has on the body, but it describes some of the dangers of alcoholism.
Unreasonable drinking excites and aggravates the nervous system. If you drink on a daily basis, your body grows dependent on alcohol over time. If this occurs, your central nervous system can no longer readjust easily to the absence of alcohol. If you abruptly stop drinking or significantly decrease the amount you drink, it can cause alcohol detox symptoms.
Safe alcohol withdrawal treatment – What you need to know
The first stage of treatment for alcohol abuse is detox. Simply put, you have to purge it out of your system so you can move on with the recovery process. Withdrawal is not pleasant, so you must be wholly committed to recovery, or you’ll be susceptible to falling back into the grips of alcohol dependency.
What should you come to expect during the alcohol detox process?
If you seek professional treatment, you will undergo tests that check your mental and physical health, undergo blood work and answer questions about your physical and psychological health as well as your drinking history.
You will then enter the support phase, where you may be offered alcohol withdrawal medication. The clinic’s medical professionals will provide support for you with alcohol detox symptoms and for any issues that come up during the detox treatment process.
Keep in mind that the detox phase can vary in length, depending on the level of your consumption. For some people, the treatment process is reasonably quick. Others may go through a much longer and more unpleasant process.
Effects of alcohol withdrawal
You might be surprised by how fast alcohol detox symptoms can hit you. Here’s a timeline of how long it typically takes to start feeling the effects of the alcohol withdrawal process:
6 -12 hours after
- Headaches
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Shaking
- Nausea
- Vomiting
12 – 24 hours after
- Seizures
- Disorientation
- Hand tremors
48 hours after
- High blood pressure
- Seizures
- Delirium tremens (rapid onset of confusion)
- Insomnia
- Excessive sweating
- Visual, auditory, and tactile hallucinations
Long-term alcoholics may also suffer from prolonged side effects, known as
Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome
(PAWS). PAWS
Excessive amounts of alcohol can affect the brain. It disrupts the connections between the neurons called the synapses, causing short-term memory loss and slurred speech. A person who abuses alcohol on a regular basis will have difficulty speaking and forming coherent sentences. Addicts usually mumble or change the intonation of their voices without reason. This happens while drinking, during alcohol withdrawal or for a few days after a binge-drinking episode.
Developing various health problems
Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to different types of health problems. For example, the person in question might start to have issues maintaining balance while walking. Cognition and logical thought can also be affected. If alcohol is abused for an extended period of time, hypertension might develop. Hypertension is also known as the “silent killer”, and it’s one of the leading causes of chronic illness and death worldwide.
Apart from hypertension, addicts can also have liver problems. The liver is the main organ responsible for filtering toxins such as alcohol. It can do a great job, but at some point, it can get overwhelmed, especially if the addict engages in binge drinking or heavy alcohol consumption. One of the most common liver problems is called alcohol-induced fatty liver disease. From this, the liver can develop cirrhosis, and in worst cases, liver cancer can develop.
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Why you should detox in a safe environment
Alcohol recovery is never a straightforward process. Sometimes you can feel completely fine, but the next, you’re suffering from a nausea attack followed by extreme dizziness. You can never truly predict the specific symptoms a recovering addict will experience during their detox. Patients receiving detoxification in a safe environment will receive medical treatment support.
Medications for treatment
Alcohol detox medication is most frequently used in moderate to severe alcohol withdrawals. This may include alcohol withdrawal drugs like Benzodiazepines, Adrenergic Medication, or Anti-Seizure Medication and vitamins for alcohol detox.
Best food and drink for alcohol withdrawal
It can be difficult to consume food during the initial stages of your detox. More likely than not, you’re going to have issues keeping your meals down. However, it’s necessary that you adopt a well-balanced diet to help you make a full recovery.
Hydration
Stay well hydrated during your treatment, especially during the initial stages. Your withdrawal symptoms will only intensify if you’re dehydrated. You should drink copious amounts of water even if you don’t have a desire to do so. That way, you’ll be able to flush your body of all harmful toxins.
Soups and Liquids
At the start of your treatment, around 24 to 72 hours, you should focus on consuming soups and other liquid-based meals. If you indulge in more substantial meals, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to keep it down for long.
We would recommend that you consume lean sources of protein that include fish, beans or poultry. Your soup should also include lots of vegetables.
Vitamins and minerals
Alcoholics tend to suffer from vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Therefore, you should stock up on foods that are full of specific vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamin A (includes milk, carrots, and fish)
- Vitamin B (includes leafy greens, nuts, and eggs)
- Vitamin D (includes fatty fish and fortified milk)
- Vitamin E (includes vegetable oils, nuts, and almonds)
- Vitamin K (includes leafy greens and olive oil).
What comes after detox treatment?
After you’ve successfully undergone a safe alcohol detox treatment, clients have the choice to opt-in to the therapeutic recovery programme and can begin usually participating within days after detox starts.
Alcohol withdrawal treatment begins with you
It’s not easy to recover from alcoholism, but know there are resources dedicated to helping you fight your addiction. Remember, you can only begin the path to recovery once you’ve promised yourself that you will no longer abuse alcohol, then can you move forward to a brighter alcohol-free future.
If you or someone you love is struggling with alcoholism and sincerely want to get sober, contact us today to learn more about alcohol addiction and treatment.
Sources
https://www.healthline.com/health/alcoholism/withdrawal#diagnosis
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dysarthria/symptoms-causes/syc-20371994
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cirrhosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351487
Further Resources
How Long Does Alcohol Stay In You Body?
Living With a Fully Functioning Alcoholic
How Long Do Drugs Stay In Your System?
