Although the idea of quitting alcohol is overwhelming, there comes the point when you’ve had it. You’re tired of waking up wasted, spending unwisely, constantly feeling weak, and disappointing your loved ones, time and time again. This level of insight is the gateway to recovery. One question that may come to mind is, “how should I proceed with alcohol detox: can I safely detox myself at home, or do I need medical detox?” The decision to seek a particular alcohol detox treatment depends on several factors. These include your length and frequency of exposure to alcohol, the presence of other disorders such as depression and anxiety, the number of times you’ve attempted to quit, and your finances.
What is Alcohol Detox?
Alcohol detox is thoroughly flushing out alcohol from your body. It implies deliberately abstaining from alcohol to give your body time to adjust. The process can be upsetting, excruciating, and risky since it requires you to experience several withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can subside within one or two weeks after initiating the process. Nonetheless, they can linger for a while, depending on the severity of your alcohol use disorder (AUD). After a successful detox, you can move to other recovery aspects, including counseling and therapy sessions and support options.
Can I safely Self-Detox?
Self-detoxing from alcohol or any other substance is not widely recommended, although it has proven effective for some people. Some people opt for a self-detox because they want to take control of their situation or desire to do it in the comfort of their home. Also, detoxing at home may be their only opportunity to start the recovery process. However, a self-detox home can have severe risks, especially if you don’t understand the risks. Most people think that detoxing from alcohol is less risky and milder than detoxing other substances and drugs. This thought is further from reality. Detoxing from alcohol comes with grave and potentially fatal risks, especially when you lack help or complete comprehension of the process. After sufficient exposure to alcohol, your brain stops creating certain compounds found in alcohol; therefore, it becomes highly dependent on alcohol for optimum functioning. When you immediately quit, you deprive your body of these compounds. This causes withdrawal symptoms such as hallucinations, nausea, headaches, depression, mood swings, and fever. You may start experiencing seizures and, in some cases, heart failure, which may be fatal. Even though these are rare, it is difficult to predict how your body will react until you start the process. In addition, if you’ve abused substances such as cocaine, you may experience unpredictable or exacerbated symptoms. In some people, the symptoms can induce a relapse. They may end up getting entangled in the attempting to quit cycle and eventually give up. Do you need medical detox? Medical detox is highly recommended for persons with severe addictions or those trying to quit but has been unsuccessful. However, based on the seriousness of some withdrawal symptoms, all people should consider undergoing alcohol detox at a rehab facility. Most people struggling with alcohol addiction also deal with other co-occurring disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar, and personality disorders. They use alcohol as self-administered medications; therefore, when they detox, these co-occurring disorders may worsen. In effect, some of them are unaware of the conditions until they undergo a detox. Alcohol detox programs at medical facilities address both the withdrawal symptoms and any causal conditions you may have. What can you expect from a medical detox? There are several benefits of medical detox, including: • Getting access to peer and family support • Accessing therapeutic intervention • Opportunities of receiving aftercare • Guaranteed relapse prevention • Detoxing in a structured and safe environment You’ll also have access to two types of medical treatment, including outpatient and inpatient. • Inpatient Treatment: This involves checking in at a treatment facility and having access to round-the-clock care from medical experts. It is recommended for people with severe addiction or those escaping from their enablers. Here, you’ll have a close interaction with experts and peers. The experts will also manage your withdrawal symptoms promptly. • Outpatient Treatment: This is recommended for persons whose addiction is less severe. You will be required to visit the treatment facility regularly during the detoxing period. However, you’ll do most of the detoxing work in the comfort of your home. The importance of the facility is mainly to help you manage withdrawal symptoms. If you have decided to go for the alcohol detox, you are just about to get some freedom that you never knew you needed. Are you ready to get started? Call us today at 833-820-2922.