A Guide to The Process of Alcohol Detoxing

Women should limit themselves to about one drink every day and two drinks for men. Those recommendations are from the National Dietary Guidelines. If you go over the recommended alcohol consumption, that could lead to long-term abuse, resulting in alcohol dependence or addiction. If you have already reached this point, though, and you want to take control back of your life, look for professional help. You’ll need to undergo detox and treatment. Here’s what you need to know.

The First Step to Rehab

Before you get to alcohol rehab in Arizona, you’ll need to undergo detox. Detox involves purging the substance out of your system. If you’re thinking about skipping this step, don’t. Rehab doesn’t start until after you go through detox. This is also when withdrawal symptoms occur, usually within three to five days from the last time you consumed alcohol.

Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

This refers to a set or series of symptoms that happen when someone—who has become physically dependent on alcohol—stops drinking or cuts down on their alcohol consumption levels in a drastic way. You might experience the following signs and symptoms at different stages of the withdrawal:

• Headaches

• Fatigue

• Difficulty sleeping

• Tremors

• Anxiety

• Mood changes

• Gastrointestinal problems

• Heart palpitations

• Higher heart rate or blood pressure

• Rapid breathing

• Seizures

• Hallucinations

• Hyperthermia

Process of Detox

By going through medically assisted detox, you can recover in an environment that is designed to help you through the withdrawal. The best thing about medically assisted detox is that the staff puts you under 24/7 supervision. They monitor your condition and health. If there is any indication that you are developing severe withdrawal symptoms, they can step in and administer medication to prevent the symptoms from getting worse. They also know what measures to take to improve your condition and make the withdrawal experience as comfortable for you as possible.

Importance of Assisted Detox

Doctors don’t recommend going through withdrawal on your own. Drastically reducing your alcohol intake, with little to no warning or preparation, takes a toll on you. Plus, while the physical symptoms might only last for a few days, the physiological dependence on alcohol takes longer.

Detox Isn’t Enough

Detox prepares your body for rehab. But it’s not enough. Getting the alcohol out of your system is only a short-term fix. You need to address the core of the problem. That’s where rehab comes in. Talk to your doctor or counselor about your care program. This should begin after you’ve gone through detox.

Treatment Options

There are medications that can help with withdrawal symptoms, like anxiety, seizures, or insomnia. Some patients also take anti-seizure drugs and antipsychotics. If you don’t have any severe symptoms, though, you can expect detox to be spent in an environment where there’s a healthy food with plenty of fluids, where the atmosphere is supportive and positive, and where there’s little to no interaction with people from outside the facility. That way, you can entirely focus on your recovery. Detox is only the first step to getting treatment.