Why Do You Need Alcohol Detox Treatment?

Contending with an alcohol addiction isn’t easy. Once people have developed a dependency to alcohol, it can feel impossible to quit. People addicted to alcohol must drink to prevent withdrawal. When a person tries to quit alcohol once addicted, going through detox can be one of the most uncomfortable and discouraging events a person has ever had to face. Alcohol detox treatment can significantly help a person who is struggling to overcome an addiction to alcohol.

What Are the Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal?

The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are both physical and psychological. The severity a person experiences alcohol detox is dependent upon how much, how often, and for how long a person has been drinking. People who have been drinking a lot for a long time will experience detox most intensely. The most common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Headache
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Shaking
  • Insomnia
  • Fatigue

For people with severe cases of alcohol addiction, detox can be life threatening. Delirium tremens (DTs) is an acute form of alcohol withdrawal that occurs in approximately 1 out of every 20 people who experience alcohol withdrawal. This very serious aspect of alcohol withdrawal can cause heart problems and sudden seizures. Symptoms as serious as these typically occur 12-24 hours after a person has had their last drink. For those in such a dangerous state of withdrawal, alcohol detox treatment is necessary to ensure the safety of the individual.

Why Professional Alcohol Detox Treatment Is Better Than Home Detoxing?

Detox is the first step of addiction recovery. For those struggling with an alcohol addiction, getting professional alcohol detox treatment offers a healthy and safe environment to go through this very crucial first step. Getting professional help allows a person to overcome the difficult withdrawal period as painlessly as possible. It also helps a person fight the cravings that can quickly lead to relapse.

Alcohol detox treatment offers a more controlled environment to take the first step in overcoming an addiction to alcohol. While some people can get through detox without help, there are countless alcoholics who can benefit from the support of a professional detox programme. Trying to detox alone is not only more difficult, but can be potentially dangerous depending on the severity of a person’s addiction.

image showing a man relaxing during his Alcohol Detox Treatment
Why choose eata.org.uk?

If someone you care about is exhibiting signs of addiction – whether it’s excessive marijuana use, long-term dependency on pharmaceuticals, binge drinking of alcohol or even financially damaging levels of gambling – contact us for immediate rehabilitation help.

What is the Goal of Alcohol Detox Treatment?

The main goal of an alcohol detox treatment programme is to offer everything a person needs to detox from alcohol…and get them to a place where they no longer experience intense cravings. Alcohol detox treatment is designed to help a person through the physical symptoms of withdrawal safely. It is also devised to make the withdrawal process as least difficult on the individual as possible.

How Long Does Alcohol Detox Take?

It is important to remember that alcohol detox is simply the first step in overcoming an addiction to alcohol. Sustained sobriety is typically realised when a person receives professional treatment after they have successfully detoxed.

The length of time a person experiences detox is dependent upon the nature of each individual’s addiction. People who have been drinking for a long time will not only experience stronger withdrawal symptoms, but will also undergo a longer withdrawal period.

image showing young people enjoying their sober life after successful Alcohol Detox Treatment

Detox from alcohol typically takes 7-10 days. Withdrawal typically begins 8-10 hours after a person has had their last drink. Symptoms usually peak within 2-3 days, although patients can experience difficult feelings of withdrawal for up to a week or longer. Once a person has finished alcohol detox treatment, they can move forward to receive the additional treatment they need for lasting sobriety.

What to Expect When Getting Professional Alcohol Detox Treatment?

The first stage of detox is most often monitoring and controlling physical withdrawal symptoms to ensure a person reaches a stable point. Blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and respiration are all monitored when a person gets professional detox treatment. Alcohol detox treatment often includes medication to help with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dehydration, insomnia, and seizures. Benzodiazepines are the most common type of medication offered to those undergoing a medically-assisted detox.

In some cases of alcohol detox, a tapering schedule might be recommended. This involves slowly reducing alcohol use over an extended period. Tapering can help lessen the dangers of alcohol withdrawal as it allows the alcohol levels in a person’s body to slowly dissipate rather than abruptly cease. This can help a person avoid more serious withdrawal symptoms.

When a person receives professional alcohol detox treatment, they are receiving the support they need to successfully make it through each stage of alcohol withdrawal. Medical and psychological support are offered 24 hours a day. Any issues that patients might run across during detox are supported by detox centre staff.

What to Expect after Alcohol Detox?

It’s important to remember that detox is only the first stage of overcoming an addiction for good. For a person to successfully sustain sobriety, comprehensive addiction treatment is typically necessary. After a person finishes alcohol detox treatment, they should expect to receive the treatment necessary that will help them stay sober.

Alcohol detox treatment in an inpatient rehab centre will allow for a seamless transition to the rest of recovery. In an inpatient setting, a person gets all the help they need while staying at an addiction treatment centre. After detox, they will immediately begin the therapy necessary that will help them through the journey of addiction recovery.

Those who get alcohol detox treatment at an outpatient centre should expect various therapy and treatment appointments to follow detox. Outpatient options are excellent for people who want comprehensive addiction treatment, but don’t want to go away to get help.

People who have chosen alcohol detox treatment without getting further help should realise that detox really is only the first step. There is a common misconception that once a person finishes detox they don’t need further treatment. And while this is true for some, most people with an alcohol addiction require the psychological treatment necessary to better understand their addiction and various ways to overcome their compulsive behaviour.

Why choose eata.org.uk?

If someone you care about is exhibiting signs of addiction – whether it’s excessive marijuana use, long-term dependency on pharmaceuticals, binge drinking of alcohol or even financially damaging levels of gambling – contact us for immediate rehabilitation help.

Find the Best Alcohol Detox Treatment in the UK

Making the decision to stop drinking is one of the best choices a person struggling with an addiction to alcohol has. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most difficult decisions they will ever make in their life. We are here to make the process of overcoming addiction as easy as possible. Not only are we here to discuss the various options you have for alcohol detox treatment, but are open to any questions or concerns you have regarding you or a loved one’s addiction to alcohol.

It can be easy to forgo looking into alcohol detox treatment options. Every day you wait however, is another day spent as a prisoner to alcohol addiction. While anticipating the detox process can be difficult and cause undue anxiety, nothing compares to remaining addicted to alcohol the rest of your life. Please call us today for any information you have regarding the alcohol detox process and what detox treatment is like. We’re here to ensure you get the help you need in an environment that supports your recovery. Help truly is only a phone call away. You deserve to overcome your addiction and embrace the life you should be living.

 
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We look forward to helping you take your first step.

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