Detox Safely from Alcohol

How To Detox Safely from Alcohol

Detox from alcohol symptoms is an unpleasant but necessary step in overcoming an issue with alcohol use.

Alcohol use disorders affect millions of adults in the United States.

Alcohol is different from other addictive substances because its use is legal for people over 21.

This age requirement means that most adults begin experiencing its effects at a relatively young age.

If a person drinks too much and too frequently, alcohol use disorder develops as the body forms a dependency on consuming alcohol.

To begin recovery from an alcohol use disorder, patients must detox from alcohol symptoms.

Detoxification is not a pleasant process. It can be daunting and restricting mentally and physically.

It can make you feel as if there is no possible hope that will allow you to part ways with your addiction when it comes to alcohol consumption.

Patients often experience pain as alcohol leaves the system of a dependent body.

Patients experience intense detoxification symptoms, and if a severe case does not receive proper handling, detox becomes dangerous.

Physicians and capable staff should oversee the process of detoxification, especially in patients who have been heavily dependent on alcohol for years.

Understanding Detox from Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

To understand detox from alcohol symptoms, it is essential first to understand alcohol use disorder. Alcohol use disorder develops when the body is dependent upon alcohol for daily functioning.

But how does this happen when increased amounts of alcohol decrease function in the body? When people drink too often for too long, alcohol addiction forms both physically and psychologically. The brain and body are convinced that they can no longer operate without the influence of alcohol.

People experiencing alcohol use disorder must receive proper treatment from recovering. Recovery is possible for many people with the right treatment, but it is always a complicated process. For the recovery process to start, patients must detox from alcohol symptoms. Detox involves purposely abstaining from alcohol after a period of heavy drinking to allow all alcohol to leave the body’s system.

During detox, many patients experience painful symptoms of withdrawal. Though this process is challenging and difficult for every patient, it is the first step in the recovery journey that often leads to a better life.

The following are common symptoms of withdrawal while patients detox from alcohol symptoms, according to MedlinePlus:

• Anxiety or nervousness
• Feelings of depression
• Tiredness
• Irritability
• Shakiness
• Nightmares
• Not thinking clearly
• Sweating
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Rapid heart rate

Effects and Abuse of Alcohol

Alcohol use disorder changes a person’s life in every way, including their relationships, mental and physical health, and work or school performance. If not addressed quickly and effectively, alcohol use disorder can overcome people. Things progress soon escalates with alcohol use disorder, and it causes many destructive changes in physical and mental health. Friends and family need to remain aware of alcohol use disorder’s risk factors and its physical and psychological health effects.

Some factors increase the risk of developing alcohol use disorder. These include a person’s biology and genetics, past, mental health, and whom they spend time with. People who spend time with others that abuse alcohol or drugs are more likely to develop a substance use disorder. There are also signs of alcohol use disorder that are important for friends and family to remain aware of, according to MedlinePlus.

These include:

• Drinking more or longer than originally planned
• Wanting to cut down on drinking but are unable to
• Spending a lot of time drinking or recovering from the effects of drinking
• Finding that drinking interferes with personal or work life, including friends, family, career, or education
• Continued drinking even though it was causing issues with friends and family
• Cutting back on activities you enjoy because of drinking
• Continuing to drink even though it negatively affects your mental health
• Needing to drink more and more to feel the effects of alcohol
• Having withdrawal symptoms when the effects of alcohol wear off

Mental Illness and Alcohol

People who develop an alcohol use disorder experience an increased risk of developing a mental illness. This risk works the other way around, as well; people experiencing mental illness are more likely to form a substance use disorder. Some scientists believe that this increased risk results because substance use disorders and mental health issues affect similar brain areas.

Substance use disorders often cause feelings of depression or hopelessness, which can lead to mental illness. Mental illness sometimes causes people to turn to substance use to cope.

If mental illness and alcohol use disorder develop together, patients experience a dual diagnosis. Dual diagnoses are severe issues; having an alcohol use disorder or a mental illness is difficult, but things become even more complicated when the two are combined.

Patients must receive proper treatment for a dual diagnosis. With treatment, recuperation from both conditions is possible. Physicians address and treat both conditions simultaneously, as one affects the other.

Treatment for Detox from Alcohol Symptoms

Treatment for detox from alcohol symptoms is complex and not always successful. However, it is helpful to almost all patients. During therapy for detox from alcohol symptoms, physicians sometimes provide medication to lessen painful withdrawal symptoms. According to Harvard Medical School, these medications often come in the form of benzodiazepines. These medications calm patients and decrease the pain experienced alongside withdrawal and detox from alcohol symptoms.

Treatment is also beneficial to patients after the detoxification process is over when the journey of recovery begins. Relapse is common in patients recovering from alcohol use disorders, but treatment often helps patients stay sober and establish a recovery plan. In treatment, patients receive therapy, attend support groups, and take medications that help them stay sober. In therapy, patients discover the possible reasons their alcohol use disorder developed and learn positive coping techniques for dealing with drinking compulsions.

In support groups, patients spend time with people who understand their situation and have similar experiences. Though medication is sometimes beneficial in lessening withdrawal symptoms, it is vital to ensure that patients do not become dependent on medication. If this happens, detox from alcohol medication becomes necessary.