Every day is different while going through a recovery journey with drug and alcohol addiction. The first phase of recovery is detoxing. It removes toxins from patients and prepares them for therapy.
The process is also known as withdrawal. It takes place because the body has to swiftly acclimate to a body without drugs or alcohol after becoming adapted to its presence. Many painful psychological and bodily problems can develop during the period of detoxification.
Detoxification is a critical process, but it can also be the most catastrophic if carried out incorrectly. Patients can experience various devastating symptoms, including heart failure, convulsions, tremors, and even death.
The length of alcohol detox varies depending on the patient’s addiction, the intensity of their withdrawal symptoms, age, and gender. Additionally, a person’s body weight and level of physical and mental well-being affect the detoxification process.
The initial phase of alcohol abstinence spans from seven to ten days. It may take weeks or months for persons with severe alcoholism to completely clear their systems.
Stages of Alcohol Detox:
Withdrawal occurs in four stages, each with its own set of symptoms. Stage one symptoms appear between 6 to 24 hours after drinking; stage two symptoms appear between 24 to 48 hours after drinking.
Stage three symptoms arise 48 to 72 hours after drinking, whereas stage four symptoms show up 72 hours later.
- Stage One: Patients report minor withdrawal symptoms over the first 24 hours, including headache, sleeplessness, trembling hands, sweating, and irritability. These symptoms are often not lethal, so no medical attention is required.
- Stage Two: Stage two symptoms worsen the body. Many individuals require constant monitoring and medical care at this point to prevent relapses. The typical signs consist of:
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Severe tremors
- Hallucinations
- Insomnia
- Stomach upset and more.
- Stage Three: As the body adjusts to the new alterations, the symptoms lessen in stage three. A condition known as Delirium Tremens can cause severe symptoms such as:
- Confusion
- Racing heart
- Intense hallucination
- Increased blood pressure, and more.
- Stage Four: As the body continues to adjust to a state of sobriety, specific withdrawal symptoms fade in the last stage. To get ready for behavioral therapy, addiction treatment professionals may start reducing medication dosage at this point.
Nevertheless, stage four withdrawal can have a variety of impacts on some people, particularly those with severe addiction.
- Panic attacks
- Insomnia
- Illusions
- Tiredness
- Increased heart rate and more.
Benefits of Professionally Monitored Alcohol Detox:
- Improved Safety: Most alcohol detoxification hazards are fatal. For instance, the procedure can cause anxiety, hallucinations, agitation, sadness, elevated blood pressure, confusion, and seizures.
Experts in luxury rehab facilities offer round-the-clock care to lessen the possibility that the symptoms will develop into serious health problems. In an emergency, the specialists provide patients with the appropriate alcohol withdrawal medication to assist them in managing.
- Treating Co-Occurring Conditions: Before a detox under medical supervision, specialists perform a screening test to identify co-occurring illnesses. Co-occurring disorders typically result from trauma or mental health illnesses like depression. Many patients who abuse alcohol are unaware they have these disorders.
To treat alcohol addiction and co-occurring diseases, physicians develop a personalized treatment plan after screening.
- Current alcohol addiction Treatment: After detox, addiction therapy can continue with professional assistance. Instead, the phase moves on to behavioral therapy, where professionals assist patients in reducing the likelihood of relapse.
Among other advantages, behavioral therapy aids patients in adjusting to their new sober lifestyle and healing from past trauma. Without behavioral therapy, patients are prone to relapse because detox does not treat addiction.
- Upsurge in Success Rate: Patients detoxing from alcohol who are by themselves are more likely to suffer from severe withdrawal symptoms. People usually relapse because of unpleasant symptoms like agitation, anxiety, bewilderment, and insomnia.
In such a situation, medical treatments such as antidepressants are used by clinicians to reduce symptoms and assist patients in effectively completing the alcohol detox phase.
- Peer support: The inevitable inclusion of peer support in treatment is one of the underrated benefits of enrolling in a detox facility. You will undoubtedly be surrounded by people who can understand your predicament and are sympathetic when you need a companion, whether your facility has four or twenty beds.
- Structure: Most detoxification centers offer residential programs, which entail overnight stays, and are open around the clock. It enables medical professionals to keep an eye on patients’ symptoms and treat them as necessary.
In addition to medical monitoring, detox has a daily schedule. Peer support and group therapy will be a regular part of your day, and they will lay the foundation for sustained recovery. This plan will be the main departure from a drug or alcohol-dependent lifestyle and can help you reset.
Concluding Thoughts:Making a plan for alcohol detox is the right move in beating addiction and leading a sober life without alcohol. To control withdrawal symptoms and complete detox, patients need expert assistance. You can effortlessly find a luxury rehabilitation center that helps you or your loved ones to quit addiction permanently.
