For many people struggling with alcohol addiction, quitting can be a serious challenge. Other than the difficulty of changing the compulsive patterns of alcohol use, the alcohol detox process comes with unpleasant side effects known as alcohol withdrawal symptoms that range from mild to life-threatening ones. While you may have taken the best decision to quit alcohol, the following process comes with many challenges that can be hard to deal with by yourself. Knowing what to do and being prepared for what to come is imperative when quitting alcohol.
Thankfully medical detox programs under professional care make it easy, safer, and less comfortable for those attempting to quit alcohol. While some people trying to stop taking alcohol experience mild symptoms, others experience severe and even life-threatening symptoms, especially after many years of alcohol dependency. Alcohol withdrawal typically manifests according to the following timeline.
6-12hours after the last drink
If you are an alcohol addict, after 6 to 12hours after your last drink, you are most likely to experience:
Anxiety.
Agitation.
Nause and vomiting.
Tremors.
Severe headaches.
12-24hours after the last drink
Within 12-24 hours after your last drink, the alcohol withdrawal symptoms start to get severe. They include the symptoms mentioned above plus:
- Disorientation or confusion.
- Rapid heartbeat.
- Mood swings.
48hours after the last drink
This is when the severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal kick in. They include all the symptoms mentioned above plus:
- Tactical, visual, and hearing hallucinations.
- High fever.
- High blood pressure.
- Delirium tremens (a psychotic condition that can be life-threatening)
Depending on the severity of alcohol addiction, withdrawal symptoms can peak after a few days and linger for several weeks.
The danger of detoxing from home
While attempting to quit alcohol by yourself may seem easier, it may not last. Other than the risk of suffering the physical alcohol withdrawal symptoms, many people forget the psychological effects such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, hallucinations, etc. Without adequate support during and after the detox program, the chances of relapsing are very high. When detoxing at home, you have to deal with the alcohol withdrawal symptoms on your own, and it can be a psychologically draining process, not to mention the severe symptoms that can be life-threatening.
Since alcohol impacts the brain and the body, quitting or detoxing at home can be potentially dangerous, especially for heavy drinkers. Although some people can deal with mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms at home, undergoing a supervised orange county detox process is the safest way to quit alcohol. Professionals help you deal with the detox symptoms through prescription medications and other psychological therapies to manage the psychological effects of quitting alcohol.
You cannot underestimate the benefits of detoxing from alcohol under professional care. The detox professionals provide you with a supportive environment and help you address the root cause of your alcoholism to achieve long-term success. Generally, they make the process safe and comfortable for you.
The takeaway
Safety is vital to avoid life-threatening complications during alcohol detox and withdrawal. Detoxing under professional care makes the process safe and prevents the chances of a relapse.
