Things to Keep in Mind When Considering Alcohol Detox at HomeBy Michaela

Typically, detox is the initial step in treating alcohol use disorder or alcoholism. Detoxification permits the body to acclimatize to the absence of alcohol. You or a loved one may be contemplating alcohol detox at home, but doing so can be dangerous. Typically, alcohol detox occurs in a hospital, detox facility, or alcohol rehabilitation clinic.

Home Detox, also known as self detox, is when an individual attempts to stop using drugs or alcohol without professional assistance. They might wean themselves off the substance or quit abruptly. In either situation, there is no external help or treatment available.

Those who want to stop using drugs or alcohol frequently select a quit date. They begin avoiding substance use cues and engaging in things that prevent them from thinking about using.

Some individuals who seek self-detox carefully prepare for the process. Others decide to stop using and make no other changes to their life. Self-detoxification is a personalized method. It indicates that a person ceases taking a substance without professional or medical assistance.

Adopting a Home Detox

Detoxing from alcohol is difficult, and not everyone can do it on their own. Because of this difficulty, alcohol detox and alcohol withdrawal therapy are offered by medical specialists in rehabilitation centers around the nation.

Safety levels differ between individuals. Depends on the extent of alcohol consumption. If you do not have significant withdrawal symptoms, you may be able to detox at home. However, alcohol withdrawal is a medical emergency for many people.

However, home detoxification is often not advised. The detoxification process for those with alcohol use disorder (AUD) can be hazardous. Supervision and assistance boost the likelihood of a person’s successful, long-term recovery.

Self-detox is far less expensive than medical assistance. However, early phases of sobriety entail a significant risk of medical consequences. During this time, the chance of relapse is also highest.

Home Alcohol Withdrawal Management

The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome are serious. Typical symptoms include convulsions, hallucinations, tremors, sleeplessness, perspiration, nausea, vomiting, an increased heart rate and blood pressure, and delirium tremens (DTs).

When detoxing at home, there are various things you may take to better manage alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Always remain hydrated is one example. Consume a lot of water and electrolyte-containing beverages. Heavy drinkers are prone to develop vomiting and dehydration during detox. Restoring electrolytes improves your state of health and decreases the likelihood of developing issues.

You should also have a thorough comprehension of the cravings process. You will experience a slow buildup, a peak, a decline, and a dissipation. If you can ride out this wave every time it occurs, you are more likely to resist the need to drink.

Have an abundance of fresh fruits and veggies available. Due to the fact that your body turns alcohol to sugar, you may have sugar cravings when you stop drinking. Fresh fruit will satisfy your desires. Vitamins can also assist the body manage withdrawal symptoms. B-complex, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and zinc are among the most common vitamins for detoxification.

Avoid drinking with those that you typically drink with. This may necessitate challenging dialogues. But being truthful and forthright about your goal to quit drinking boosts your chances of success. If symptoms of delirium tremens (DTs) appear, seek quick medical assistance. Among these symptoms are nausea, convulsions, and hallucinations. This disorder is life-threatening and requires immediate medical intervention.

Advantages and disadvantages of home detoxification

Detoxing from alcohol can be a dangerous process, therefore it’s usually better to have a medical professional at a detox or rehabilitation clinic oversee the process. Detoxification from alcohol entails withdrawal, and withdrawal is accompanied by bodily symptoms.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be severe. In the end, the degree of symptoms is determined by a variety of criteria, including age, gender, and duration of addiction.

Advantage

• You will have the ability to save more money.
• Provides the comfort of a familiar setting Allows you to fulfill your professional, academic, and familial commitments
• Availability to family and friends
• Avoids the negative social stigma associated with entering rehab or confessing to having a substance use disorder (SUD)
• Permits anonymity and privacy

Disadvantage

• Increases the likelihood of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms
• Higher risk of relapse
• Inaccessibility to drugs to alleviate withdrawal symptoms
• Increases the likelihood of adverse mental health impacts, such as stress, anxiety, and depression
• Increases the strain on a person’s support system, including friends and family.

Dangers of Alcohol Detox and Withdrawal at Home

A common misconception is that alcohol detox is less harmful than drug detox. This belief, however, could not be further from the reality. There are substantial, potentially life-threatening hazards associated with alcohol detoxification, especially when performed on one’s own.

When abruptly abstaining from alcohol, the body experiences a variety of withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms are excruciating, difficult to treat, and may linger for weeks. Without medication to assist you, the process is significantly more difficult. Alcohol withdrawal can produce hallucinations, convulsions, and even heart failure, which can be fatal. Although this is uncommon, you never truly know how your body will react to detoxification until you undergo it.

For some, the discomfort is so severe that they decide to resume drinking. It becomes a vicious cycle of attempting to quit but being unable to do so due to withdrawal symptoms. When a person enters an inpatient alcohol treatment program, they are separated from their environment and destructive behaviors.

Many people who deal with alcoholism often suffer from other medical issues, such as depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. People regularly use alcohol as a form of self-medication, but when they quit drinking, their disorders can worsen. In fact, some individuals do not recognize they have mental health difficulties until they quit drinking.

Considerations to Keep in Mind

Many people attempt self-detoxification at some point, and it is often a series of failed attempts at self-detoxification that prompts an individual to seek rehab. That is not to suggest, however, that alcohol self-detoxification has never been accomplished.

If you determine that detoxing at home is the best option for you, it is crucial that you do so safely. Here are a few factors to consider when detoxing at home:

Focus First on Hydration

Symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal include weariness, anxiety, sadness, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. These symptoms are at their worst between 24 and 72 hours following the last drink, and they can inhibit your ability to eat.

Be careful to drink plenty of fluids during this period, as this will assist your body rehydrate and eliminate toxins. During the initial phases of withdrawal, water, juice, broth, ice pops, and gelatin are suitable hydration options.

Remove alcoholic beverages from your home.

This may seem apparent, but it is a crucial initial step in self-detoxification. When first experiencing withdrawal symptoms, it may be impossible to manage cravings. Avoid the temptation altogether by getting rid of alcohol that you have on hand.

Begin With a Well-Rounded Diet

Once you are able to resume eating, it is essential to prioritize a nutritious diet. Consume the appropriate quantity of foods from a variety of food groups to suit your caloric demands. Consume an abundance of fruits and vegetables, but don’t overlook the significance of entire grains and lean protein sources.

Clear your calendar

If you want your detox to be successful, you must clear your schedule for days or weeks, which may seem unattainable to some. Take some time off from work and temporarily set aside your obligations so you can focus on your rehabilitation.

Consume Vitamins and Minerals

During alcohol detoxification in an inpatient or outpatient facility, patients are typically prescribed drugs to alleviate alcohol withdrawal symptoms. At home, you will lack such a privilege. However, you can take vitamins and minerals that are frequently beneficial and aid in the elimination of pollutants. B vitamins, multivitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, and calcium are among these.

Get assistance

Even if you are detoxing from alcohol at home, you should not do so alone. Find a friend or family member who can keep you safe during withdrawal and who will seek medical assistance if your symptoms become too severe.

Takeaways

You can conquer alcoholism and regain your freedom. The most important thing to know is that alcohol detoxification at home is never safe. Those who drink excessively and those who have attempted self-detox in the past are at the most risk for difficulties during alcohol withdrawal.

Although entering a treatment program may discourage you, it is the safest approach to detox from alcohol. Friends and relatives can provide emotional support, but they are not medically educated to know which alcohol withdrawal treatments are effective.

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Please note: Although we refer to ‘alcoholism’ and ‘recovery’ in our articles, this is because these terms are often used by others. 

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