Detoxing from alcohol can be uncomfortable and even life-threatening for those with a severe addiction. There are tons of people all over the world who drink on occasion, and then there are some that can’t fathom going a day without having something to drink. Before considering withdrawal, you should consider the severity of your addiction.
Some people may require medical help to safely make it through the withdrawal process, while others are able to quit cold turkey. This all depends on the daily amount of alcohol that you consume.
The information provided here will help to give you an idea of what to expect when you begin and go through alcohol detox.
When Will Alcohol Detox Begin
It is vital that if the consumption of alcohol has been apart of your daily lifestyle, you need to know what withdrawal symptoms to expect. Withdrawal can set any from the time all of the alcohol leaves your system, whether that is a few hours to a few days.
You will begin to feel as if you have a hangover, and the effects of this hangover can intensify as time goes on. The alcohol detox will worsen over the course of hours to days or weeks before you begin to feel better.
The level of intensity of the withdrawals will depend on the person’s addiction level.
Craving the Alcohol
When you begin to experience withdrawals, you will likely want alcohol. At this stage, anything that will end the pain and suffering is what you will be searching for, and in this case, that’s alcohol.
Part of the craving for the alcohol will be because you want to decrease your symptoms of withdrawal, and the other part is wanting to experience the feeling one gets from being intoxicated.
Mood Changes
Understandably, the withdrawal will cause mood changes; after all, you will not feel great at all. Your body is fighting against itself to help achieve balanced homeostasis. Remember, your body has been unbalanced for quite some time at this point.
As your body is reaching homeostasis, you will cycle through several emotions, including anger, anxiety, grief, frustration, and sadness. These emotions are prevalent because there is no longer that mask of alcohol to cover them with.
Withdrawal can also cause the user to feel overwhelmed because all of these forgotten emotions have begun to resurface, and they aren’t able to run from them.
Increased Fatigue/Sleep Problems
In the beginning, one of the only things you may want to do is sleep through the withdrawal symptoms. But, as your body continues to rid itself of all of the alcohol, the most challenging thing to do at this time is sleep.
Also, because your body is used to sleeping while in an inebriated state, it may be challenging to attempt to sleep naturally. Withdrawal often causes users to experience insomnia issues.
Nausea and Vomiting
Much like when you have consumed too much alcohol, your body will begin to purge itself of the toxins. During withdrawal, you will become sick before you start to feel better, and part of this process is the feeling of nauseousness and vomiting.
Hallucinations
Delirium tremors are what happens when a person experiences severe withdrawal symptoms. This means at any given time, a person makes experience hallucinations. However, not everybody that is going through withdrawals will experience hallucinations.
A hallucination is when you see, hear, or feel something that is not there. Some hallucinations cause fear, and some are just unpleasant. If you have used alcohol for an extended period, your brain may have gone through an alcohol-induced psychosis causing the hallucinations.
This type of brain injury can take days to months before it has completely healed, and the hallucinations have stopped. It is recommended that you consult with a medical professional to get the proper medication to control the hallucinations.
When Will Detoxing From Alcohol Get Better?
The time it takes for a user to experience withdrawal and finish withdrawing depends on how severe their addiction was. Once the last drink was consumed, withdrawal can begin up to 8 hours after that drink or days after the last sip.
Once the withdrawal has begun, the symptoms will reach there highest level of intensity within 24 to 72 hours and could continue for a couple of weeks.
Why is Detox Important
As long as alcohol is present within your system, it will suppress emotions and other capabilities that you need to process day to day life happenings. When you receive treatment for alcohol addiction to properly tackle the issues in your life, you will need to have a clear mind.
A clear mind will allow you to properly access the reasons why you began drinking and confronting those issues that were masked by the alcohol. Detoxing will also enable you to develop a plan for the future that will help you continue your sobriety.
Medications Used During Withdrawal
There are a few medications that are used during withdrawal to help the body return to homeostasis. These medications can help to lessen the withdrawal effects in some cases.
Benzodiazepines
This medication is used to calm the nervous system. It can also soothe feelings of anxiety and insomnia that may occur due to withdrawal. The medicine can be administered in short or long term form and is used in a rehab setting.
Naltrexone
This medication is essential because it will help to reduce the feelings of cravings. It can help lessen the likelihood that you may experience a relapse in the future.
Acamprosate
This medication is used to also combat insomnia and anxiety. It also helps the brain to begin working properly again after being suppressed for a long time.
Are You Ready To Quit
Withdrawal can be scary, but it is worth it once you make it to the other side. Addiction can be frightening and can consume everything that you are, but it doesn’t have to stay that way.
We want to help you make it through withdrawal safely and in a way that your quality of life is improved by detoxing from alcohol. Visit our site now for more information and help!