The Risks Of Detoxing From Alcohol At Home

You may be considering ditching the alcohol as you’re not really enjoying it or it’s getting in the way of daily issues such as work or the need to drive and it’s also becoming expensive to buy.

Whatever the reason, if you don’t have a serious dependence on the substance, it may be relatively easy for you to stop, take control, and only drink as and when you decide to. That’s great!

However, for those who have consumed alcohol over a long period, and it has led to addiction, there is no such thing as a quick fix to quit drinking.

For people who fall into this category, attempting to detox at home can bring about an array of problems resulting from withdrawal symptoms that can be life-threatening and fatal.

Alcohol addiction is a devastating condition, that thankfully, is becoming more recognised as an illness and not seen anymore as an outdated view of being a social outcast.

However, society today plays an important role that contributes to more and more people seeking the relaxing effects alcohol provides to alleviate the stresses of daily life,

If you are contemplating giving up alcohol on your own, it may be worth considering some of the dangers before doing so to make sure you are not putting yourself at unnecessary risk.

What Are Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?

A home detox for mild alcohol use may seem manageable to stop drinking without further issues, commonly known as going cold turkey but for anyone who has a serious condition, this route is not recommendable due to the risks associated with withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is the term used to describe a set of symptoms that appear when someone dependent on alcohol suddenly stops or considerably reduces their consumption.

Some of these symptoms may be mild whilst others can be quite unpleasant and painful and generally make themselves present within a few hours after taking the last alcoholic drink and may last anything between 10 to 14 days.

Common withdrawal symptoms can include:

• Anxiety
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Tremors
• Insomnia

More serious cases may show signs of:

• Hallucinations
• Seizures
• Delirium Tremens

It should be remembered that delirium tremens is a potentially life-threatening condition and requires immediate medical attention.

Apart from the physical withdrawal symptoms, there are psychological implications that can cause depression, amnesia, and altercated mood swings.

Taking into account the seriousness of alcohol withdrawal, it is advisable to consult with healthcare providers who can offer necessary support and suggest interventions to assist in managing symptoms and prevent any adverse complications. In summary, to withdraw from alcohol safely one should not ignore the dangers and challenges that could potentially put someone’s life at risk but instead seek out professional help to address the situation.

What Are The Odds Of Developing Delirium Tremens If I Detox From Alcohol At Home?

There are no specific chances of developing delirium tremens, also known as DTs, during the detox process but it may quite easily become prevalent depending on how each individual responds to withdrawal.

The risk here is too high to take as delirium tremens is a severe life-threatening issue and requires urgent medical intervention.

Symptoms often include confusion, hallucinations, agitation, and the typical shaking associated with the condition, also there is an elevated risk of a person experiencing seizures or even cardiac arrest.

Delirium tremens generally appears within 48 to 96 hours after consuming the last alcoholic drink and it requires immediate hospitalisation and medication to stablise the condition with further administration of intravenous fluids for additional nutritional support. Treatment for severe symptoms may continue for several days until they become manageable and under control.

Normally, the DTs are related to severe cases of alcoholism and to those who have prolonged use of the substance, but because of the frightening and dangerous risk to health, there is always a chance of it happening, the consequences of which, could prove devastating. To avoid any of these risks, one should safely detox from alcohol with the appropriate supervision.

Where To Safely Detox From Alcohol

Upon deciding to give up this harmful substance and get help, the first step in treatment starts with alcohol detoxification.

The safest way to detox from alcohol is by being supervised and carefully monitored for undesirable withdrawal symptoms addressed by medical detox specialists, rather than attempting to quit on your own.

Generally, detox is performed at a rehab centre where the individual remains as an inpatient and undergoes medical detox to rid the body of the substance. 

This initial phase of the procedure can be anything between 7 to 14 days depending on the severity of the addiction and how the person responds to treatment. During this time, a medical team will provide 24/7 observation and support to watch out for any adverse reactions or complications that may occur.

After the detox stage is successful, the patient then transits into the next phase of recovery which is a residential treatment whereby the individual attends various therapies to address their addiction, develop self-awareness, and find resources to help reconnect with their inner self to promote well-being and set them on the right track to sustaining sobriety and a healthier and happier life.

This residential treatment is fundamental in assisting the person to learn coping strategies so they may manage better any cravings and have a much higher chance of not falling into relapse after their stay at rehab has ended.

Typically an individual would spend 28 days at a rehab centre, allowing them this time to adjust to their addiction treatment and to a new life without using alcohol.

Alternatively, there are outpatient rehab centres that provide medically assisted detox but the individual returns home, followed by regular participation in group sessions such as counselling and various therapies.

This option would be more suited to someone who has a mild alcohol use disorder and may wish to continue with their daily activities like work or studies.

Detox At Home Vs Medical Detox

Looking at the obvious reasons for seeking professional help to safely quit alcohol, some people may still feel they can go cold turkey and successfully perform an at-home detox and stop drinking alcohol.

You must weigh up all the risks and recognise that you are likely to experience some discomfort of withdrawal, especially intense cravings as you starve the body of the substance and could appear a few hours after your last drink. Because alcohol cravings are so powerful, there is a very high possibility of giving in and relapsing making every attempt to stop thereafter much harder.

Additionally, whilst attempting to manage your withdrawal symptoms, you may experience irritability and mood swings accompanied by bouts of aggression or irrational behaviour. This can affect loved ones, friends or family members who may find themselves on the receiving end or erratic actions could impact your work or studies. 

When you have been physically dependent on alcohol for some time, the neurotransmitters in the brain change when you abstain from the substance causing unpredictable reactions whether mild or severe and cannot be determined until they appear.

Alcohol detox in a supervised medical environment on the other hand is the much more preferable way of treating patients with alcohol substance use. An individual may be assured of receiving professional intervention should complications arise from severe alcohol withdrawal and getting expert treatment and ongoing support to sustain sobriety.

Under medical supervision, withdrawal symptoms may be reduced by administering prescribed medicine making the experience more comfortable and less painful for the patient.

If you have an alcohol addiction you have a much better outlook for achieving a successful recovery if you opt for a medically- supervised detox to help keep you safe.

Help Is Available For Severe Alcohol Use

Initially, you may want to see about outpatient detox treatment if this form of detox is the safest approach for your needs and if there are medications that can help with the withdrawal process.

Several organisations can offer sound advice such as Alcoholics Anonymous and can provide a wealth of information that may help make the process easier and help you feel more confident with your decisions.

However, due to the high demand for outpatient treatment for alcohol and other drug substance addictions, you may have to expect long waiting times for admission or it may be these treatment centres are too far distanced.

As an alternative route, Sivana Bali is a private, luxury rehab centre located on the island of Bali, Indonesia and only about a 7-hour flight away from Brisbane for example. We provide a wide spectrum of substance treatments, including alcohol addiction treatment and use modern-day strategies to help assist our patients with their recovery.

We use a medically-supervised detox programme to help reduce withdrawal symptoms and our ongoing residential treatment is specifically designed to help prevent relapse and allow the patient to regain sobriety and sustain a long-lasting recovery.

You may be thinking that our luxury rehab facility and services will include a high price tag but we consider our prices favourable in comparison to similar centres and may prove to be more cost-effective in the long run. 

If you or someone you know wants help to tackle an alcohol addiction, why don’t you give us a call in the first instance to see how we can be of assistance? Our friendly team will be happy to offer advice and give you all the information you need about our facility, treatment, and costs.