Alcohol Withdrawal: How to Get Through It

Satisfying hobbies can distract you from wanting to drink, but they also help you relax — something everyone needs to do. But maybe you’re unsure about quitting completely and don’t want to hold yourself to that goal. Maybe you don’t think you depend on alcohol exactly, but you still wonder whether you might be drinking too much. Alcohol (ethanol) depresses (slows down) your central nervous system (CNS). If you consistently consume significant amounts of alcohol, your CNS gets used to this effect.

Health Conditions

For most people, alcohol withdrawal symptoms will begin sometime in the first eight hours after their final drink. The long-term outlook for alcohol addiction treatment depends on the extent of organ damage and whether the person continues to drink after alcohol detox rehab. In the months after treatment, patients may still experience sleep disturbances, mood swings and low energy levels. Withdrawal symptoms can also occur when alcohol use is significantly reduced but not stopped entirely. The start of alcohol withdrawal symptoms may be longer and less obvious in these situations.

Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline: What Symptoms to Expect in Days 1-5

• While this depends on the amount of alcohol you have had over the years, your liver can see partial healing within two to three weeks, but this will depend on your health history.
• You’ve taken an important first step toward recovery by deciding to stop drinking.
• Sobriety can be a hard path to begin, but The Recovery Village can help you find your way to a healthier, alcohol-free future.
• Try to remember that you don’t have to feel shame about your experience.

Outpatient detox involves regularly following up with a health care professional before and during detox. This allows your progress to be monitored without requiring you to move into a detox facility. Outpatient detox is ideal for people who are not likely to experience severe detox symptoms. Some people try to detox at home without professional help, but this can increase the risk of dangerous withdrawal symptoms. For many, the safest way to quit alcohol is to attend a medically assisted detox program at a professional addiction treatment facility. If you are thinking about quitting drinking, talk to your healthcare provider.

How do you detox your liver?

• They can help you determine the best and safest action for your needs.
• The medical professional who evaluated your AWS symptoms may suggest daily follow-ups via telephone or video chat to check on your symptoms and progress.
• This will likely start with paperwork and documentation that outlines your medical history, then a medical exam to assess your overall health.
• Alcohol detox is the necessary first step on the road to recovery in treating alcoholism.
• These first few weeks are critical because they are when the risk of relapse is highest.
• Consider avoiding bars and liquor stores, as well as avoiding routines that involve alcohol.

Medical supervision, behavioral health treatment, and mutual-aid groups can help you through alcohol withdrawal and stay stopped. The safest way to address alcohol abuse and begin detox is to consult with a medical https://ecosoberhouse.com/ professional or seek professional treatment. When speaking with your medical professional about how to detox from alcohol, they will tell you it’s the first step of a comprehensive rehab program.

Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal

While the most painful symptoms typically subside within the first week, some mild symptoms can last for several weeks to a year. There is no exact timeline as to when or what withdrawal symptoms you will experience; however, there’s a general outline of what to expect. Alcohol is a depressant that your body begins to rely on over the course of months and years of drinking.

• As you continue to commit to long-term recovery, support group meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or online support communities might be helpful.
• Alcohol withdrawal can cause potentially fatal symptoms, and more serious withdrawal symptoms should be monitored and treated by health care professionals.
• The main goal of treatment is to minimize your symptoms and prevent more severe ones like seizures or delirium, which could be fatal in some cases.
• Withdrawal symptoms can begin to surface in as early as two hours after your last drink.
• Someone who may experience moderate to severe alcohol withdrawal should seek medical supervision during detox.