Alcohol Detox
Alcohol addiction is a problem for many people. The prevalence of drinking is high, with 85.6% of the people above 18 in the U.S. admitting that they drank alcohol at least once in their life. So, what can you do to get rid of this addiction? Let’s find out!
Detox for Alcoholism
Detox for alcoholism is used in order to help with the withdrawal symptoms once you stop drinking. Generally, detox is done in an addiction treatment center, using the inpatient therapy method.
Symptoms for withdrawal can be often very difficult to manage, uncomfortable, and even life-threatening. This is why patients are given medicine in order to prevent the appearance of a variety of symptoms (i.e., nausea, sweating, tachycardia, shaking, and so on).
What is Alcoholism?
An occasional drink is not a problem, as long as the person in question can stop their consumption. The problem is when the person cannot help and control how much they drink – in which case, they border on the realms of alcoholism.
According to studies, around 12.7% of the people in America have been diagnosed with an alcohol disorder. In other words, one in eight adults in the United States is dealing with alcoholism.
Alcoholism affects people differently. That being said, the symptoms are similar with every other person: an intense need to drink alcohol, even if its use has been causing problems. Alcohol addiction can be treated in multiple ways, but the most important factor is to actually spot that you have an addiction.
Signs of Alcoholism
In most cases, alcoholism can be spotted right away. If you are wondering whether you or a loved one is suffering from alcoholism, here are the telltale signs:
1. You Tried to Quit Drinking but Failed
A lot of people struggling with an alcohol addiction would try to limit their consumption but fail to do it on their own. In these cases, the addiction is deep enough that the person in question is no longer able to quit on their own. These are the circumstances where the person may want to go for a professional detox program.
2. You Hide Your Alcohol Consumption
When someone starts hiding how much they drink, then the chances are high that they are struggling with an addiction. For example, a person with an alcohol addiction may begin drinking in private or before a meeting with their friends. A person with alcoholism may even lie about how much they drink, as well as avoid any social situation where people will notice their drinking.
3. You Have Withdrawal Symptoms Even When Not Drinking
If some time passed since you had your last drink and you still have withdrawal symptoms, then chances are high that you are dealing with an addiction. In these cases, your body may already be dependent on the alcohol – so, even if more than 24 hours have already passed, you may still feel the symptoms. If your withdrawal symptoms become a constant aspect of your life, then you’ll need to go for medical detox.
4. You Start Experiencing Health Problems
Alcoholism takes its toll on the body, which means that a person with alcoholism may go through a series of physical problems. A person struggling with chronic drinking may end up suffering from liver damage, anemia, heart damage, even problems to the brain and the nervous system.
5. Your Performance Is Starting to Decline
Whether we are talking about performance in school or at work, alcoholism has a way of affecting it. Someone struggling with alcoholism may not be able to prioritize alcohol consumption overwork – and as a result, it may affect their performance. They might call in sick more often, they might show up drunk at the site, and may perform poorly overall. For a person struggling with alcoholism, alcohol has become a priority.
6. You See Negative Effects Even in Your Personal Life
A person with alcoholism may see their personal life declining as well. For instance, a person with alcoholism may have problems with their family or friends as a result of their alcohol consumption. They may also have frequent problems with the law while intoxicated. If this happens often, it may be a sign of alcoholism.
Best Types of Alcohol Detox
Depending on the level or stage of alcoholism, several types of detox may be used in order to ensure that the alcohol stays out of your system. Here is what a reliable treatment center will often use:
Medical Detox
When it comes to alcohol detox, the standard way to get the alcohol out of your system is through medical detox. With medical detox, a patient is admitted within a facility until the drugs wear out from their system. This type of detox does not treat the underlying cause of the addiction, but the symptoms associated with the substance abuse. For alcohol abuse to be kept under control, long-term solutions need to be used as well.
Behavioral Modification
Even if the alcohol is out of your system, it does not mean that you are out of the woods. An alcohol addict may need a coping mechanism to avoid slipping back into their addiction. Your rehab doctor might refer you to a counselor or some associated treatment program to learn those skills.
Support Groups
Support groups are their own type of alcohol detox method. Support groups are full of people that went through the same thing that you did – meaning that they understand your pain and struggles. When you see their stories of recovery, it becomes much easier for you to quit your alcohol addiction.
Why Real Deal?
Real Deal has all the treatment routes necessary for you to get over your alcohol addiction. Whether you need medical detox, behavior modifications, or access to support groups, Real Deal can cater to your every need. Inpatient therapy is recommended for alcohol detox at Real Deal, but patients may also opt for outpatient detox.
The first step to quitting your alcohol addiction is realizing that you have a problem. See the signs and give us a call! You will receive the alcohol addiction help that you need.