The benefits of Alcohol detox in overcoming alcoholism and learning how to live sober
Alcohol detox can be very dangerous and needs to be done under medical supervision.. Stopping the use of alcohol abruptly can cause hallucinations, convulsions and even seizures that can result in death. Alcohol detox is so dangerous because when a person stops drinking alcohol it slows down the activity level of the brain and without the alcohol slowing the brain down it rapidly races forward causing very dangerous side effects during an alcoholism detox.
There are two different phases of alcohol detox. In the first phase the withdrawal from alcohol occurs. It usually takes the body a couple of days to rid itself of the alcohol. This is the phase of alcohol detox that can be fatal. During this first phase the body may experience withdrawal symptoms which can include anxiety, insomnia, shakiness, nausea, hallucinations, convulsions, seizures, and heart failure.
These symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the alcohol abuse. The second phase usually lasts a lot longer. During the second phase the brain tries to return to its normal way of functioning. The second phase often produces detox symptoms but they are not dangerous. This phase may not be fatal but you sure as hell will be extremely uncomfortable.
The benefits of Alcohol detox
For a safer and easier alcohol detox there are medications that are available and can greatly help with the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol. Benzodiazepines can be given in small doses to mimic the effects of the alcohol and slow down the very rapidly racing brain which in turn helps the person relax. For the safety of the patient medical supervision is highly recommended and the medications being given must be closely monitored. If you are suffering serious alcohol withdrawal symptoms and have been drinking alcohol for a number of years you should go to the ER as soon as you can. They will be able to detox you from alcohol medically and this may save your life.
Overcome alcoholism with an alcohol detox
As the person continues to stop using alcohol the withdrawal symptoms will gradually disappear, however a person may experience some long-term detox symptoms which include anxiety, insomnia, and cravings. Medications such asacamprosate and naltrexone can help the cravings but long-term detox takes time. Alcohol detox is achieved by a taking one day at a time attitude. By entering a long-term alcohol recovery program it is possible to live a long and healthy life without the use of alcohol.
It has been my experience that the program of alcoholics anonymous is a great way to detox from alcohol and make some new friends along the way because your old drinking buddies will have to go that is if you are serious about stopping drinking and overcoming alcoholism.
I would recommend attending a meeting every day for a while as soon as you leave alcohol detox treatment. This will help you to build a solid recovery foundation so that you do not return to drinking alcohol again. AA has be helping people stop drinking for a long time now and they are a world wide organization so why not give them a try.
Good luck
My name is Art. I help people to recover.