How To Detox From Alcohol
By Midwest Detox Staff
Detoxing is often the first step you’ll need to take when recovering from an alcohol use disorder (AUD). While completing detox does not mean you’re 100% free and clear, it is a vital part of achieving sobriety. How you handle detox can also impact the rest of your recovery treatment. For this reason, most trained professionals emphasize the importance of detoxing and its lasting effects on patients struggling to overcome alcoholism.
If you’ve never entered a detox program before, you may feel a little apprehensive. Perhaps you’re concerned about experiencing withdrawal or you’re simply unsure what the path to sobriety should look like. But if you or a loved one is abusing alcohol, detoxification at a quality clinic like Midwest Detox is the best place to start.
In this guide, we’ll examine some of the benefits of alcohol detox, as well as reasons why you should consider an inpatient facility over alternative methods.
The Benefits Of Detoxing From Alcohol
Years of research have shown that alcohol detox can help jumpstart the recovery process and reduce the risk of relapse. However, these aren’t the only benefits to consider. When you detox from alcohol, you’re essentially allowing your body to rid itself of toxins and return to a state of normalcy. When this happens, you can expect a lot of positive changes, including:
Improved Physical Health
As your body heals from alcohol, you’ll find that you’re at lower risk for various health conditions, including cancer, fatty liver disease, stroke, and heart failure. But the physical health benefits don’t stop there. Detoxing can help your body’s immunity return to normal levels, as binge drinking makes your immunity drop, lowering your body’s defenses against illness.
Alcohol can also wreak havoc on your metabolism, making it harder to get the nutrients you need while maintaining a healthy BMI. Detoxing from alcohol forces you to drop the unnecessary sugar and calories while also improving the ability of your digestive system to absorb essential nutrients.
Improved Mental Health
Alcohol is a depressant that alters the chemical balance in your brain. Over time, alcohol abuse increases mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and even schizophrenia. Detoxing from alcohol gives your mind a chance to stabilize and recalibrate, especially if you have co-occurring disorders. For instance, if you have depression and use alcohol to self-medicate, going through a detox can help reduce symptoms of the condition and give you the opportunity to seek out real treatment.
Better Sleep
Binge drinking is notoriously bad for your sleep. When you consume large quantities of alcohol and then go to sleep, your body doesn’t actually get the rest it needs. Instead, alcohol disrupts your natural REM cycle, causing you to wake up throughout the night or even experience insomnia. Though detoxing from alcohol may not improve your sleep immediately, cutting alcohol out of your life can lead to better and more restful sleep over the long term.
Fewer Safety Risks
Binge drinking has various effects that, when combined, can directly impact your safety. For instance, alcohol can lower your inhibitions while also impairing motor function. This means that you may be more likely to sit behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated and get in an accident. Even if you’re not driving drunk, you could be more at risk to fall and injure yourself while intoxicated. Alcohol is also connected with other risky behaviors, like engaging in unsafe sex or illicit drug use. Detoxing from alcohol can help you think more clearly and reduce the aforementioned safety risks.
Repaired Memory
Even people who do not have an alcohol use disorder are likely familiar with the strange effect that alcohol can have on memory. After binge drinking, you may struggle to remember events that occurred while intoxicated. Over time, heavy drinking can actually change the structure of your brain, often making it more difficult to recall memories or solve problems. Detoxing is the only way to start undoing this damage so that you can repair and restore your memory.
Better Relationships
Though some see alcohol as a way to socialize and “have fun,” it often has devastating effects on the people around you. Alcoholism increases the risk of violence and verbal or emotional abuse. It also makes it harder to uphold your responsibilities at work or school. If you continue down this destructive path, you may find it increasingly difficult to maintain healthy relationships with others. On the other hand, if you choose to detox and long-term sobriety, you make it easier to engage with others without being hindered by the negative effects of alcohol.
Why Detoxing From Alcohol At Home Is Not A Good Idea
If you’re tempted to self-detox from alcohol, we strongly advise against it. Trying to wean off of alcohol at home may seem like the simplest solution, but it comes with a much higher risk of relapse and potentially life-threatening consequences. The reason that people check into an inpatient detox facility is that the withdrawal symptoms can be quite severe. Without the help of trained professionals and an environment that separates you from alcohol, you may give in to temptation and start drinking again.
The risk of relapse is only part of the danger. When detoxing, you can experience Delirium Tremens (DTs), which are a series of symptoms associated with severe alcohol withdrawal. If left untreated, you may fall in and out of consciousness, experience seizures, hallucinate, or have a cardiovascular event.
We cannot stress enough that detoxing at home is not just a bad idea, but it is an extremely dangerous one. Even if you have someone to watch over you while you detox, they may not be trained to administer life-saving care or even recognize the signs of potentially fatal DT symptoms. In short, there is no safe way to detox outside of a legitimate detox clinic.
The Best Way To Detox From Alcohol
There are two primary ways to detox from alcohol: inpatient and outpatient detox programs. Inpatient detox means that you’ll check into a facility and have 24/7 care while your body rids itself of alcohol. Alternatively, outpatient detox means that you will attend meetings and health check-ups a few times a week. Though an outpatient program does give you more freedom to detox while also working or going to school, it also increases the chances of relapse. As a result, inpatient detox at a quality facility like Midwest Detox is often the best solution for moderate to severe alcohol addiction.
How The Alcohol Detox Program At Midwest Detox Can Help You
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol use disorder, you should strongly consider reaching out to us for help. At Midwest Detox, we provide comprehensive, compassionate care while you detox from alcohol. We also offer a variety of treatments and therapies to help ensure that your physical and emotional needs are always met.
Additionally, Midwest Detox’s team of trained professionals makes your safety our top priority. You can rest easy knowing that, no matter how difficult the recovery process can be, we will be there to minimize withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings, and help you develop the skills you need to stay sober for good.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Reach out to Midwest Detox at 414-409-5200 or send us a message today.