Can I Detox from Alcohol at Home?

Million Americans suffer from alcohol use disorder each year. But only a small percentage of these receive the treatment they need. Many of these people wonder if they should detox from alcohol at home. It’s not uncommon for individuals to think they can self-detox or go ‘cold turkey’ on their own without seeking out the help of medical professionals or addiction counselors. But with alcohol addiction comes many dangerous possibilities if your detox takes place without medical supervision. Self-detox invariably leads to relapse because individuals are not equipped to deal with the severity of withdrawal symptoms, nor do they have the skills necessary to avoid or address any complications that can arise from detox. Alcohol withdrawal can significantly impact the body, causing complications, especially if an individual has any underlying mental health or physical health issues.

Fortunately, at Beaches Recovery, we offer extensive detox programs through our Tides Edge facility.

What Happens When You Detox from Alcohol at Home

When you drink heavily, your brain works to counterbalance the depressive effects of alcohol. It produces higher levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and epinephrine. So when you attempt to detox from alcohol at home by going cold turkey, your body floods with extremely high levels of these brain chemicals. This causes many rapid changes and severe complications.

Complications arising when you detox from alcohol at home include vomiting, dehydration, abnormal heart rate, and a serious condition called delirium tremens (DTs). DTs occur for about 30 to 40 percent of people suffering seizures during alcohol detox.

Symptoms of DTs include confusion, delirium, and seizures. When you suffer DTs without medical supervision, you can experience a head injury, deadly dehydration, choking on your own vomit, heart attack, and stroke. About 15 percent of people suffering from DTs die from these side effects.

Symptoms of Withdrawal from Alcohol

About 50 percent of people addicted to alcohol experience difficult alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Multiple factors are influencing the severity of your withdrawal. These factors include your history of alcohol abuse, underlying health conditions, and the existence of any co-occurring mental illness.

Symptoms occurring during detox from alcohol start about six hours after you stop drinking. These symptoms, called alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), range from minor to severe. Severe withdrawal includes seizures and delirium tremens (DTs).

Seizures frequently appear as the first symptom of AWS. Some people experience these, but few other symptoms. Without medical detox, some people suffer seizures from six to 48 hours after stopping drinking. Of those having seizures, 60 percent have multiple seizures over the course of six hours or less.

Given these risks, it makes sense to find support at a detox facility with the staff and resources necessary to make the process safe.

Safe Alcohol Detox in Jacksonville, Florida

Beaches Recovery Detox at Tides Edge in Jacksonville, Florida, provides medically supervised detox for safe withdrawal from alcohol. Detoxing at home is never safe. In medically supervised detox, you get the comfort, medical supervision, and support you need for safe withdrawal. After detox, you enter rehab treatment to receive the therapies, education, and support you need for lasting addiction recovery.

Treatment programs at Beaches Recovery include:

• Drug and alcohol detox
• Residential drug rehab
• Extended care
• Outpatient care
• Family therapy techniques

Therapies at Beaches Recovery include individual counseling, group therapy, holistic treatment, evidence-based practices, and anger management. We also offer experiential therapy like ropes courses, hiking, and bowling. You may also choose a traditional 12 step program or alternate non-12 step treatment.

If you or someone you love need safe, supervised detox and rehab treatment, call Beaches Recovery and Tides Edge Detox now at 866.605.0532, or contact us online. Alcohol detox is easier with the right help.