Alcohol is one of the most common drug addictions that most people struggle with. Here is an expert guide to alcohol detox at home.
Alcoholism: 14.4 million people in The United States suffer from an alcohol use disorder.
Why wouldn’t you want to curb those kinds of numbers?
But alcohol is also one of the most common drug addictions to suffer from and it can be challenging to kick the habit.
For those tapering off alcohol, we’ve created an expert guide to alcohol detox at home.
Read on to learn more.
Symptoms of Withdrawal
If you heavily drink alcohol for weeks, months, or years, you may experience mental and physical symptoms when you try detoxing from alcohol. This is known as alcohol withdrawal.
The typical symptoms with drug withdrawal include:
- Headache
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Insomnia
- Shaky hands
- Sweating
Withdraw symptoms can vary from mild to very serious. More major symptoms can include hallucinations, delusions, and seizures.
Alcohol can stay in your body for several hours depending on the amount you drink. As it leaves, withdrawal symptoms will start to show.
It is possible to detox from alcohol at home and avoid serious withdrawal symptoms. However, if your blood pressure, body temperature, or pulse rises, or you experience major withdrawal symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
To combat milder symptoms, find a quiet place with soft lighting. Surround yourself with a positive, supportive atmosphere and avoid contact with lots of people. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat healthy foods.
Remember treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms is a short-term solution. Talk to your medical care provider to discuss long-term treatment options.
How to Detox from Alcohol
First, you need to determine how much alcohol you drink in an average day. A standard drink includes:
- 5 ounces of wine with ~12 percent alcohol content
- 12 ounces of beer with ~5 percent alcohol content
- 1.5 ounces of liquor with ~40 percent alcohol content
The key to detoxing at home is tapering off the alcohol. Your tapering schedule will be unique and should be flexible. You’ll likely feel irritable, uncomfortable, and anxious during the process.
If you typically drink twelve beers a day, try to reduce your alcohol consumption by two beers every day for six days. Be sure to consume the alcohol steadily throughout the day.
Ask for Help
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol is often a coping mechanism for stress.
Alcoholism is typically a combination of family history, mental health, genetics, and environment, though others with no evident risk factors still struggle with alcohol abuse.
An estimated 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes every year, making it the third leading type of preventable cause of death in the United States. If you’re struggling with alcohol dependency, seek out help.
Try trusted resources such as:
- Family and friends
- Counselor
- Alcoholics Anonymous
You’re not alone.
Alcohol Detox at Home
An alcohol use disorder is a serious problem that may require more than just an alcohol detox at home. Reach out to a medical care professional to create a specific plan that’s right for you.
You’ve got this!
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