If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction, making the decision to quit drinking can be a life-saving thing to do. A life without alcohol can be much healthier and happier, and your social relationships and mental health will undoubtedly become better without the fog of this drug affecting you all the time. However, it’s important to know what to expect when detoxing from alcohol because quitting isn’t as simple as just putting down the bottle.
Many people who have been heavy drinkers for a long period of time will be at risk of uncomfortable or even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms once they quit, and the body goes into shock from no longer having the substance. If you’re wondering what happens when detoxing from alcohol and starting your new life without drinking, you’re not alone. The good news is help is available.
California alcohol detox programs like the comprehensive and compassionate services provided by Muse Treatment’s alcohol detox center in Los Angeles can make all the difference. We know that detoxing alone at home can be dangerous for many people, leading to scary or even life-threatening side effects that lead many to quickly relapse.
That’s why we offer medical support, medication, and other detox programs that will guide you through this short but crucial period before you can start to fully treat the physical and mental components of addiction. Let’s explore what you can expect when detoxing from alcohol and how Muse Treatment can help.
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What Happens When Your Body Detoxes from Alcohol?
If you’re wondering what to expect when detoxing from alcohol, it’s helpful to understand why people can be at risk of experiencing alcohol withdrawal and how a professional medical detox program can help get through this time.
In a nutshell, alcohol is a depressant that has serious effects on your body. If you drink heavily for an extended period of time, your body gets used to this depressant state by overcompensating with changes to your central nervous system. Basically, your body adjusts and deals with the depressant’s effects on your brain function by ramping up how it functions each day despite the alcohol.
Once someone in this situation quits drinking, their body doesn’t know how to respond without the presence of alcohol, which is why their brains and nervous systems are overly active and prompt them to start to suffer withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms from alcohol can range from minor to uncomfortable, alarming, or even life-threatening in serious cases. Symptoms include:
- Mood changes, anxiety, confusion, and irritation
- Insomnia and fatigue
- Headaches or stomach aches
- High blood pressure and heart rate
- Sweating or shaking
A potentially fatal condition known as delirium tremens is also possible, which can lead to symptoms like trouble thinking or concentrating, difficulty speaking, slow movements, fevers, hallucinations, seizures, and serious heart and breathing problems.
How Long Does It Take to Reset Your Body from Alcohol?
Withdrawal symptoms can start just hours after taking your last drink, or it can be days until the side effects really kick in. For most people, withdrawal symptoms will peak between one and three days after the last drink and continue for several days, though some symptoms can linger for several weeks.
Your liver is going to be the most affected part of your body from heavy drinking, which is why liver recovery can take a while or might not even fully happen if the organ is too heavily damaged.
However, in many people, levels of enzymes and other important substances in the liver will begin to improve within a few weeks of not drinking, and this regeneration will get better the longer it’s been since you had a drink. The critical thing to remember is that healing takes time, but relapsing could cause serious or even fatal harm if you pick up the bottle again.
The brain is also profoundly affected by alcohol abuse, and your brain’s gray matter can actually shrink from these effects. However, gray matter shrinkage can start to reverse just two weeks after you quit drinking, meaning you can at least partially recover your full cognitive abilities once you quit drinking.
Can You Detox from Alcohol at Home?
If you or a loved one is at a high risk of experiencing alcohol withdrawal when you quit drinking, you might wonder if you can detox at home. While this is sometimes possible and safe, many people who have abused alcohol for a while are going to be in danger of experiencing severe or deadly withdrawal side effects, which is why quitting cold turkey alone at home is not recommended.
Instead, seeking help from medical professionals like the team at Muse Treatment’s alcohol detox program in Los Angeles can help you or your loved one get through these several days of withdrawal symptoms much more comfortably while also getting medical support and medication to help you avoid fatal withdrawal effects like delirium tremens.
According to GoodRx, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can start just a few hours after the last drink and peak around five days later, though symptoms can continue for several weeks. That’s why an alcohol detox program at a specialized treatment center like Muse in Los Angeles can be a life-saving option.
This program can help you get through the peak of withdrawal and overcome the physical problems that come with withdrawal so you can be truly ready to embrace your new future without alcohol with the help of a comprehensive alcohol addiction treatment program.
How Can You Prepare for Alcohol Detox?
A key part of figuring out what to expect when detoxing from alcohol is learning how to prepare for an alcohol detox program. It’s crucial to keep in mind that alcohol detox isn’t the end of your addiction on its own—it’s just an important first step toward recovery, but your journey won’t be over once this program, which lasts for a week or two, is complete.
That’s why you’ll want to make arrangements ahead of time to ensure that your work, family, and financial obligations are going to be OK while you complete detox and then start an intensive inpatient addiction treatment program that will address the mental side of addiction.
You can rest assured that you’re making the best choice when you start treatment after carefully researching your treatment options, as well as doing things like pre-verifying your Anthem insurance coverage for California addiction treatment so you won’t face heavy bills after your rehab is complete.
Call Muse and Learn What to Expect When Detoxing From Alcohol
Now that you better understand the risks of alcohol withdrawal and what to expect when detoxing from alcohol, it’s time to pick up the phone and get started on the road to your recovery.
In California, Muse Treatment Center is known as a leading choice for alcohol detox and rehab programs that can help you safely overcome alcohol abuse and learn new skills that will keep you from relapsing in the future. A brighter future awaits you—get started by calling us at 800-426-1818 today.
External Sources
- WebMD – What Is Alcohol Withdrawal?
- MedlinePlus – Alcohol Withdrawal
- GoodRx – Is It Safe to Detox from Alcohol at Home?
