Alcohol Addiction Treatment At Home

What Are The Risks Of Detoxing From Alcohol At Home

Ending your dependence on alcohol brings with it side effects and dangers that must be taken seriously if you wish to detox at home. There are physical and psychological symptoms of withdrawal which include hand tremors , sweating, nausea, visual hallucinations, seizures, depression, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, and insomnia.

The major risk of detoxing from alcohol are the DTs. Delirium Tremens is a severe type of withdrawal from alcohol. They usually begin 2-3 days after you stop drinking and lasts for roughly that amount of time but could last as long as a week. The DTs are serious and if they go untreated they can prove fatal, causing a heart attack or a stroke.

There are many possible symptoms including chest pain, fever, passing out, seizures, tremors, and high blood pressure. If you begin experiencing these symptoms you should contact a medical professional and stop detoxing.

Coping with symptoms this severe means that your addiction is more serious than a mild dependence and detoxing from home may not be the best pathway for you. If that is the case, you might want to consider medically supervised detox.

Starting On The Road To Recovery

You can overcome your alcohol addiction and achieve sobriety. The key point to remember is thats never safe to self-detox from alcohol at home. People with the highest risk of complications from alcohol withdrawal are those who drink heavily in excess and those who have attempted to self-detox in the past.

Although you may be deterred by entering a treatment program, its the safest way to detox from alcohol. Friends and family can provide emotional support, but the reality is theyre not medically trained to know what helps with alcohol withdrawal.

If you have questions about alcohol withdrawal treatment or home detox, to speak with a representative about how professional treatment can help you.

When To Go Through Alcohol Detox At Home

If you are relatively young, otherwise healthy, and feel more confident about overcoming alcohol withdrawal at home, attempting this process at home is safe. However, even if you embark on a detox at home, its beneficial to have a support system in place.

Some things to keep in mind if youre considering at-home detox include:

• Ensure your doctor knows about your illness and detox plan
• Do not drive or operate machinery during alcohol detox
• Do not attempt to go to work during detox
• Eat a healthy diet, having prepared meals on hand as well as a selection of fresh fruits can be helpful
• Get plenty of rest

Also, it can be helpful to let a loved one know your plan so they can check in or be available should you need support.

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Drink Plenty Of Water

Drinking water is important for everyone, but especially during detox. You will likely sweat more during detox, making water replacement important. Staying hydrated will also help to keep your kidneys healthy, allowing them to properly filter out toxins, and will keep you in optimal health as your body undergoes the tension that detox creates.

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How Long Does It Take To Detox From Alcohol At Home

The amount of time it takes to detox from alcohol depends on several factors, including whether youre detoxing at home or with medical supervision. Detoxing at home usually takes longer because you should be cautious to avoid serious complications.

When you are detoxing from alcohol at a rehab center, nurses and doctors monitor vital signs, provide adequate nourishment and treat complications if they occur.

Alcohol can stay in your system for several hours depending on how much you drink. Once it begins to leave your body, early symptoms of withdrawal begin.

Early symptoms of alcohol withdrawal usually start about six hours after the last drink. They intensify for about a day before diminishing. Early symptoms include headache, sweating, tremors, vomiting and difficulty concentrating.

Seizures can occur within the first 24 hours, but seizures occur only in about 25 percent of patients, according to the NIAAA.

Late symptoms begin between two and four days after the last drink, and they usually include changes in heart rate, breathing and blood pressure. Serious symptoms caused by delirium tremens include hallucination and seizure. DTs occur in about 5 percent of patients.

Possible detox timeline for at-home detox with no tapering:

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Signs Of Alcohol Use Disorder

People can develop an unhealthy relationship with alcohol for many reasons. Some people have biological or environmental factors that make it harder for them to regulate their alcohol intake. Others use alcohol to self-medicate or dull uncomfortable emotions. With ongoing heavy use, your body can acclimate to the presence of alcohol and become physically dependent on it. Some signs that you may be living with an alcohol use disorder or alcoholism include:

• Increasing frequency or amount of alcohol consumed
• Using despite negative consequences, such as injuries or legal problems
• Damage to health because of alcohol consumption
• Cravings for alcohol
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you cut back or stop drinking
• Changes in sleep, mood, or appetite

Having any of these symptoms might indicate that you are developing a physical dependence on alcohol. If you want to stop drinking alcohol, you may require support or medical treatment to do so safely. Never attempt to detox at home alone, especially from alcohol.

Can I Get Alcohol Rehab Without Insurance

Cost should not stop you from seeking help. There are other payment options if you dont have insurance or your insurance doesnt cover rehab, such as:

• Using payment plans, sliding scales, or scholarships. Some rehabs offer different forms of financial assistance based on your financial need or ability to pay.
• Going to a facility with public funding. You may be able to find free or low-cost rehab options its important to be aware that states have funds set aside to help people without insurance.14
• Applying for Medicare or Medicaid. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older or certain younger people who meet eligibility requirements.15 Medicaid is the government-funded health insurance plan for people with low incomes who meet eligibility requirements.14
• Paying out-of-pocket. For example, you might use savings or ask family or friends for help.
• Taking out loans. You might take out loans to cover some or all of the cost of treatment.
• Alcoholic Anonymous or similar mutual help groups. Recent evidence suggests AA and other free mutual help groups based on 12-step facilitation can be as effective as other wellestablished treatments for achieving abstinence and other alcoholrelated outcomes such as drinking consequences, drinking intensity, and addiction severity.16

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Sobriety Home Foundation For Alcohol Addiction For Those In Montreal Quebec

Sobriety Home Rehab focuses on evidence-based treatments, mainly including psychotherapy. At Sobriety Home Rehab you may receive medical treatment and medication based on the widely studied and proven area of Pharmacotherapy. If you would rather be free of medications, Alternative Alcohol Rehab Therapies are found at the Sobriety Home Foundation, these methods take a more holistic and natural approach. Examples of these activities include yoga, pilates, meditation, and nature walks.

Alcoholics Anonymous And Other Support Groups

Many people addicted to alcohol also turn to 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous . There are also other support groups that dont follow the 12-step model, such as SMART Recovery and Sober Recovery.

Regardless of the type of support system, its helpful to get involved in at least one when getting sober. Sober communities can help someone struggling with alcohol addiction deal with the challenges of sobriety in day-to-day life. Sober communities can also share relatable experiences and offer new, healthy friendships. And these communities make the person with an alcohol addiction accountable and provide a place to turn to if there is a relapse.

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How Long Does It Take For Alcohol To Get Out Of Your System

âFor most people, alcohol is metabolized fairly quickly and leaves the body within a few hours,â Waismann says. âHowever, there are several factors that can influence how long it takes for alcohol to be cleared from your system, including your age, weight, gender, and overall health.

• Age is a major factor in how quickly alcohol is metabolized. As we age, our bodies become less efficient at breaking down and processing alcohol. This means that it takes longer for alcohol to leave our system.
• Weight also plays a role in how quickly alcohol leaves the body. Generally speaking, the more you weigh, the longer it will take for alcohol to be completely metabolized.
• Gender is another important factor to consider. Men generally process alcohol faster than women due to differences in levels of enzymes that break down alcohol.

• Overall health is also a key consideration. If you have liver or gastrointestinal problems, it may take longer for your body to process and remove Alcohol from your system.

After you start drinking, alcohol takes around 60 to 90 minutes to reach peak levels in the blood. Then, the body begins breaking it down. The half-life of alcohol is four to five hours. A half-life is how long it takes for your body to get rid of half of it. But you need about five half-lives to get rid of alcohol completely. So, it takes about 25 hours for your body to clear all the alcohol,â Waismann explains.

Take Your Vitamins And Minerals

When youre detoxing in an inpatient or outpatient detox treatment facility, theyll usually prescribe medications to help ease withdrawal symptoms of alcohol. At home, you wont have that luxury. But there are some vitamins and minerals you can take that are often beneficial and help remove toxins. Some of these include B vitamins, multivitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, and calcium.

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Types Of Behavioral Treatments

• CognitiveBehavioral Therapy can take place one-on-one with a therapist or in small groups. This form of therapy is focused on identifying the feelings and situations that lead to heavy drinking and managing stress that can lead to relapse. The goal is to change the thought processes that lead to alcohol misuse and to develop the skills necessary to cope with everyday situations that might trigger problem drinking.

• Motivational Enhancement Therapy is conducted over a short period of time to build and strengthen motivation to change drinking behavior. The therapy focuses on identifying the pros and cons of seeking treatment, forming a plan for making changes in ones drinking, building confidence, and developing the skills needed to stick to the plan.

• incorporates spouses and other family members in the treatment process and can play an important role in repairing and improving family relationships. Studies show that strong family support through family therapy increases the chances of maintaining abstinence , compared with patients undergoing individual counseling.

• Brief Interventions are short, one-on-one or small-group counseling sessions that are time limited. The counselor provides information about the individuals drinking pattern and potential risks. After the client receives personalized feedback, the counselor will work with him or her to set goals and provide ideas for helping to make a change.

Whats The Difference Between At

Outpatient rehabilitation for an SUD lets patients continue living at home but requires them to check into treatment at scheduled times, sometimes every day. Patients may receive MAT, undergo therapy, and create a continuing care plan. The main difference between at-home treatment and outpatient rehab is that at-home treatment does not require someone to travel to a facility. The treatment is brought to their doorstep. Daily check-ins are there to hold patients accountable, and some may submit to urine screening or GPS tracking. These extra measures work as a way to hold patients responsible and to not seek out drugs or alcohol once their last session of the day is over.

Common Questions About Rehab

At-home treatment may not be the best plan for someone with a severe addiction. An inpatient rehabilitation facility will likely be the safest and most successful option for certain individuals. However, recovery is a life-long journey and at-home treatment is an option to continue treatment while maintaining lifes other responsibilities. At-home treatment can be a cost-effective option, with some programs charging about $38,000 for an entire year. Insurance may cover part or all of treatment.

Break free from addiction.

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Distract Yourself From The Alcohol Cravings

There is always something to be done around the house. Laundry, dishes, floors, pick on and distract yourself from the cravings to drink. Another excellent home remedy to stop drinking alcohol is to take a cold shower. Cold showers can clear your mind, ease the hot flashes of alcohol withdrawal, and refresh your body.

Focus On Hydration First

Alcohol withdrawal causes a variety of different symptoms including fatigue, anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. These symptoms are most severe between 24 and 72 hours after the last drink and may limit your ability to eat.

Make sure you drink plenty of fluids during this time as it will help rehydrate your body and get rid of toxins. Water, juice, broth, ice pops, and gelatin are good choices for hydration during the early stages of withdrawal.

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Why Do You Need Alcohol Withdrawal Help At Home

Alcohol withdrawal is typically an uncomfortable process. Thats true even for people affected by relatively mild forms of addiction. If left unaddressed, your withdrawal symptoms can strain your ability to tolerate them. Alcohol withdrawal help at home can make your symptoms less intense. The reduction in intensity may make it easier to avoid drinking alcohol.

How Long Does Alcohol Home Detox Take

Most people can complete an alcohol detox in less than seven days. However, more serious cases might require more time for withdrawal symptoms to disappear.

The length of time it takes to completely detox from alcohol will be reliant on many different variables. Detox at home takes more time because you want to avoid any serious problems by taking the necessary precautions.

Alcohol remains in your bloodstream for many hours after drinking it, so once it starts to clear from your body you will experience those withdrawal symptoms within about six hours of the last beverage you consumed.

1. Six hours

• Issues with focus and concentration

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms intensify for about twenty-four hours before they start to subside. Some patients have reported hallucinations at this state, but this is normally severe in the 24 hour period after the last drink.

3. Day 1-2

The minor withdrawal sensations listed above tend to progress into days one and two after quitting alcohol.

These symptoms include

• Stomach problems

For those experiencing minor alcohol withdrawal, these symptoms will climax up to 24 hours and will then begin to diminish by days four or five.

4. Day 2-3

For those experiencing severe alcohol withdrawal, this stage can indicate a lot. This phase is where doctors will keep an eye out for signs of delirium tremens, or withdrawal delirium.

Other symptoms include:

• Hallucinations

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How To Taper Off Alcohol At Home

The purpose of tapering off alcohol is to avoid major withdrawal symptoms so you can achieve sobriety safely. The time it takes to taper will depend on how long youve been drinking, how much youve been drinking and a variety of personal factors.

You should start by determining how much alcohol you drink per day in terms of standard drinks.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines standard drinks as:

• 12 ounces of beer with 5 percent alcohol content
• 5 ounces of wine with 12 percent alcohol content
• 1.5 ounces of liquor with 40 percent alcohol content

The alcohol content in specific beer, wine and liquor products differs. You can use the guidelines to get an idea of how many standard drinks youre used to. Experts at The HAMS Harm Reduction Network, which comprises doctors, social workers, therapists and other experts, recommend using beer to taper because its easier to get drunk from liquor or wine.

You should plan to taper for between three and seven days depending on how much youre used to drinking. Slowly reduce the amount of alcohol you consume each day until you reach sobriety. If you begin to experience serious withdrawal symptoms, drink enough to make the symptoms subside.

If youre unable to reduce how much you drink, you may have a disease called alcoholism that requires professional addiction treatment. Alcohol rehab helps you taper off alcohol, and it treats other side effects and causes of alcoholism.

What Are Treatment Options For Alcoholism

Treating alcohol addiction can be complex and challenging. In order for treatment to work, the person with an alcohol addiction must want to get sober. You cant force them to stop drinking if they arent ready. Success depends on the persons desire to get better.

The recovery process for alcoholism is a lifetime commitment. There isnt a quick fix and it involves daily care. For this reason, many people say alcohol addiction is never cured.

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What Is The Most Successful Way To Stop Drinking

âAlcohol use disorder is a chronic condition that can be classified in remission with the cessation of alcohol use,â Ludwig says. âThere are many different pathways to recovery that can utilize different approaches and combinations of interventions including: residential treatment, outpatient therapies, medication-assisted treatment, recovery self-help groups, and peer coaching. The evidence informs us that different individuals respond to different modalities but the key factors in success are the intensity and duration of engagement with a recovery plan.â

âMedical detox is an important and often necessary first step towards recovery from alcohol, but it is only the beginning,â Sternlicht says. âThereafter, those who have a history of alcohol abuse should seek out ongoing professional help. Studies show that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in conjunction with Alcoholics Anonymous often produces the best outcomes, as well as Medication-Assisted Treatments such as the use of Naltrexone or Antabuse.â