Have you ever wondered how long it will take to detox from alcohol? With nearly 17.5 million Americans currently abusing alcohol (according to National Survey on Drug Use and Health), you are not alone on the question.
Before undergoing recovery, it’s understandable to feel some sort of anxiety. The most important knowledge to remember is that the road to sobriety is never easy, but always gratifying by the end.
Detoxing is your first step on this road to recovery. Due to the fact that your body is so accustomed to intaking alcohol, it has adjusted all of its systems and maintenance to coincide with the substance’s chemicals. Now that you’ve decided to rid yourself of these toxins, your body must adjust back to a sober lifestyle.
The first week of detoxing is when you’ll experience the most chemical changes. Admittedly, this is will most likely be the most physically painful step you’ll have to make. But after around ten days, the body usually completely detoxes itself and afterward, you’ll be on your way to sober living.
It should be noted that it’s very important you detox under medical supervision. This assures not only the successfulness of the detox but also your life. With heavy alcohol use, there’s a chance of fatality when detoxing. Being that your body is accustomed to the chemicals, a sudden withdrawal can lead to a seizure, heart arrhythmias, and kidney/liver dysfunction. All of which have lethal potential.
On top of this, you want to make sure your body is getting proper medical care. With a professional’s attention, you can assure yourself that your body will be treated back to its healthy state.
What Happens After You Detox?
There are multiple decisions you can make that are completely up to you. However, it should be noted that just because you’ve detoxed doesn’t mean you’ve completely recovered. Though the chemicals are out of your system and your body is feeling normality once again, there’s always the chance of relapse.
To seek out further treatment is to continue on this road towards sobriety. Rehabilitation treatment offers prior addicts to get a sense of who they are and why they’ve made such a strong decision. Most importantly, it’s been proven to eliminate many of the urges telling you to go back to a substance.
If you decide on rehab then you’ll be greatly diminishing your chances of relapsing. The program you find yourself in will have to do with a number of factors:
● Co-occurring conditions you may have
● Your history (and/or family’s history) with addiction
● Other personal needs
● Insurance/payment methods
Stonewall Institute Treatment Center
If you have any questions in regards to detoxing or are looking for more resources on where and how to detox, please give us a call today at 602-535-6468 or email us at [email protected]. We’d be more than happy to help.