Alcohol affects multiple body systems, so it’s been linked to cirrhosis, heart disease, stroke and other serious medical conditions. Excessive drinking also increases the risk of memory problems, mental health issues and emotional distress. If you’re ready to address your alcohol use disorder, the first step is to go through the alcohol detox process.

Learn more about what detox is and how supervised detox can help preserve your physical and psychological well-being.

The Purpose of Alcohol Detox

The purpose of alcohol detox is to eliminate all the alcohol from your body. When you drink, two enzymes break down each alcohol molecule. Eventually, your body breaks alcohol into water and carbon dioxide. These substances exit the body via breath, urine and sweat.

Alcohol stays in your blood for up to 12 hours, but it’s still detectable in urine for up to 5 days after your last drink. Therefore, the alcohol detox process takes a few days to complete.

What to Expect During the Alcohol Detox Process

So, what is alcohol detox like? It depends on your drinking habits and your overall health. People with alcohol use disorder develop a physical dependence on the drug, increasing the risk of withdrawal syndrome. Physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome include agitation, sweating, high blood pressure, insomnia and fast heart rate. Severe withdrawal syndrome may lead to seizures.

Some people even develop alcohol hallucinosis, which is when an individual has hallucinations during the detox period. These hallucinations can affect the sense of sight, hearing and/or touch. In severe cases, alcohol withdrawal syndrome leads to delirium tremens, a complication known to cause chest pain, confusion, fatigue, involuntary muscle contractions and other dangerous symptoms.

Physical and Emotional Symptoms of Withdrawal

During the alcohol detox process, you may experience several physical symptoms:

  • Dilated pupils
  • Clammy skin
  • Headaches
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Hand tremors

Alcohol slows down the activity in the central nervous system. When you start eliminating alcohol from your body, your CNS becomes more active. This sudden increase in activity floods the brain with neurotransmitters, so withdrawing from alcohol also causes some emotional symptoms. You may feel anxious, depressed or irritable.

It’s also common for an individual withdrawing from alcohol to experience mood swings or feel jumpy, especially in an unfamiliar environment. The emotional effects of withdrawal have the potential to interfere with your ability to work, attend school or maintain positive relationships with your friends and family members.

Medical Supervision and Support Options

Since alcohol withdrawal can have serious physical and psychological effects, it’s not always safe to quit cold turkey. If you try to detox on your own, you won’t have trained medical staff on hand to answer your questions and provide much-needed emotional support.

Additionally, if you develop serious withdrawal symptoms, you’ll have to scramble to find a doctor who can help you. Delays in treatment increase the risk of serious complications. If you decide to detox at home despite these risks, have a trusted family member or friend stay with you. They can provide emotional support, prepare nutritious meals and take other steps to help you through the initial detox period.

Supervised Medical Detox

Supervised medical detox is a safer option as it gives you access to doctors, nurses and other trained professionals. If you experience discomfort, one of those professionals can prescribe medication to control nausea, headaches and other withdrawal symptoms. If you develop alcohol hallucinosis or delirium tremens, you’ll have access to immediate medical treatment, reducing the risk of serious complications.

Here’s what to expect in alcohol detox supervised by a team of professionals:

  • 24-7 monitoring by trained medical staff
  • Access to medications designed to increase your comfort
  • Comprehensive evaluation for physical and psychological conditions that could affect your recovery
  • Highly individualized care

Almost anyone can benefit from supervised medical detox, but it’s especially helpful for people who regularly use large amounts of alcohol. Supervised detox is also well-suited to individuals who crave alcohol when they’re not drinking or haven’t been able to quit drinking on their own.

Overall, supervised detox enhances safety and improves your chances of a lasting recovery. It also ensures you receive treatment tailored to your individual needs. For example, many detox programs screen for co-occurring disorders during the intake process. An individual has co-occurring disorders if they have two or more mental health conditions at the same time.

If you have alcohol use disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, for example, your treatment plan needs to address both conditions. Otherwise, you may drink excessively as a way of coping with your trauma.

Preparing for the Next Steps in Recovery

Once you complete the alcohol detox process, it’s time to begin your recovery. Inpatient treatment is the most comprehensive approach, so it’s ideal for individuals with severe alcohol use disorder. You may also benefit from inpatient treatment if you have co-occurring disorders, as it’s possible to receive treatment for both disorders during the same stay.

Residential addiction treatment is helpful because it gives you around-the-clock access to a supportive environment. When you stay at an addiction treatment center, you also have time to focus on your recovery instead of worrying about work or family obligations.

Not everyone can dedicate several weeks or months of their life to 24-7 rehabilitation. If you can’t take advantage of inpatient treatment, outpatient care offers access to some of the same services and support. For example, it’s possible to participate in cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy and other services on an outpatient basis.

Outpatient treatment allows you to address your alcohol use disorder while maintaining employment or caring for family members. For many people, outpatient care makes easing back into daily life after completing inpatient rehab easier. No matter which type of treatment you choose, you’ll have access to plenty of support.

Start Your Recovery Journey Today

If alcohol use disorder is damaging your body, interfering with your relationships or affecting your mental health, you don’t have to suffer in silence. Sunlight Recovery offers supervised medical detox to help you eliminate alcohol from your body in a safe, supportive environment. Contact us today to schedule your admission or learn more about our inpatient and outpatient programs.