From social drinking to becoming dependent on alcohol is a shorter step then many would believe. After regularly drinking for years, people risk becoming dependent on alcohol. This leads to a number of social, work, and family related problems. Alcoholism has many side effects such as fatigue, confusion, depression, fever, nausea, shaking, sweating, high blood pressure, headaches, and increased heart rate.
Fortunately, those who decide to fight their alcohol dependence have many resources to their support. There are many non-governmental organizations that focus on providing support for alcoholics, one of the most well-known being Alcoholics Anonymous. However, some people might prefer dealing with this issue in the privacy of their own home. Alcohol detox at home is possible, but you need to respect some guidelines in order to prevent alcohol withdrawing episodes.
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a serious condition that can even become potentially life threatening. Alcohol drinkers may decide to rather try to significantly reduce their consumption or totally stop. An alcohol withdrawal episode may persist for weeks and can begin as early as two hours after the last drink. The symptoms range from shakiness and mild anxiety to severe complications, such as delirium tremens and seizures. The death rate from delirium tremens range between 1 and 5 percent and those entering this state suffer from fever, rapid heartbeat and confusion.
Because of your risk of alcohol withdrawal symptoms it is recommended that your alcohol detox at home respects certain guidelines that reduce the risks. Alcohol withdrawal episodes are medical emergencies because they can rapidly worsen. For this reason it is better to seek medical attention even if your symptoms are just mild.
Not all people dealing with alcohol problems are the same. For some people it is easy to cold turkey stop drinking alcohol without to experience any significant withdrawal symptoms. However, for other people it is not recommended to stop drinking suddenly, because they may experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. If you try to stop drinking and start to experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms then it is better to not quit all at once “cold turkey” but rather detoxify gradually.
By gradually reducing your consumption you are able to detoxify gradually from alcohol. You can reduce your alcohol intake either by using specific medications or alcohol itself. People who want to self-detox from alcohol at home need to get wean themselves off alcohol and get rid of alcohol toxins from their body.
In most cases, alcohol self-detox at home is safe. Self-detox may not require a hospital stay, but you may need some forms of medical attention in most severe cases. Here are the steps to take in order to self-detox from alcohol:
- It is recommended to see your doctor before starting your alcohol detox at home. They can suggest supplements and vitamins that can aid your detoxifications or even prescribe some medication
- The next step is to try stopping to drink alcohol altogether. If you experience withdrawal symptoms then try tapering off alcohol gradually.
- It is useful to build support system by having someone close to you that can stay with you while you detox in order to provide you psychological and emotional support. In more severe cases you may need medical attention.
- While you are on an alcohol detox program at home you need to stay well hydrated in order to dilute the alcohol in your body. Your diet should include proteins and fats and stay mostly alkaline.
- Keep your diet low in carbs and avoid refined and processed foods. You may also take some minerals and vitamins supplements. Homeopathy and detox herbs can also help.
- Avoid cigarettes and caffeine in excess. Also exercise regularly in order to increase your endorphins and promote good health.