The Importance of Supervised Detox for Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol is a depressant for the central nervous system. For this reason some people use it at the end of a long and trying day to “relax”. But alcohol is actually a drug that is suppressing normal body function.

When a person has become addicted to alcohol, the removal of the “drug” can cause quite the opposite reactions in the body. Rather than feeling relaxed, the alcoholic deprived of alcohol may experience agitation and hyperactivity which manifests in disquieting ways. Nonetheless, it is crucial that the person addicted to alcohol remove all vestiges of it from their system in order for recovery to begin.

Recognizing Alcohol Addiction

Alcoholism is a disease which wrecks a person’s health, impairs their judgment and negatively impacts relationships. It is possible to know if you or someone you love is addicted to alcohol by looking for the following indicators:

• The person needs to drink more alcohol in order to feel the same effect
• When the person goes longer than several hours/days without drinking they: feel anxious, experience hand tremors, feel nauseated, develop insomnia, have a rapid pulse, display profuse sweating, hallucinate, undergo seizure or seizure-like activity
• The person drinks to cover or avoid these withdrawal symptoms
• The person drinks more alcohol in less time than previously
• The person attempts to cut back or stop drinking but is unsuccessful
• It becomes more difficult to recover from hangovers
• Social situations where the abuse is made obvious to others are avoided
• The person continues drinking despite the fact that it is compromising their health

Detox for Alcohol Addiction

The process of detox from alcohol may take anywhere from two days to two weeks. This is a relatively short period when compared to the lifelong benefits of living a life free of addiction. Be that as it may, it can feel like a long time while the person is going through it. That is just the first reason why a person addicted to alcohol should seek out a reputable detox program when attempting to break free of its grip. The second reason is that the withdrawal symptoms associated with eliminating alcohol from the body’s system run the gamut of uncomfortable to painful to life-threatening.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Since the brain is accustomed to the regular presence of alcohol, when the substance is removed the brain acts as though something has gone wrong. This will cause the person to feel agitated and lead them to seek out another drink in order to make the feeling of agitation go away. In some cases, the brain will work so hard to function with normalcy despite the chronic presence of alcohol, that rather than a suppressed state, the person will actually experience hyperactivity. Reputable detox programs always include physician oversight during the process. Side effects from detox can include delirium tremors, also known as DTs, and seizures. Actually, 25 percent of those who undergo detox do experience seizure activity.

Physician Supervision Is a Must

Alcoholism is a serious illness. As such it merits the guidance and care of a trained medical provider – especially when attempting to overcome the addiction. The person who has experienced a hangover following a night of drinking has but a taste of what alcohol withdrawal can feel like. The symptoms which can accompany detox from alcohol can range from mild to severe and therefore need the watchful oversight of a caring physician.