You may also consider joining an online support group to help you feel less alone. Consider writing them down and keeping notes on hand, so you have a physical reminder to look at when you need it to help motivate you to stay the course. Seizures can occur within the first 24 hours, but seizures occur only in about 25 percent of patients, according to the NIAAA.

1. In addition to medical interventions, it’s important to focus on self-care during the detox process.
2. Most people recover from alcohol withdrawal within a week, but people with severe dependency may experience withdrawal for multiple weeks.
3. Nanci Stockwell of Advanced Recovery Systems discusses the risks of detoxing at home and the benefits of detoxing from alcohol and other drugs in a safe environment.
4. If they opt for this detox method, make sure to limit a daily liquor intake consistently and not fluctuate back and forth.
5. A sober life doesn’t have to mean more time at home as you try to block out triggers.

You can choose to taper your substance use or go “cold turkey.” In either case, you won’t have outside support or treatment. You may not need to completely reinvent your life to quit drinking, but making a few changes in your surroundings to help avoid alcohol triggers can make a big difference. 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. Nanci Stockwell of Advanced Recovery Systems discusses the risks of detoxing at home and the benefits of detoxing from alcohol and other drugs in a safe environment. These can indicate a life threatening condition called delirium tremens.

What Is Alcohol Detox?

Tapering can help minimize these symptoms, but you might still experience some of them while your body adjusts to the lack of alcohol. Partial hospitalization or day treatment is where you live at home but you go for treatment at a hospital or clinic at least 5 days a week. Recently, with COVID-19 precautions, many programs offer programs via telehealth. It can be an alternative to inpatient or residential treatment or a step-down from one of those programs.

Detox alone isn’t treatment, but it’s the first step to getting better for people who are dependent on alcohol. Dietary guidelines recommend that if you drink, men limit daily drinking to two drinks or less per day and women limit their drinking to one drink or less per day. Consuming more than that can lead to liver damage and heart disease, and increase your risk for some cancers. Do not stop drinking entirely if you have previously experienced seizures (fits) or hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there) when you stop drinking. Multiple factors can affect how long it may take you to withdraw from alcohol. A doctor will consider all these factors when estimating how long-lasting and how severe your symptoms may be.

How Long Does It Take to Detox from Alcohol?

Creating a supportive environment is vital for a successful alcohol detox at home. Inform your close friends and family about your decision to detox and seek their understanding and support. Removing any alcohol or triggers from your living space can help minimize the temptation to relapse. Consider asking alcohol relapse signs symptoms stages causes and stats your loved ones to refrain from drinking alcohol in your presence during the detox period to maintain a supportive environment. Overall, alcohol home detox is neither the most effective nor the safest method of quitting drinking addiction, but in some cases, it is an inexpensive and efficient one.

By establishing long-term sobriety goals, engaging in therapy or counseling, and celebrating milestones and progress, you set yourself up for continued success on your recovery journey. Professionals can assess your specific needs, guide you through withdrawal symptoms, and offer personalized advice. They may recommend a detox timeline tailored to your situation and suggest strategies to manage cravings and potential setbacks. Addiction Resource does not offer medical diagnosis, treatment, or advice.

Without changing your drinking habits, try keeping a drinking diary for one week. You can choose to use these along with therapy and support groups to help you maintain your sobriety. The challenge of this stage is to essentially develop and maintain healthy life skills that will serve you for a lifetime.

Managing Withdrawal Symptoms

At the end of the day, one of the most important tools you have at your disposal is self-compassion. Instead of criticizing yourself for having a hard time or slipping up and having a drink, remember that no one’s perfect. What matters most is your ability to maintain an open, curious outlook as you learn what does and doesn’t work for you. It’s common to have a difficult time when making big changes, but good self-care practices can help you manage overwhelming feelings and take care of your mind and body. But maybe you’re unsure about quitting completely and don’t want to hold yourself to that goal.

If you have wanted to quit drinking alcohol but were hesitant to do so because you feared that the withdrawal symptoms would be too severe, you are not alone. Many people are afraid that if they quit drinking, withdrawal symptoms could be difficult to manage, or even dangerous. Knowing what helps with alcohol withdrawal can make the experience less uncomfortable and risky. Reach out for support, whether it’s from loved ones or professional resources, as you take this empowering step towards a healthier and alcohol-free life. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

If you drink only once in a while, it’s unlikely that you’ll have withdrawal symptoms when you stop. But if you’ve gone through alcohol withdrawal once, you’re more likely to go through it again the next time you call it quits. You may have tried to quit how to make yourself pee 9 remedies and techniques drinking alcohol and discovered that the symptoms you experienced were more severe than you anticipated. Maybe you decided to go back to drinking just to relieve those symptoms. Some people experience a severe form of alcohol withdrawal known as DTs.

However, detoxing at home can have risks when people do not understand the alcohol withdrawal timeline and the risks that accompany alcohol withdrawal. If you don’t experience intense withdrawal symptoms, an at-home detox may be a good option. However, alcohol withdrawal syndrome is dangerous and require supervision from medical professionals.

If your alcohol use has been heavy and chronic, talk to a doctor about medically supervised detox. If you detox at home, talk to a healthcare provider about medications that may help and use self-care strategies to make it easier to cope with uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Detoxing from alcohol can help reduce the risk of severe withdrawal symptoms and potential health complications. It also prepares you for further addiction treatment by clearing your mind and body of substances that can hinder the recovery process.

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. Although it might be safe for people with mild withdrawal symptoms, it can be dangerous to people with alcohol dependence. People struggling with AUD may also feel severe symptoms which can be dangerous. You should plan to taper for between three and seven days depending on how much you’re used to drinking. Slowly reduce the amount of alcohol you consume each day until you reach sobriety.

The amount of time it takes to detox from alcohol depends on several factors, including whether you’re detoxing at home or with medical supervision. Detoxing at home usually takes longer because you should be cautious to avoid serious complications. If you’ve been unable to quit on your own, you should consider attending an alcohol rehab center. It teaches you healthy ways to cope with stress and techniques for overcoming the underlying causes of alcohol addiction.

Using alcohol and marijuana in combination increases your risk of experiencing uncomfortable side effects due to increased absorption of THC. It might also be worth checking out a 12-step program in your area, like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery, to see if it feels like something that might be useful for you. If you’re having difficulty sticking to your goal or just want some extra guidance, consider reaching out for professional support. Feeling at your best physically can boost resilience and emotional strength, equipping you to weather challenges that trigger the desire to drink. Letting others know about your choice to stop drinking may help motivate you to stick with your decision. From month-long sobriety challenges to the Sober Curious movement, more and more people are taking a closer look at the role alcohol plays in their lives.