The Timeline of an Alcohol Detox

If you have any concern over what an individual experience while going through an alcohol detox, this blog should reassure that it’s nothing out the impossible. There’s no denying the difficulty behind an alcohol detox. Yet, we at Stonewall Institute Treatment Center guarantee it will be one of the most rewarding transitions of you or your loved one’s life.

This timeline evaluates a five to seven day period in which the detox will take place. After this period, the chemicals of alcohol will have been erased from your system. However, it should be reminded that a transition to sobriety takes longer than just a week. Taking on a sober life is more than just detoxing, it’s readjusting the mind into a new state of happiness.

Likewise, individuals should keep in mind that the only proper way to detox is through proper medical attention. Without this, there are the potential consequences towards your health. A medical profession will assure that you not only remain healthy but that you are in understanding of the important steps to follow detox.

The Medical Evaluation

Upon signing yourself up within a facility that detoxes, the first step is looking into where your health currently stands. You can expect medical professionals to go through a quick assessment overlooking what your needs will be for the detox to follow. Depending on your physical and mental health, you may need a little more time and attention than others will in detoxing.

Eight Hours Following Your Last Drink

This section is in concerns mainly to those experiencing alcoholism. It is expected that those who are very dependent will begin feeling withdrawal symptoms eight hours following their final drink. These symptoms are noted as being rather mild.

There’s always the possibility that you may have already experienced this at some point or another through your alcoholism. This sort of withdrawal tends to appear in an alcoholic’s life when they go a day or two without drinking. Sometimes, even after just an eight hour night’s sleep.

24 to 72 Hours

After twenty-four hours of no alcohol in the system, an addicted individual will find themselves facing much more severe withdrawal symptoms. This is due to the fact that the body is expecting an alcoholic substance to be swallowed as that’s what it’s grown used to.

The chemical structure of alcohol has changed the chemical structure of your body. And without alcohol in your system, your body is confused over what to do.

This is why it’s important you are under the care of medical attention. Though withdrawal symptoms vary from individual to individual, this is generally considered the most difficult timeframe of alcohol detox.

What you can expect is a rapid heartbeat, increased body temperature, or mental confusion. Medical professionals will look into assuring that these conditions are controlled as your body undergoes the transition into sobriety.

After 72 Hours

This is widely considered as the peak of alcohol detox. 72 hours after your last drink, your body is experiencing the final, yet, most extreme changes. Some have gone to lengths of feeling symptoms such as seizures, serious agitation, and fevers.

Likewise, with the previous timeframe, the 72-hour mark is when an individual greatly needs to make sure they’re under medical attention.

The Final Days

After around five to seven days, alcohol will have been completely detoxed from the body. As mentioned, this isn’t the end of the road in your addiction treatment. Rather, it’s the end of the road in ridding the chemicals of your body.

What follows from here is a number of options towards your treatment:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy
  • Group Therapy
  • Holistic Therapy
  • Dual Diagnosis Treatment

If you or anyone you know is looking for an alcohol detox or addiction treatment or simply just have more questions about the process, Stonewall Institute Treatment Center is here to help. Please give us a call at 602 535 6468 or email us at info@stonewallinstitute.com.

Detoxing From Alcohol

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 info@stonewallinstitute.com. We’d be more than happy to help.