Getting Sober

Information on getting sober and staying sober including a discussion of detoxification, rehabilitation and 12 step programs.

Is It Safe To Detox From Alcohol At Home?

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Alcohol detox at home safety

When a person decides to stop drinking, it is a big deal. Making the choice to stop and recognizing that you have a problem is a gigantic step. But the biggest battle is yet to come. Ending a relationship with alcohol isn’t as easily said as done. That feeling that a person got from using alcohol is a tough feeling to break. The chemical dependence that a person can have is even worse. But not everyone recognizes how hard this is going to be and tries to detox from alcohol at home. But is it even safe to detox from alcohol at home? In many cases, that isn’t a good idea.

What Can Happen During Detox From Alcohol

The first step to completing an alcohol detox is to stop drinking. When an addicted person stops taking any kind of drug, legal or illegal, they will experience withdrawal symptoms. In some people, those symptoms can appear within a few hours of ceasing consumption. A person suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms they could experience the following side effects:

High fever
Nausea
Anxiety
Tremors
Hallucinations
Seizures
Headaches
Agitation

Depending upon the person and their level of alcohol dependence, these side effects can be anywhere from mild to severe. Individuals of experience severe symptoms could require hospitalization. Withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening.

Are You Or A Loved One Currently In Active Addiction? Here Are Some Tips On How To Break Free

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Happiness from Being Sober

It can be difficult to figure out just where to begin when realizing you or your loved one is on a path of destructive addiction. You may have noticed something was off without being able to place your finger on it, or you’ve watched that control over it slowly slipping away. Whatever the case may be, I’m here to give you the good news that there is a solution and addicts can recover.

Pathway to Getting & Staying Sober

Addiction has been proven to be a disease of the brain and, like any disease, it must be treated. Believe me when I say, this is intimidating. It’s downright terrifying. Our drug of choice has been our coping mechanism for over a span of months, years, sometimes a lifetime. To completely rearrange one’s life and abandon that drug or drink that has actually become more of a friend, is a daunting task. I’ve faced this decision multiple times and it’s never been anything less than overwhelming. However, these are all feelings and as I’ve learned in recovery, feelings are not facts. It may seem too much, too big with too many unknowns but as anyone living in long term recovery will tell you, it’s as simple as one day at a time, sometimes even just a minute at a time. It can be done and it is so worth it.

Take the time to talk to someone you trust. Whether this be for you or a loved one, this realization can be a lot to take on, emotionally and mentally. Find a friend, a parent, grandparent, therapist…anyone you feel comfortable talking with openly and honestly. Maybe even find an Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meeting in your area- they’re free to attend and you’ll find yourself in genuine company. No judgements, and your fears that you are unreachable will undoubtedly fade away.

Start looking at treatment options. Determine what treatment option is right for you or your loved one. Depending on drug of choice, frequency of use and length of use, there are different options when weighing out which path you will take.