What You Need to Safely Detoxify Alcohol From Your System

Alcohol is a toxic substance that can wreak havoc on the body, brain, central nervous system, internal organs, behavior patterns, emotions, and more. Long-term alcohol abuse can lead to serious damage to the body which, in some cases, can be irreversible and lead to certain chronic conditions. Detoxing from alcohol can present its own set of dangerous withdrawal symptoms and, as such, it is important to know what you need when you are ready to safely detoxify alcohol from your system.

Preparation to Detoxify Alcohol

When you’re ready to detoxify alcohol from your system, it is important that you and your loved ones prepare for what is to come in your new life. Ways to prepare for a new sober life include:

  • Make a commitment. When you are ready to get sober, it is important to take it seriously and commit to changing your life. This could mean setting a date, committing to a major shift in priorities, creating a whole new lifestyle, reevaluating friendships, and even moving to a new location.
  • Educate yourself. If you don’t understand what is happening to you, how are you able to pinpoint the problem and fix it? Make sure you do research on treatment facilities, methods, and medications to choose the best fit for you.
  • Remove alcohol from your life. This is more than just removing alcohol from your life in a physical sense, such as your home and hiding spots. This means removing your party friends, no longer going to frequented bars, and preparing for what to do instead.

Support

Support is the backbone of recovery and is much more than encouraging words from loved ones. Support also means:

  • Involving your family. This is one of the most important parts of recovery because the entire family can be impacted by an individual’s addiction. Repairing these relationships and establishing healthy boundaries help with long-term recovery, and having people to lean on during tough withdrawal symptoms can be comforting.
  • Finding a support group. By having a group of people you can turn to in tough moments, you will never feel alone in your recovery after you detoxify alcohol. It’s always important to seek advice, as well as help others who aren’t as far along in recovery as you might be.
  • Having a sober coach. Many individuals find value in having a sober sponsor or coach to help them through life. This person will know your recovery and triggers inside and out, and can also be on-hand to help you through triggering situations.
  • Having hobbies. Support doesn’t always have to come from other sober people; you can make new friends and support systems through hobbies and enjoyable activities.
  • Aftercare support. By regularly visiting a therapist or aftercare group once you leave treatment for alcohol, even if you feel confident in your sobriety, you are helping yourself get the best chance of long-term recovery.

Medication and Medical Care

Medication-assisted detox in an inpatient alcohol treatment center is the only safe and comfortable way to detoxify alcohol from your system. Cliffside Malibu offers an onsite medical staff, including an addictionologist, who are specifically trained in the area of addiction and its related physical symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms from alcohol include:

  • Anxiety
  • Delayed reflexes
  • Delirium tremens
  • Dizziness
  • Hallucinations
  • High blood pressure
  • High fever
  • Insomnia
  • Intense cravings
  • Irritability
  • Memory problems
  • Mood swings
  • Nausea
  • Seizures
  • Sluggish feeling
  • Sweating

These symptoms can last anywhere from 3-7 days, and acute symptoms can remain ongoing for weeks or years. All of these factors depend on the length of the addiction, the severity of the addiction, the individual’s age, and any underlying mental health conditions.

Self-Care

One of the many things you need to safely detoxify alcohol from the body is self-care. This might sound easy, but it is often overlooked and can be one of the major reasons people relapse. Self-care includes:

  • Keep stress levels low. An important part of recovery is not becoming too stressed. Increased stress levels can lead to anxiety, which could lead to relapse. This is especially important during the detox process when relapse is most likely to occur.
  • Proper nutrition. To safely detoxify alcohol from your system, you need to stay hydrated and eat nutritious foods. Your body is working hard to detoxify alcohol and needs to be replenished properly.
  • Taking medication. By keeping up with your medication-assisted detox, you will be able to safely and comfortably detoxify alcohol from your system with minimal withdrawal symptoms. This will help you feel better as well as be better able to retain information learned in therapy sessions.

About Cliffside Malibu

When you’re ready to safely detoxify alcohol from your system, make sure you are prepared, have a support system in place, a medical team to help keep you comfortable with round-the-clock care, and are putting self-care high on your priority list. Getting through the detox period comfortably and safely is only possible with the help of medication-assisted detox in an inpatient alcohol treatment center.

Since no two addictions are the same, Cliffside Malibu offers an individualized treatment plan for every client. We are committed to providing evidence-based treatment through a continuum of care model including medically supervised detox, residential treatment, day treatment, and outpatient services. Our program also includes family therapy and holistic therapy, as well. Whether an individual is suffering from substance abuse and/or alcohol addiction, our programs are structured to create a supportive environment where healing can begin.

In addition to world-class treatment, Cliffside Malibu offers luxury accommodations, a serene environment, five-star dining, and plentiful amenities. We understand that addiction treatment is a rigorous process. Therefore, we provide for your comfort and relaxation at every turn, allowing you to rejuvenate, and meet the demands of treatment with your greatest energy and attention.

For more information on Cliffside Malibu, visit cliffsidemalibu.com