Do you or someone you love struggle with alcohol addiction? Alcohol use disorder is different from other forms of addiction because it rarely feels like a disease. There’s no need for furtive behavior because purchasing and using alcohol is perfectly legal for anyone over the age of 21. Generally speaking, drinking is socially acceptable. The optics of having a few beers with friends are significantly different from shooting up in front of them. Still, if you regularly drink to excess, and your drinking is causing problems in your life, entering an alcohol detox center under medical supervision is a good idea.
Why not go through at-home alcohol detox? Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can become severe, and most doctors and addiction specialists caution against at-home alcohol detox. Without medical management, your symptoms may range from unpleasant to fatal. When you’re ready to begin your recovery from alcohol use disorder, a reliable alcohol detox program is the best choice. Contact Pennsylvania Adult and Teen Challenge today at 844.442.8673 for more information.
1. Alcohol Detox at Home Will Make You Very Sick
When detoxing from alcohol use disorder, usually the withdrawal symptoms start mild and then escalate. At first, you may have a headache, and your hands may shake. As withdrawal progresses, however, the symptoms become more severe. They include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Sweating
- Dry heaves
In some cases, you can experience delirium tremens, or the DTs, characterized by violent tremors, muscle pain, confusion, hallucinations, high blood pressure, and fever. Though rare, the DTs can be fatal. Before you have your last drink, there is no way to know if you will be susceptible to this severe version of alcohol withdrawal. Being in a safe setting overseen by medical staff is the only way to detox safely from alcohol. It is too dangerous to undertake at home.
2. The Urge to Relapse May Become Too Great
Along with the physical side effects of alcohol withdrawal, you’ll experience cravings. As a result, it may become difficult or impossible not to take a drink. And once you’ve had that single indulgence, relapse has begun. When you admit yourself to an alcohol detox center for treatment, your care team can better assess your condition and get out ahead of cravings and discomfort. They may use medication to mask the worst of the symptoms so that cravings and the feeling of being sick are minimal. This makes it much easier to remain sober throughout detox.
3. You May Suffer Hallucinations or Extreme Paranoia
As alcohol withdrawal progresses, the symptoms may worsen. Where you once felt agitated and restless, you may now experience aggression. Hallucinations are symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, and so is extreme paranoia. You may see things that aren’t there. Similarly, you may believe that the people who are helping you are actually trying to hurt you.
When you attempt alcohol detox from home, these symptoms may go unmonitored. Worse, your loved ones may suffer the brunt of your suffering. When you choose a quality alcohol detox center near you to help, you and the ones you love will suffer far less.
4. You Could Die From Unmonitored Alcohol Detox
Lastly, there is a very real possibility that trying to detox from years of alcohol abuse without a physician’s care could kill you. You may experience seizures, heart arrhythmia, fever, or organ failure. Your liver may stop working, and your brain functions may become impaired. Even if these symptoms aren’t fatal, they can affect you for the rest of your life. For these reasons, it’s vital to seek medical care for alcohol detox.
Benefits of Professional Alcohol Detox
As alcohol withdrawal progresses, the symptoms of agitation and restlessness may worsen. You may become aggressive or paranoid and believe that the people helping you are actually trying to hurt you. When you attempt at-home alcohol detox, these symptoms are unmonitored, and the people with you are not equipped to handle the consequences or protect you. A quality alcohol detox center near you is safest for you and your loved ones. In addition, at home, a previously undiagnosed medical or mental health disorder may emerge, one that went undetected while you were in the throes of addiction. When you are under the care of a physician, these conditions can be safely dealt with as they emerge and negative outcomes avoided.
There is a range of additional benefits of alcohol detox, including:
- A safe and secure environment
- Support from like-minded individuals
- Faith-based support
- Medication to make the process easier.
When you’re ready to begin the recovery process, Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge is here to help.
Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge May Be the Solution
For those who live in or near Southeastern PA, Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge is a solid solution for alcohol detox. Our faith-based alcohol detox program helps adults over the age of 18 to recover from various substance use disorders, including those that involve alcohol. We offer a range of treatment options, including:
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
If you’re ready to heal from alcohol use disorder, contact us today at 844.442.8673 to hear all we have to offer.
