The first and most important thing to understand about alcohol detox treatment and a recovery program is that you are not alone. By seeking professional help with your alcohol use disorder (AUD), you are taking a brave and responsible step toward sobriety.
It’s OK to be worried and even scared. At Buena Vista Health and Recovery Centers, we strive to make your journey less clinical and more comfortable with our home-like setting and personalized attention to help ensure a victory in your battle with alcoholism.
What Is Alcohol Detox?
Detoxification is the process of removing toxic substances or qualities. In the case of AUD recovery, we are referring to and dealing with alcohol. Despite its toxicity, your body has become reliant on alcohol to function. The sudden cessation can have a shocking effect on your body’s many systems and should only be undergone with the assistance of medical professionals.
Who Needs Alcohol Detox Treatment?
One of the many frustrating aspects of AUD is that there are no clear definitive signs someone needs intervention. It takes careful self-assessment or observation of continuous behavior to determine if it is time to seek out alcohol detox treatment.
Some indicators to be cognizant of include, but are not limited to:
-Drinking more than intended.
-Having to drink more to get the same effect.
-Spending more and more time drinking and recovering from drinking.
-Alcohol use that is disruptive to family, work, and social relationships.
If any of these are happening to you or a loved one, it is time to seek professional alcohol detox assistance.
What Are Some Symptoms of Alcohol Detox?
Each individual’s physicality and alcohol use differ, so the types and severity of their symptoms will also vary. Some common alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
-Anxiety
-Depression
-Excessive sweating
-Shaking and tremors, particularly in your hands
-Dehydration
-Fatigue
-Mood swings and irritability
-Increased heart rate
-High blood pressure
-Insomnia
-Nightmares
-Nausea and vomiting
-Diarrhea
Severe symptoms can lead to serious health issues like debilitating seizures, cardiac arrest, or even death. That is why you should never try to complete an alcohol detox at home on your own. Experienced medical staff can identify potentially hazardous conditions from the slightest early signs and use their wealth of knowledge, medicine, and technology to treat you with the utmost care.
What Is the Timeline of Withdrawal and Detox?
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually begin within six to 24 hours after your last drink and tend to be the most severe during the 36-72 hour timeline. Alcohol withdrawal can take anywhere between two and 10 days or longer.
The first step in your alcohol detox treatment will be a comprehensive evaluation of your medical history, during which medical staff will gather as much information as possible about your addiction and unique situation.
Your medical assessment will be performed by a combination of nurses, doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and other addiction treatment experts—each of whom can weigh in about the types of treatments that may benefit you the most.
The medical assessment allows us to find out whether you have been using alcohol with other substances and helps us determine the types of medications you will need. It also helps us determine whether you are at risk for complications, including seizures, whether you need psychiatric care, and whether you need 24-hour medical supervision.
Your alcohol detox treatment will begin immediately after we complete your medical assessment. For the duration of the detoxification process, we will encourage you to:
-Get as much rest as possible.
-Engage in light activities like yoga and gentle exercise to promote relaxation.
-Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
-Eat highly nutritious meals that can help boost your strength and immunity as you continue to recover.
Receiving Medications That Promote Abstinence
Alcohol detox helps you overcome physical dependence on alcohol, but it won’t necessarily reduce your cravings for alcohol. Many alcohol detox facilities in Arizona, including Buena Vista Health and Recovery Centers, offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services to patients who need help staying sober after completing their detox programs. MAT also combines counseling and behavioral therapy with medications—all of which equip patients with the support, skills, and training they need to stay sober and avoid relapsing after returning home or to their sober living communities.
After you complete your alcohol detox program, we will talk to you about MAT and about the possibility of using one or more medications to stay sober.
Starting an Alcohol Rehab Program
The road to sobriety journeys beyond the alcohol detox component. We refer most of our patients to an alcohol rehab program after they complete alcohol detox. The behavioral therapies of a health and recovery center can help you change harmful attitudes and behaviors related to addiction. They teach you effective ways to manage triggers and implement coping mechanisms to avoid relapsing.
Alcohol rehab centers can also offer dual diagnosis therapy for people diagnosed with co-existing mental health disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
Medication management services, MAT, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), intensive outpatient treatment, and group counseling are some of the many other services and therapies available at alcohol rehab.
Alcohol Detox Treatment in Arizona
At Buena Vista Health and Recovery Centers, we will help you experience a safe, comfortable alcohol detox in Arizona and answer any and all questions you may have about alcohol treatment. Call us today at (800) 922-0095 to learn more about our available detox services. You can also visit any of our locations:
CAVE CREEK
29858 N. Tatum Blvd.
Cave Creek, AZ 85331
CHANDLER
3033 South Arizona Avenue
Chandler, Arizona 85248
TUCSON
5151 East Pima Road
Tucson, Arizona 85712
SCOTTSDALE
8171 E Indian Bend Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85250
