How to Beat Alcoholism
how to stop drinking
Understanding And Recognizing The Early Signs Of Alcoholism
Early Signs of Alcoholism
Signs of Being an Alcoholic
Signs of Being an Alcoholic
alcohol detox at home
Realizing that you have an alcohol problem can be a very difficult time, and for this reason many alcoholics will opt for an alcohol detox at home.
Although this method may seem less daunting than booking into a clinic or rehabilitation unit, the reality is that successfully detoxing at home requires strength and willpower.
Alcohol is a drug, and with time the body can become used to and addicted to regular or daily over consumption. It therefore must be recognized that detoxing from alcohol will involve withdrawal symptoms just like from any drug such as tobacco or heroin, and there are side effects involved that can range in intensity but in general are quite unpleasant.
There are pros and cons to choosing a home detox; it could be said that a home solution gives the sufferer more opportunity to cheat or give up in his quest to become alcohol free. This may however be unfounded, many people succeeding in an alcohol detox at home who simply didn't want to sit through therapy groups or share their problem publicly.
Like with any drug, when an alcoholic stops drinking, the body will have to adjust, and over the first days of the detox your body will react to the lack of alcohol. The same applies to all drugs, legal and illegal as well as other addictive substances such as caffeine of even chocolate; the body has become dependent on the substance and will react when you abstain from consumption.
An alcohol detox will unfortunately be combined with many symptoms, these ranging from nausea and vomiting to chills and uncontrollable shivers. It can be noted that the initial symptoms of an alcohol detox are similar to those of all narcotics such as even the hardest of drugs, and the individual should be prepared both mentally and emotionally.
Making the decision to stop drinking alcohol therefore has to be one that comes from the heart and not a half-hearted wish to please a family member or spouse; quitting drinking will indeed be difficult and there is no point in pretending otherwise. The end result of detoxing will be very rewarding, leaving you healthy and alcohol dependent free but in the first instance you should expect some very confusing signals.
Quitting any addictive substance from sleeping pills to alcohol will leave the body confused and disorientated and as a preventative measure it is often recommended that you do not drive or operate machinery until these feelings have passed. After the initial physical sickness felt by the detox, the next stage of symptoms can include moodiness, depression and anxiety.
The severity of the symptoms will not only vary depending on how harsh the addiction and the level of dependence from alcohol, but also may vary from person to person. As well as the emotional confusion that may be displayed, the sufferer may also experience a high temperature and sweating. As the body is being denied a drug on which it is has been dependent, the reaction is to try and fight against the problem by raising body temperature.
The intensity of the symptoms can vary from mild to very strong and if you are planning an alcohol detox at home you should be prepared for depression, anxiety and even hallucinations. As much as you may like to detox in private, back up should always be at hand in the form of a friend or family member, albeit on the other end of a phone to give reassurance.
Making the decision to detox is something that should be discussed with your medical professional and also something that you should prepare for physically and mentally. A doctor may well prescribe you Valium or other tranquilizers for your detox; if you are against taking these drugs then you need to make sure that you can stay strong when it gets tough.
Having a close friend with you during your first few days can be very helpful, and also will ensure that you do not fail at the first hurdle. A friend or family member can be there for emotional support as well as a reminder of just how great what you are doing is. Making the decision to give up alcohol is a tremendous one, but one that needs to be accompanied by lifestyle changes too.
An addiction to alcohol is often a lifelong problem and temptation will always be around the corner. It is therefore important that you make the necessary lifestyle changes to assure that you do not slip back into your old habits; it can take just one drink for you to slip back down the slope to alcoholism.
Before you start detoxing, look at how you can change other elements of your life to make the chances of relapse slimmer. If you have alcohol in the home, remove all bottles as they are only a temptation; if you are married or live with a partner you need to make sure that you have their full support and that they will not drink alcohol in front of you or indeed keep alcohol unnecessarily at home.
An alcohol detox can be a new chapter in your life, so it is an excellent moment to decide on other resolutions to accompany your healthier life. These can include a healthy diet, exercising, quitting smoking or changing your leisure activities from visiting bars and clubs to a cultural alternative.
When you quit drinking, the temptation will always remain; it may lessen with time, but it will always be present. Visiting old haunts or bars in the first weeks after detox is highly unrecommended, as is socializing with heavy drinkers.
This may indeed mean that you have to make a lot of changes to your life, but you will reap the benefits immediately when you start to enjoy your new life that is no longer dazed by alcohol and ill health.