The Dangers of Alcohol Detox on Your Own: How Alcohol Rehab Phoenix Can Help

12/13/18: Alcohol Addiction

When you are addicted to alcohol, the first step in getting help is realizing you have a an addiction and are willing to seek help for it. For many people, this takes a great deal of time to do. Once they reach that point, they must commit to reaching out for help. While there are many rehab programs to choose from, some people try to detox on their own, thinking they can do it all by themselves and get the same results. In reality, since there are many dangers of alcohol detox on your own, they can’t quit. Once the individual comes to term with what those dangers are, they can begin to see why seeking help from professionals is the best way to go. When you are in need of alcohol detox, alcohol rehab Phoenix can help.

How to Tell if Someone Has an Alcohol Addiction

According to a 2017 study published in JAMA Psychiatry, 12.7 percent of the American population is considered to have an alcohol addiction. What is equally as upsetting is that the Centers for Disease Control reports that 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes each year. The National Institutes of Health categorize someone as having an alcohol abuse problem if they meet at least one of the following criteria in the span of 12 months:

• Recurrent use of alcohol that results in their failure to meet obligations at work, home, or school
• Recurrent use of alcohol that presents hazardous situations, such as drunk driving
• Recurrent alcohol-related legal problems such as arrests for alcohol-related disorderly conduct
• Continued alcohol abuse despite having continual arguments with loved ones that are brought about by the effects of alcohol

Others are categorized as having an alcohol dependence problem if they meet at least three of the following criteria, within one year’s time, established by the National Institutes of Health:

• Need for a greater amount of alcohol to get the desired intoxication effect
• Drinking in larger amounts or over a longer period of time than intended
• Persistent desire or one or more unsuccessful efforts to cut down on drinking
• Giving up other activities for drinking
• Continued drinking despite knowing you have a problem

Once someone is diagnosed with an alcohol addiction, it’s important to get professional help as soon as possible. Overcoming the addiction is not a case of making the decision not to drink, stopping, and then being sober. Many people who try to detox on their own or with the help of a professional facility will experience symptoms of withdrawal.

Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

One of the many reasons why someone with an alcohol addiction should seek professional assistance is that the withdrawal symptoms can be difficult, and sometimes dangerous to handle on your own. They include:

• Sweating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Chills
• Anxiety
• Tremors

In some severe cases, people will experience Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium (AWD). It’s estimated that while fifty percent of people who abuse alcohol will experience some withdrawal symptoms, about 3 out of 5 will experience AWD symptoms. Symptoms of AWD include:

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Chest Pain
• Confusion
• Delirium
• Delusions
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Hallucinations
• Rapid heartbeat
• Stomach Pain

People dealing with severe alcohol abuse may be more prone to this condition and to these symptoms. Dealing with any of these symptoms on your own can be dangerous and even life-threatening. In this case and other cases of alcohol abuse, seeking help from a drug rehabilitation program is the safest and most effective route to help you avoid the dangers of alcohol detox on your own. Many times, medication is prescribed to help patients deal with the effects of detox. Only a licensed physician can prescribe these medicines, which is another reason why detox on your own can be problematic. When you enter a detox program at a qualified alcohol rehab Phoenix, you will undergo a medical evaluation so the right course of treatment to deal with your addiction can be determined. If you decide to try detoxing on your own, you miss out on the opportunity to get this evaluation and be treated by experienced medical professionals who can make sure you get the help you need to safely treat your addiction.

Why Choosing a Rehab Facility can Increase Chances of Sobriety

When someone chooses to enter a rehab facility, they will first safely begin detoxing of the substances that have been taking over their mind and body. Detox is the first step in recovery. This typically takes one week to ten days to complete. Since each patient is different and each addiction is different, this can vary. One of the dangers of detoxing from alcohol on your own is not being able to handle what physically happens to your body during this time. When you try to get sober on your own, you most likely will not dig into the underlying causes of your addiction. A rehab facility will help you uncover what lead you to abuse alcohol in the first place. In many cases, people turn to alcohol to numb the pain of a trauma or problem they don’t or can’t address in a healthy way. Through therapy sessions, the root of the problem will be uncovered and addressed so that you don’t return to alcohol to solve your problems. Choosing a rehab facility to get sober can also help you map out a plan of how you’re going to live sober and not relapse. Many times, this includes:

• Cutting out people/situations that contributed to your addiction
• Finding new hobbies and interests to occupy your time
• Attending group therapy sessions to continue your recovery

In order to successfully accomplish these things, you need support that you can’t get on your own. There will be days you need more encouragement than others. A rehab facility can provide you with this support and the resources to help you maintain your sobriety. If you’re ready to battle your alcohol addiction and would like help with a detox program, contact Arizona Addiction for help. Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you’ve been struggling with sobriety, let us help you to get on the right path and stay there. Don’t go it alone. Find out how professional help can make the difference in sobriety. Content for Arizona Addiction by Cohn Media, LLC. Passionate and creative writing and broadcasting, covering the following industries: addiction rehab, health care, entertainment and technology. Advocate of clear communication, positivity and humanity at its best. www.cohn.media

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If you or someone you know needs help with addiction, contact 602-737-1619 or email [email protected] to get the help you need. Our acclaimed recovery environment merges upscale, luxury accommodations with affordability, clinical expertise and an unwavering commitment to patient care and aftercare.

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