Alcohol is a confusing substance. For some people, having a drink now and then leads to very little impact on physical or mental health. For others, short-term use can lead to long-term dependence. Knowing that you have a substance use disorder (SUD) isn’t easy to do, but knowing what to do about it can seem even more challenging.
It’s estimated that about 27.9 million people over the age of 12 in the United States have an alcohol-related SUD. For many of those with this condition, treatment is available and can be effective at giving you back your life.
At Anabranch Recovery Center, we offer comprehensive treatment programs to help those with alcohol use disorder (AUD) get help. That includes offering alcohol detox.
Who Needs Alcohol Detox?
Alcohol detox is a treatment program that offers an initial, intense level of support for those in active alcohol use. You may need alcohol detox if you are facing any of the following:
- Weeks, months, or even years of ongoing, significant alcohol use
- Suffering severe withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop using it
- Stopping use and then starting again
- Multiple treatment attempts in the past that have not worked long-term
- Withdrawal-related seizures or other serious complications
- Mental health conditions alongside your alcohol use
Not everyone needs to enter an addiction detox program. When you contact our admissions counselors, we’ll discuss the symptoms you have and offer recommendations on the care we believe best suits your situation.
What Happens During Alcohol Detox?
Alcohol detox is a process your body naturally works through as it flushes toxins out of your system. When a person uses alcohol consistently, toxins from the substance remain in their body. Alcohol is a dangerous substance for your body, causing structural and functional changes to your brain when present. During detox, the brain has to suddenly re-learn how to operate without the presence of alcohol.
Your detox process may involve physical, emotional, and mental health challenges as your brain works through this change. Because your brain is so wired to seek relief from pain and trauma and has learned that alcohol can create euphoria, this can be a hard few days.
Consider what typically happens when you stop drinking and enter an alcohol detox program.
The First 48 Hours
During the first 18 to 24 hours after your last drink, you may begin to feel cravings, as your brain tries to tell you to find alcohol. This can intensify. It becomes hard to resist use. If you try to do this outside of a treatment center, you’ll find that it’s very hard to overcome these cravings and avoid using.
During this period, you’ll start to see changes, including:
- Headaches, body aches and pains, and a general sense of discomfort occur.
- Agitation and frustration grows and you may have significant mood swings.
- Hallucinations may occur that are frightening. You may see, feel, or hear things no one else does.
- Some people with serious addiction struggle with seizures. Seizures can be life-threatening complications where your brain has uncontrollable bursts of electrical activity that cause behavior, movement, feeling, and consciousness changes.
From 48 to 72 Hours
This is the next phase of the process, and for many people, it is a critical part where medical care is often beneficial. During this time, many people will experience more significant complications. A small fraction of people will experience delirium tremens, or DT. If this severe symptom occurs, you’ll feel:
- A profound level of confusion and disorientation
- Intense agitation
- Mood swings
- Hallucinations
- Fevers
- A racing heart or irregular heartbeat
- High blood pressure
Alcohol detox can be intense. It can sound pretty scary. However, within our treatment center, there’s ample support for you.
What You Can Expect from Our Alcohol Detox and Treatment Program
When you contact Anabranch, we’ll provide insight to you on the type and level of care we believe you need. If we recommend detox, you’ll enter into a medically monitored detox program. In treatment, you will:
- Have 24-hour, around-the-clock care available to handle any medical concern that arises
- Medications and treatment for any symptoms you have
- Help for underlying mental health needs is readily available
- Support for physical ailments that develop or become difficult
- Holistic options for withdrawal symptom relief
We offer a range of strategies to reduce the intensity of your symptoms. And, as soon as you are ready to do so, we begin to work with you on therapy and overcoming the stressors that cause addiction and dependence. You will have access to licensed professionals to guide your recovery every step of the way.
Talk to Our Team About Alcohol Detox in Terre Haute, IN
At Anabranch Recovery Center, you have direct access to an alcohol detox center in Terre Haute, IN, ready to help you. We will work with you to protect your health and create a clear path forward. Contact us for immediate help.
