Millions of people urgently need alcohol detox and rehab throughout the U.S. If you’re addicted to alcohol, the detox process will likely lead to withdrawal symptoms. Public health experts recommend that you seek professional alcohol detox and rehab help to cope with these symptoms. However, for a variety of reasons, you may be unable or unwilling to do so. In these situations, can you safely treat alcohol withdrawal at home? In certain circumstances, the answer to this question may be yes.
Why Treating Alcohol Withdrawal at Home Is Not Typically Recommended
Why do health experts typically recommend that you don’t treat alcohol withdrawal at home on your own? One big reason is the nature of alcohol withdrawal itself. Compared to most other forms of detox, the process is quite risky. That’s true because people withdrawing from alcohol sometimes develop severe or even life-threatening complications. Two such complications are:
- Delirium tremens, or the DTs
- Convulsions or seizures
You’re most likely to experience these problems if you’ve been a heavy drinker for years or decades.
Any attempt to detox without professional help can also increase your relapse risks. And if you relapse, you may have an increased chance of experiencing potentially lethal alcohol poisoning. Why? Your body may no longer be able to tolerate your habitual level of drinking.
How to Treat Alcohol Withdrawal at Home with Professional Support
Many people in alcohol recovery go through withdrawal at home with professional support. These people are enrolled in outpatient rehab programs. Programs of this type allow you to live at home while going through detox and rehab. At scheduled times, you make visits to your rehab center. During those visits, your doctor can assess your progress and provide needed treatment. You may qualify for outpatient care if you have mild, moderate, or moderate-to-severe addiction symptoms.
Treating Alcohol Withdrawal at Home Without Professional Support
People unaffected by moderate-to-severe or severe addiction may be able to safely withdraw from alcohol on their own. If you can’t or won’t enter treatment, what can you do to increase your chances of success with this at-home approach? First, it’s crucial that you remove all alcohol from your daily environment. That way, you won’t have a ready option for fulfilling your drinking urges when withdrawal symptoms begin.
Also, be aware that non-professional support options can be a huge help. This support may come from a trusted family member or friend. It may also come from a peer in a mutual self-help group like Alcoholics Anonymous. Whichever option you choose, timely support can help you avoid a relapse during withdrawal. It can also help safeguard you from any withdrawal complications that arise.
You can also boost your odds in other ways. The most important actions you can take include:
- Keeping yourself hydrated
- Eating a healthy diet
- Taking any needed supplements for alcohol detox
Adequate hydration is especially important in the initial stages of withdrawal. Ask your doctor for advice on healthy food choices while detoxing. Your doctor should also review any supplements you plan to take.
Treat Alcohol Withdrawal with Help from Northpoint Colorado
Want more information on how to treat alcohol withdrawal at home? Contact the addiction specialists at Northpoint. We’ll explain all the pros and cons of detoxing on your own. We’ll also help you determine if this is potentially a safe option for you.
At Northpoint Colorado, we offer multiple settings for alcohol detox and rehab. Those settings include two kinds of outpatient programs. With our support, you can safely complete withdrawal and continue on toward lasting sobriety. To learn more about our alcohol recovery options, call us today at 888.231.1281 or fill out our online message form.