How to Detox From Alcohol

A woman covers her face while starting to detox from alcohol.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, nearly 30 million people ages 12 and older struggled with an alcohol use disorder in 2022. Alcoholism can destroy your health and quality of life. That’s why seeking sobriety and overcoming your addiction is so important. If you are struggling with alcohol addiction, keep reading to learn how to detox from alcohol to live a healthier, happier life. 

At Grace Recovery, we are a leading drug and alcohol rehab committed to helping individuals safely break free of addiction for good. We offer a comprehensive range of addiction treatment services to ensure you receive the personalized care you need to achieve long-lasting sobriety. Ready to begin your road to recovery? Contact us today!

8 Tips to Detox From Alcohol 

Detoxing from alcohol can be difficult; however, you don’t have to detox all on your own. It is important to note that alcohol detox can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms, including seizures, in some people. As such, it is advisable to detox under the care of professionals for medical support. Here are some other things to keep in mind during a detox from alcohol:

  1. Seek Professional Support

Detoxing from alcohol all on your own can be potentially life-threatening. This is why it’s important to seek professional support at a drug and alcohol rehab facility. Addiction specialists will help guide you through the detox process so you can safely overcome your withdrawal symptoms and can be there to provide medical assistance if needed.

  1. Prioritize Rest and Recovery

Next, detoxing can be physically hard on your body. This is because your body has adapted to expecting to consume alcohol, and will thus need to learn to not rely on consuming alcohol. Inevitably, this can be very draining, which is why rest is so important throughout the detoxification process. 

  1. Manage Withdrawal Symptoms

As mentioned above, withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable, painful, and–depending on the severity of your alcohol addiction–possibly life-threatening. Although withdrawal symptoms are short-term, it’s important you seek professional detox help to manage and overcome your withdrawal symptoms.

  1. Lean on Support From Loved Ones

Another tip on how to detox from alcohol is not to be afraid to lean on support from loved ones. Your close friends and family members are there to support you and can be a great source of motivation and accountability throughout your recovery.

  1. Prioritize Healthy Distractions

Next, prioritize healthy distractions. While detoxing and withdrawal symptoms will be uncomfortable, consider having healthy distractions lined up so you can be able to distract yourself from your withdrawal symptoms. For example, consider journaling or talking to a therapist, addiction specialist, or loved one to pass the time. 

  1. Eat Well and Exercise

As you detox and progress along your recovery journey, it’s important you practice eating well and exercising. Although it may be difficult to prioritize these healthy habits while detoxing, laying the groundwork for these healthy habits when you start your recovery journey can go a long way to preserve your sobriety. 

  1. Stay Positive and Patient

Another tip on how to detox is to stay positive and patient. While this is easier said than done, it’s important to keep in mind that withdrawal symptoms are short-term and temporary. Detoxing is the necessary first step all people in recovery must go through on their journey to achieving sobriety.

  1. Start Planning Your Next Steps to Recovery

Last but not least, start planning your next recovery steps so you are prepared to effectively progress along your recovery journey. This most likely will look like seeking professional help to learn healthy coping strategies to help you maintain your sobriety life-long. 

Top-Rated Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Los Angeles

Detoxing from alcohol can be difficult, especially when it comes to overcoming withdrawal symptoms. However, it’s important to understand that withdrawal symptoms are short-term and temporary. You don’t have to detox and overcome your addiction all on your own. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, it’s essential you seek professional support to safely recover. 

Grace Recovery is here to help you every step of the way along your road to recovery. Our compassionate team offers a wide range of treatment options, including alcohol detox services, so you receive the best possible care to safely achieve long-term sobriety. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you lead a happier, healthier life. 

Coping with Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)

Addiction is a complex beast, often accompanied by different mental health struggles that may linger even after the drugs are out of your system. One such hurdle is Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS). 

At Grace Recovery Center, we understand what PAWS involves and are here to support you through this stage on your road to recovery from addiction. Keep reading to learn more.

Understanding Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome

Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) happens after the initial detox period. It’s a group of symptoms that may appear weeks or sometimes even months following discontinuation of substance use. 

Causes of PAWS

PAWS symptoms arise due to substance misuse disorder altering the body, brain, and central nervous system. In individuals addicted to benzodiazepines, lasting withdrawal symptoms may result from changes to the neuroreceptors in the central nervous system.

Symptoms of PAWS

Unlike acute withdrawal symptoms, which are majorly physical, PAWS affects primarily your mental health. These symptoms include:

  • Mood swings
  • Anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Irritability
  • Low energy
  • Varying levels of depression

These signs can be erratic, and their intensity may differ from one person to another. Dealing with these distressing PAWS symptoms without adequate support could lead to relapse.

Strategies for Coping with PAWS

Our belief at Grace Recovery Center is that understanding PAWS is the first step toward handling it effectively. Here are some strategies that can help:

  • Education: Understand this is part of being in recovery; it helps alleviate guilt and shame associated with these same symptoms.
  • Self-care: Regular exercise, eating a well-balanced diet, and sleeping enough helps manage PAWS symptoms.
  • Therapy and counseling: You can explore how to cope with PAWS through cognitive-behavioral therapy, among other counseling approaches.
  • Medication: There might be prescription medication if any specific symptom needs management.
  • Support groups like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): Networking with other individuals undergoing similar situations will not only provide comfort but also reduce isolation while offering practical tips.
  • Monitor triggers: Keep track of what triggers your symptoms and avoid them as much as possible.
  • Practice mindfulness: Being in the present moment can reduce anxiety and stress related to PAWS.
  • Be patient: PAWS symptoms may not go away immediately but eventually subside. Remain dedicated to your recovery journey, remembering that it is a process.

The Role of Grace Recovery Center in Your Recovery Journey

At Grace Recovery Center, we incorporate these strategies into an individualized care plan for holistic addiction recovery. Our top-rated drug and alcohol rehab in Los Angeles offers detox and residential treatment programs that provide the guidance and support needed to address PAWS and other addiction recovery challenges.

Professional Addiction Therapy Services to Treat PAWS

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) recognizes negative thought patterns contributing to PAWS symptoms.
  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) helps manage emotions better and improve interpersonal skills.
  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) works on traumatic experiences triggering PAWS symptoms.
  • Group therapy fosters a supportive environment for clients to share their experiences and learn from others.
  • Individual therapy offers personalized support addressing particular needs associated with PAWS.

Treatment for Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome at Grace Recovery Center

At Grace Recovery Center, we’re here to support you every step of the way on this journey. If you or a loved one is facing PAWS, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our devoted team is ready to guide you through this challenging recovery phase. Remember, no matter how small, progress leads you closer to taking back control of your life. Recovery from addiction isn’t a straight path – embrace the journey, lean on your support system, and know that PAWS can be overcome with patience, strength, and expert help. Reach out to Grace Recovery Center for addiction treatment in Los Angeles today. Let’s walk this path together!

How to Overcome Opioid Addiction

One of the biggest reasons people are often hesitant to start an opioid addiction recovery program is fear or worry about the withdrawal process. These feelings are perfectly normal, however, and the good news is that they can be overcome. It all starts with learning more about what the opioid detox process entails and finding a treatment program that will support you from start to finish.

If you or a loved one is looking to beat an opioid dependency, you’re far from alone. While the modern opioid epidemic is an issue that has only gained widespread discussion in recent times, it has been growing for years. In 2010 there were an estimated 21,000 deaths from opiate overdose, and this number has steadily grown to be over double that today, according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA). The APA also estimates that nearly one in three people now know someone who is addicted to opioids, and there are at least two million people nationwide currently struggling an opioid abuse problem.

So, there’s no better time than the present to start tackling a dependency to opioids head-on. While the detox process can be challenging, it is far from impossible to overcome. Here’s what you need to know:

What is Withdrawal?

“Addiction” is often used interchangeably with the word “dependency” because when it comes to substances, they are one and the same. When a person is struggling with an opiate addiction, their body has become dependent on the substance. Both their mind and their physical organs have grown accustomed to receiving opioids in certain minimum amounts, and when they are deprived of opioids in those minimum amounts, negative reactions occur. These negative reactions are withdrawal symptoms.

These natural negative reactions can be so unpleasant that, if the person is not in the right environment, they can try to cope with things by introducing more opiates into their body. This is how many people become increasingly heavy users of substances like opioids despite attempts to “quit”. Fortunately, the right recovery environment and treatment services can support them through the withdrawal process and prevent increased dependency.

Detox Symptoms or ‘Side Effects’

It’s really the symptoms or “side effects” of opioid withdrawal that intimidate people. But while they can certainly be unpleasant, it is important to understand that all of them are temporary. For many people, detox symptoms begin right after their last opiate dose, while for others it can take hours or even days.

Here is a list of the more common symptoms that can be expected once detox or “withdrawal” begins:

  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Sweating
  • Muscle cramps
  • Anger or agitation
  • Diarrhea
  • Increased (more intense) opioid cravings

It may also help to know that many people do not experience every withdrawal symptom and instead only experience one to a few of them.

How Long Does Detox Last?

The detox period can vary from person to person. Just like the exact start time of withdrawal can vary, the time period during which it lasts will vary depending on a number of factors (including, but not limited to, substance use amount and frequency, weight, general health, etc.) In most cases, the most severe symptoms of withdrawal can last hours to about a day. Symptoms as a whole can last days to about a week.

Why Medical Detox Should Be Considered

The withdrawal process can also be a lot easier to deal with when medical detox is involved. While this course of treatment may not be right for everyone, for many it can ease them out of opiate dependency more smoothly and greatly reduce the likelihood of a relapse. In most cases, medical detox is an inpatient-only treatment program, although it may be achieved in rarer cases through partial-day programs.

In a medical detox setting, the patient is supported by a professional medical staff (nurses and doctors) who may use the assistance of certain medicines to help ease their withdrawal symptoms. The patient is closely monitored the entire time and supported both medically and emotionally.

Now, it is true that successful detox and addiction recovery may be achieved without this medical intervention. However, the emotional and physical pull of substances like opioids shows that medical assistance can greatly increase the likelihood of success. It is important to explore this option before making a final decision.

Getting Started

To learn more about the opioid withdrawal process and recovery, do not be afraid to reach out to experienced treatment professionals. After all, the first steps toward beating a dependency on opioids involve not just admitting there is a problem, but starting to look at recovery options. Don’t be afraid to ask detailed questions about the withdrawal process— real treatment professionals are there to help!

Last but not least, always remember that you are not alone. Thousands of people across the country enter treatment programs every year and get through the detox process to success. With determination, the right support, and plenty of knowledge under your belt, you too can beat opioid addiction and take back your life.