While detoxing from alcohol is often seen as a positive step, it can have a few hidden dangers, especially for those who have been drinking for a long period of time. At times, a medical alcohol detox that isn’t done properly or under the supervision of a healthcare professional could be deadly. Before going to any kind of rehab facility that offers detox services or before you try to detox at home, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind about the products that are used and the physical signs that you need to look for in case something goes wrong.
Without the assistance of a detox program, many people who drink might find that it’s hard to just stop drinking. The drug takes over the mind and the body, offering a feeling that the body needs the alcohol to function normally each day. As the tolerance for the alcohol increases, the amount of alcohol that is needed for the same impact increases. One of the dangers of detoxing is that the body and mind can be altered to a point where it’s hard to function normally even after the alcohol is out of the body. You might experience seizures of hallucinations. There could be physical pain in the body during a detox that does not go the way that it’s expected. The blood sugar could drop. The body can overheat. A heart attack is no uncommon as one of the dangers of detoxing from alcohol.
Since the body relies on the alcohol to function each day, removing it from the body in a short time can cause the body to enter into a withdrawal that can be dangerous. The mind doesn’t know how to react to the alcohol being taken away so quickly, so it tries to shut down because it doesn’t know how to function in a normal fashion. It’s sometimes best to enter a rehab facility that can slowly detox you from your alcohol addiction. If the drug is removed over the course of several days instead of a matter of hours to a day or two, then the results are often better for the mind and the body. It also allows you to experience what the body feels like without the alcohol. There usually won’t be as many physical symptoms after tapering off of alcohol. You might have a headache or even feel nervous, but the likelihood of a heart attack or other issues will decrease significantly.
Avoid quitting on the spur of the moment. Don’t decide to just give up drinking at one time because this is where the dangers come into play. You should enter a detox center to get help from a doctor who knows how to control any medications that you’re given and who knows what to look for if there are dangers that arise. The doctor can then seek the proper medical treatment so that you don’t suffer from any physical impairments or any mental feelings that might make you want to quit or that might make the process seem overwhelming. A doctor can often use medications to help decrease some of the withdrawal symptoms that you experience. You likely wouldn’t be able to get these if you try to detox on your own.
If you don’t complete a detox program, then it can be just as devastating as quickly detoxing the body at one time. You might think that the substances that you use to detox from alcohol have helped, but there could still be alcohol in your body, which could make you relapse. Even if you successfully detox from alcohol, you need to address the reasons why you drink in the first place. Without proper care and counseling, then a detox usually won’t be successful, leading to a relapse in a short time. Most rehab centers offer an inviting atmosphere so that you want to stay to get the help that you need. There are individual and group sessions offered so that you can get the help that you need without feeling ashamed for drinking or trying to get better. When you have successfully detoxed, you can begin the process of recovery through communication, eating healthy, and focusing on the positive aspects of life.
