When you have an alcohol addiction, you will find that getting the help you need can be difficult. Trying to quit cold turkey is often out of the question, because it can lead to some serious and potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms. That’s why an alcohol detox centre is so important in the early stages of recovery, when your body needs to get rid of all traces of alcohol in your system as quickly as possible. These eight tips will help you make the most of your detox, and come out of it successfully on the other side.
1) Understand What’s Involved in Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable and even dangerous, depending on how long a person has been drinking. So it’s important to know what is involved before you start the detox. The first step in an alcohol detox is getting medically supervised care to ensure that you don’t become ill while withdrawing from alcohol. During alcohol withdrawal, your doctor will work with you to ease any discomfort or life-threatening symptoms that arise as you withdraw from alcohol. It is common to experience things like nausea, vomiting, tremors and sleeplessness during withdrawal.
2) Don’t go through it alone
A detox at an alcohol rehab can be scary. You might feel alone and confused, or even physically sick from alcohol withdrawal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, shakiness and anxiety. Unfortunately, far too many people who go through detox do so without any support. Alcohol addiction is tough enough to manage on your own; you don’t need to go through it alone. Get support from your family and friends and speak openly about your struggles.
3) Remember you are not alone
The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. There are many people who have gone through detox, and there are many more people who have family members or friends in your situation. Finding others who have gone through what you’re going through can be incredibly helpful in maintaining your motivation throughout detox. These people are called Peers, and they can help you stay motivated as well as answer any questions you may have along your journey.
4) Ride out the cravings
This is the most challenging part of the alcohol detox, but it is also the most important. Many people have cravings for alcohol throughout the course of their detox period. The good news is that these cravings are not all-powerful – you can ride them out. The worst thing you can do during an alcohol detox is to give in to your cravings and drink again, as soon as the craving subsides.
5) Remember the pain is temporary
Make sure you remember that detox is temporary and will end. The more comfortable and reassured you are, the easier it will be to move forward. While detox is definitely not pleasant, the pain of recovery is also temporary. Getting through the initial withdrawal symptoms allows an individual to get back to feeling good in their own skin.
6) Meditate
Breathing exercises can reduce your stress levels. This is not only healthy, but can also prevent you from experiencing anxiety attacks or stress-related symptoms. Sit quietly and just breathe, taking slow, deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Imagine all of your worries are floating away with each breath that you exhale. Keep breathing slowly until you feel better. It may help to imagine that while you breathe in positive energy into your body, all of your negativity is being washed away as you exhale.
7) Stay Emotionally Strong
The key to any successful alcohol detox is emotional strength. The whole process can be traumatic and stressful, not just physically but mentally too. One of the most important things you can do during an alcohol detox is to remain emotionally strong. This will help you cope with withdrawal symptoms while also giving you stability in your life that will make it easier to maintain sobriety once treatment has ended.
8) Keep Yourself Healthy and Stress Free
Dealing with stress is important if you want to detox effectively and have a healthy recovery. It’s best to schedule time in your life to keep yourself stress free, which will make it easier to focus on your recovery. Meditation, yoga, and other relaxing activities can help you do just that. You should also schedule regular exercise into your daily routine; while it doesn’t directly help with alcohol detox, it can be part of an overall plan to improve your health and well-being.