Depending on the extent of liver damage you have, you may need to completely abstain from alcohol in order to give your liver the best chance for recovery. Talk to a doctor about your personal history and what’s right for you. It can be hard to find (or even know) the balance of how much alcohol your body is able to handle. If you’re not sure if your drinking crosses a certain line or not, try measuring your alcohol intake.
- If you drink daily, your body becomes dependent on alcohol over time.
- People at high risk of complications should enter a short-term in-patient detox program.
- To avoid severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms, you should slowly reduce alcohol consumption.
Residential rehab, where you live at a center, usually runs for 1-3 months. These are good if you have a more https://ecosoberhouse.com/ serious problem and struggle to stay sober. Be prepared to discuss any problems that alcohol may be causing.
How Long Does Detox Take?
If your home environment is not supportive for staying sober, talk with your doctor. Your doctor may be able to connect you with shelter programs for people recovering from alcohol addiction. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS can cause a range of symptoms, from mild anxiety and fatigue to severe hallucinations and seizures. In extreme cases, it can be life threatening.
- For this reason, it is advisable to go to a rehab center, where the staff can help monitor worsening symptoms.
- A doctor can evaluate your overall health and alcohol abuse history to help you determine how likely it is that you’ll experience symptoms.
- Most people recover from alcohol withdrawal within a week, but people with severe dependency may experience withdrawal for multiple weeks.
- For that reason, detoxing on your own, without any guidance or supervision, is generally not wise.
- A sober life doesn’t have to mean more time at home as you try to block out triggers.
Once it begins to leave your body, early symptoms of withdrawal begin. If you’re used to drinking less than 20 beers per day, HAMS recommends reducing your alcohol consumption by two beers per day until you achieve sobriety. Research shows people who have a supportive social network are more likely to remain alcohol-free after withdrawal.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is so your doctor can monitor your condition and manage any complications. You may need to get fluids intravenously, or through your veins, to prevent dehydration and medications to help ease your symptoms. Some people can be treated at home, but others may need supervised care in a hospital setting to avoid potentially dangerous complications such as seizures. Alcohol Detox Avoid people who may encourage you to drink alcohol or may not support your decision to stop. It may be easier on your rehabilitation to skip visits with “drinking buddies” or avoid gatherings with a focus on drinking. Here’s some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your health care provider or mental health provider.
See our web page What Is Alcohol Withdrawal for the distinction between major and minor alcohol withdrawal, and see the page The Standard Drink for the definition of a standard drink. Just for reference, a fifth of whiskey contains 17 standard drinks. You also may not have the option of using medication to make the process easier. Not all of the medications doctors use for detox are available to take on your own at home. People who detox at home (and don’t follow it with an appropriate substance abuse treatment program) may be more likely to relapse.