If you have ever considered an alcohol detox but didn’t know where to turn to start your sobriety journey, you aren’t alone. The idea of detoxing from alcohol can be extremely scary and it’s normal to be weary of the unknown territory that you are entering.
What is Detox?
Our minds and bodies get used to patterns, and when a substance is no longer being used, the pattern has been broken. The body can react negatively due to needing the substance to function and release certain chemicals in the brain. This is why alcohol detoxification is very difficult on the mind and body.
Detox, or detoxification, is the process of allowing mind-altering substances to fully leave the body. It’s one of the first parts of recovery from substance use disorder and can be extremely dangerous if not performed with supervision by a medical professional in a dedicated treatment facility or rehabilitation facility [1]. Stopping the use of alcohol is what can cause alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the person’s history of substance use, the withdrawal symptoms can vary from mild to severe.
Related: What is Detox Treatment and Why Is It So Important?
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What are Common Withdrawal Symptoms of Alcohol?
Most people who are going through alcohol withdrawal will commonly have mild symptoms of cravings, sleep problems, headaches, nausea, and feeling agitated. Some people may develop tremors, diarrhea, and distorted vision.
In addition to physical symptoms, you may experience some cognitive symptoms such as disorientation, memory impairment, and altered states of perception. Random outbursts of anger, severe personality changes and speech becoming rapid or slow are additional symptoms.
Certain factors play a role in the intensity and length of each person’s withdrawal symptoms, such as how often the substance was used, and in what capacity.
Alcohol withdrawal can be fatal. This is why it’s vital to have a medical professional with you 24/7 during alcohol detox. Medical professionals need to be close by to monitor the alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and to see the severity of the symptoms so they can provide adequate medical care. In most cases, detoxing from alcohol can take anywhere from a few days to a week or two.
Related: What Alcohol Does to Your Brain
How is Alcohol Detox an Option for You?
If you have been drinking alcohol for an extended period of time, attending an alcohol detox program is extremely helpful. Detox programs are critical in the recovery process so you can detox safely and comfortably.
If you aren’t sure if an alcohol detox program is right for you, see if any of these indicators sound like something you are experiencing:
- You’re a long-term alcohol user. The longer you have been dependent on alcohol, the more likely an alcohol detox program will be the recovery solution. It’s important to remember that with substances like alcohol, you can have recently become dependent but still benefit from a detox program.
- Withdrawal symptoms are a big indicator that an alcohol detox program would be the right fit. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can vary in severity depending on the amount consumed and the length of use. Regardless of where the severity falls on the scale, withdrawal symptoms should be monitored by a medical professional. It is not only life-saving but can make the withdrawal period much more tolerable.
- If you have a history of seizures, or other adverse reactions when discontinuing alcohol use, it’s important to be supervised by a medical professional when going through detox.
- Any other medical complications that you may possess can also make discontinuing substance use incredibly dangerous.
Detoxing is an important step in a recovery journey, which is why it’s key to do it safely and have a medical professional near to handle any life-threatening situations that arise.
Related: The Importance of Withdrawal Management in the Recovery Process
What to Expect When Detoxing from Alcohol
If you struggle with alcohol abuse, it’s important to completely understand what to expect when going through detoxification. Particularly, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be severe and dangerous to manage on your own.
How do you know if you are going to withdraw when you stop drinking?
Unfortunately, there is no surefire way to answer this question, but there are a few guidelines you can follow to help determine if detoxing from alcohol will be part of your recovery journey.
If you do find that you require alcohol detox services, there are several things that you can expect.
Potential Dangers
The first day or so of your alcohol detox will be filled with developing symptoms that range in intensity. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome can include feeling agitated, sleep problems, cravings, and nausea.
A few days in, you can begin to develop what is known as delirium tremens, or the DTs. The DTs are a set of more severe withdrawal symptoms that include confusion, high blood pressure, shaking, fever, and hallucinations [2].
The greatest concern during this period of severe alcohol withdrawal is fever and high blood pressure, both of which can trigger strokes, alcohol withdrawal seizures, and other life-threatening medical events.
It is important to understand that, without support and monitoring during alcohol detox, withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable and even life-threatening [3]. Clear Behavioral Health’s treatment programs and professional alcohol detoxification care help safely alleviate the physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
Related: The Dangers of Detoxing From Alcohol at Home
Treatment at Clear Behavioral Health
At Clear Behavioral Health, when you enter our alcohol rehab program you can safely detox while being provided 24/7 clinical supervision. The focus is managing your alcohol withdrawal symptoms with the support of medication. This normally ranges anywhere from a few days to a week. Our medical professionals will be with you at every moment, while you detox in a homelike center for your utmost comfort. Once the detox is complete, you are then transitioned into a residential rehab center. This is where you’ll gain the tools for long-term recovery.
What is included in the alcohol addiction treatment program?
Once you are at the residential level of care, we offer one-on-one sessions with a therapist who will thoroughly assess your alcohol abuse, personal background, and any medical conditions. You can then foster a safe space to heal and share your emotional struggles.
You will also be included in group therapy, where you can connect with individuals who are going through similar experiences and have a non-judgmental space to share your battle with substance use dependency.
Holistic therapies are also included so you can learn how to center your mind and body. This includes meditation, yoga, and mindfulness exercises. These are important skills to learn so you have the tools to regulate your nervous system and find holistic coping methods for daily life.
You will also have a case manager who will work with you on relapse prevention and offer life skills to handle your alcohol use dependency triggers. What you learn with your case manager will offer valuable insight into how you’ll be functioning in the future once you are no longer in the program.
Related: The Glow Up Journey: Using Residential Rehab and Alcohol Detox Facilities for Lasting Change
What Happens after the residential treatment program?
Once residential treatment is completed, you have other options available to continue your sobriety journey. At Clear Behavioral Health we have an outpatient addiction treatment program, which offers a partial hospitalization program (PHP), as well as an intensive outpatient program (IOP). These programs offer more flexibility as you go back to living at home. You will be engaging in individual and group therapy, case management, and holistic modalities. This level of care is designed to offer continued support while you navigate sobriety from alcohol.
Learn more about alcohol detox programs in the Los Angeles, California area. Contact our experts today.
Begin Your Detox and Your Journey to Sobriety
If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction, Clear Behavioral Health is here to give you the safest option for detox and recovery. We offer a full continuum of care with programs available throughout the Los Angeles, CA area including an alcohol detox program in Redondo Beach, CA, drug and alcohol rehab in Gardena, CA, and outpatient addiction treatment programs. Take that first step to recovery today by contacting our team to learn more about our alcohol use disorder treatment programs.
References:
Alcohol withdrawal. (2025, February 7). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/alcohol-withdrawal
Detox: Removing intoxicants under medical supervision. (n.d.). https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/rehab-treatment/detox
Substance use detox: What you need to know | McLean Hospital. (2024, April 25). https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/addiction-detox
