When it comes to your long-term health, quitting alcohol is an excellent decision. However, it is important to keep in mind that there are some uncomfortable withdrawal effects that can occur if you decide to quit cold turkey. If you’re planning on quitting alcohol, you should reach out to a professional treatment center to get help.
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Is It Safe To Quit Cold Turkey?
It isn’t safe to quit drinking alcohol cold turkey. Over time, your body gradually becomes accustomed to having alcohol present. Neurochemicals in your mind adjust to accommodate the alcohol.
When you stop drinking all of a sudden those neurochemicals will remain at the same level because your body expects alcohol to be present. Dopamine, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters don’t immediately revert back to normal levels after you quit drinking, which is why you experience withdrawal effects.
These effects happen with all types of addictions. However, alcohol-related withdrawal symptoms are especially dangerous. If you have consumed alcohol for a long period of time or in large quantities, you may develop life-threatening symptoms. Because of this, it is important to only undergo detox with the help of a professional treatment center.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms: What To Expect
You can begin to experience withdrawal symptoms as soon as six hours after you stop drinking. These early signs are often mild, but symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can escalate as time passes. More serious signs of alcohol withdrawal syndrome typically appear two to three days after your last drink. Here’s a general timeline of what you can expect:
About six hours after your last drink, you may notice mild symptoms such as insomnia, nausea, headache, anxiety, shaky hands, vomiting, and sweating.
After 12 to 48 hours, you may start experiencing more intense symptoms, including hallucinations and seizures. During this stage, some people may hear, feel, or see things that aren’t there.
Delirium tremens is a potentially life-threatening condition that usually occurs 48 to 72 hours after stopping alcohol. Only about 5% of people going through alcohol withdrawal syndrome experience delirium tremens. If it happens, you may face severe withdrawal symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, hypertension, confusion, a racing heartbeat, and a fever. It’s important to seek medical attention if severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms occur to ensure your safety during the detox process.
Why Supervised Detox Is Crucial
Thanks to early treatment, the mortality rate of delirium tremens has dropped to just 5%. However, if it isn’t treated appropriately, the mortality rate can be as high as 37%. This is why detoxification under professional supervision is so important. Alcohol detox at a rehab center ensures that you are monitored by medical professionals who can provide the necessary care and intervention. Safety is a major reason to seek professional help, but supervised detox also offers the added benefits of managing withdrawal symptoms effectively and preparing you for the next steps in your recovery.
Monitor Withdrawal Symptoms
One of the biggest reasons why you need medical supervision is for your withdrawal symptoms. While delirium tremens is a serious concern, there are other severe symptoms that can be dangerous as well. In addition, you need professional supervision because alcohol withdrawal can worsen other medical conditions.
Support Your Comfort
During your detox, a doctor or addiction specialist can help you manage your withdrawal symptoms. While withdrawal symptoms are never comfortable, a professional rehab can alleviate their severity. At some rehabs, you can get medically assisted detox. This type of detox provides added support so that you experience less pain and fewer withdrawal symptoms.
Access Important Therapies
Addiction is a disease that affects your entire life. Detoxing is a good initial step in treating your addiction, but it isn’t a cure. During rehab, you can access additional therapy programs like behavioral therapy to help you manage cravings, spot triggers, and guide your recovery journey. These therapies are essential in helping you build coping strategies and long-term resilience. Later, aftercare programs and support groups can play a critical role in maintaining your long-term sobriety.
Get Peer Support
In a detox facility, you can access valuable peer support. The other people at the treatment center are in a similar situation, allowing them to empathize with your experiences and offer advice. Throughout your treatment, support groups and group therapy sessions with your peers will provide additional guidance as you navigate the recovery journey together.
Remove Temptations
One of the most important reasons why you should go to a treatment center is because it will help you avoid a relapse. When you are undergoing withdrawal symptoms, it can be incredibly difficult to resist your cravings. At a treatment center, it is impossible to drink alcohol again. Because you are constantly supervised, you can’t relapse until your treatment is complete. For many people, this type of added relapse prevention is a key component of their treatment.
Alternatives To Quitting Cold Turkey
Ideally, you should avoid quitting alcohol cold turkey. In addition to being incredibly uncomfortable, it can also cause life-threatening symptoms, especially for individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Because of these symptoms, you may be more likely to relapse. Rather than expose yourself to the dangers of quitting alcohol cold turkey, there are safer alternatives you can use to quit drinking.
Go to a Medically Supervised Detox Center
The best option for becoming sober is to enroll at a detox center. In a professional detox center, you will be supervised by medical professionals. This medical support can prevent major withdrawal symptoms and increase your odds of staying sober over the long run. Addiction treatment programs that include medical detox are a crucial first step in managing alcohol dependence and alcohol misuse safely.
Consider Outpatient Treatment
Ideally, you should detox at an inpatient treatment center. An inpatient center gives you an added level of supervision and support, which is especially helpful for those dealing with alcohol addiction. However, this isn’t always an option. Some people need flexibility to manage responsibilities like family or work.
In these instances, an outpatient program may be the right option. At an outpatient treatment center, you can still get medical help and supervision while maintaining your daily responsibilities. Outpatient treatment is often a part of a comprehensive alcohol addiction treatment plan.
Taper Yourself Gradually
If you don’t have easy access to a treatment center, you may be able to taper yourself off alcohol gradually. This approach can help you avoid major withdrawal symptoms, though it’s typically more difficult for people with alcohol abuse issues. Often, individuals who struggle with substance abuse find it challenging to control their drinking well enough to taper effectively. Because of this, it’s a good idea to talk to a medical professional before deciding on the right recovery plan.
How an Illinois Recovery Center Can Help
At Illinois Recovery Center, we provide professional support for treating alcohol use disorder (AUD). Our center creates personalized addiction treatment programs that typically start with a medical detox. This alcohol addiction treatment approach helps reduce pain, increase safety, and improve your chances of achieving a healthy, long-term recovery.
Once you complete detox, you can choose from a range of programs, including inpatient and outpatient care, depending on your needs. For ongoing support, we offer aftercare and Alcoholics Anonymous groups to help maintain sobriety and address any underlying issues.
Seek Professional Help
Deciding to quit drinking is the first step toward recovery. Once you acknowledge the problem, there are many effective ways to become sober. At Illinois Recovery Center, we treat the whole person, providing support not only for alcohol misuse but also for co-occurring disorders like anxiety or depression.
If you want to start your journey toward sobriety, reach out to Illinois Recovery Center today to learn more about our alcohol addiction treatment options.
