Some people chose to tackle their problems on their own, some chose to see a counselor or therapist on an outpatient basis and some people chose to enter a hospital or residential program.

If you are addicted to alcohol, quitting can mean alcohol detox (short for detoxification). This means that when the alcohol is leaving your system (much like having a toxic substance leaving your system), there can be medical problems. Many people can experience withdrawal at home with mild symptoms that include headache, some tremors, nausea and irritability.

Some people will have more moderate symptom that include vomiting, sweating, loss of appetite and severe aches and pains. A person who has been consuming large amounts of alcohol for a long period of time can experience severe withdrawal symptoms such as seizures and even death.

How do I Know If I need an alcohol detox?

Detox is best for dependent drinkers for whom it’s very difficult to stop drinking due to withdrawal symptoms.

Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms are:

difficulty sleeping

agitation & restlessness

anxiety

vomiting or retching

nausea

sweating

shaking

For moderately & severely dependent drinkers, it’s unsafe to stop drinking altogether without alcohol Medical Detox. Withdrawal can prove to be dangerous or even life-threatening. For drinkers who are less dependent, it’s not always dangerous to stop drinking immediately. A detox is the best way to stop drinking, if you suffer insomnia, fear, panic and anxiety so much that you can’t put up with it.

Consult a Physician

It is always best to consult a physician before withdrawing from Alcohol or any drug. A physician can prescribe medications that can make the withdrawal symptoms much more manageable or recommend hospitalization if it appears the symptoms could become serious. Hospitals and special detox centers are well equipped to deal with any and all medical problems that can occur during the process of withdrawal. There is no reason for a person to suffer during withdrawal from alcohol or any other drug. Gone are the days when someone expected an alcoholic or addict to detox without medication to help with symptoms. Wherever you live, there are hospitals or treatment centers that can help you to stop drinking without painful symptoms. Many people even sleep through the initial phases of detox.

Being hospitalized during detox is not the same as being in treatment, although it can and is part of many treatment centers’ initial therapy. Many people are hospitalized for only two to three days to complete the initial detox treatment and then go on to other programs or simply return home to receive therapy on an outpatient setting or to recover on their own. While in detox, a social welfare or alcohol rehabilitation specialist will generally visit the patient to discuss therapeutic options that are available.

Conclusion

Treatment for alcoholism has undergone several major changes in the last several years. One of the key changes has been a new emphasis on the importance of detox being obtainable and becoming the focus of treatment. Professionals have realized that people who focused on alcohol detox and a recovery plan that included active involvement in a supportive community are less likely to return to drinking. Using this model, alcoholism treatment now includes a recovery plan with an emphasis on detoxification.