According to NSDUH statistics, 14.4 million adults have some form of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Of those, 9.2 million are men and 5.3 million are women.
Alcoholism takes a terrible toll on a person’s life. Destroying their health, career, finances, and relationships.
If you have taken that very important step and decided to quit drinking alcohol, you might have many questions about the process of detox and what to expect. What is the usual alcohol detox timeline? What withdrawal symptoms can you expect and will a detox center be better for your recovery?
The Alcohol Detox Timeline
Unfortunately, there is no one answer to this question. It depends on a lot of factors such as the severity of your alcohol addiction, your health, and whether or not you are detoxing from other substances as well (e.g. drugs).
You can expect alcohol withdrawal symptoms to start appearing between a few hours and a few days after your last drink. Withdrawal symptom severity varies from person to person but can be very serious.
In the majority of cases, if you decide to participate in an inpatient program at a detox center, the typical alcohol detox timeline looks like this.
6 – 12 Hours
Initial withdrawal symptoms will begin fairly quickly and you can typically expect some or all of the following:
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Increased heart rate
- Insomnia and vivid dreams
- Gastrointestinal issues – nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Fever
- Fatigue
Some of these withdrawal symptoms will pass quickly, while others will take longer to subside.
12 – 48 hours
During the first 48 hours, you can expect your symptoms to be at their most severe, peaking during this period.
- Stomach and muscle cramps
- Vomiting and nausea
- Diarrhea
- Cold chills
- Depressing
- Cravings
- High blood pressure
While undergoing treatment at a detox center, you will be monitored closely and assisted in managing your symptoms by a trained team of medical and detox experts.
The last 24 hours of detox
During the last stages of your alcohol detox, your symptoms will begin to lessen and you will feel much better.
Some ongoing symptoms and cravings are still to be expected, such as anxiety.
Alcohol detox inpatient treatment
An inpatient detox center program allows you to remove yourself from the temptations and the situations that trigger your dependence on alcohol. You will also have round-the-clock care from a fully trained and experienced team of medical and healthcare professionals, who can prescribe medication to manage your symptoms.
Medical detox is only the first step in your journey to recovery. Your very best chance of overcoming your addiction for good is to receive professional psychological support on a one-to-one and group basis. This aspect of your recovery takes a deeper look at the psychological issues behind your addiction. Group therapy helps you to realize that you are not alone, that other people are dealing with the same issues as you, and the fantastic support network this can provide.
Once you’ve identified your psychological issues, you will be helped to develop better skills to cope with pressure and stressful situations in your everyday life which might affect your sobriety.
The final stage of your recovery takes place on an outpatient basis with access to our aftercare services. Your counseling will continue on an as-needed basis and there will be access to regular support groups. Just because you have left the center doesn’t mean that you are alone. We want to give you the very best chance of maintaining your recovery by giving you the coping tools to deal with whatever life throws at you.
In addition to managing your withdrawal, the team will also look to improve your general health with access to nutritious meals, exercise, and relaxation opportunities.
Findlay Detox Center
The Findlay Detox Center is a first-class facility providing inpatient and outpatient detox services.
We specialize in guiding people in their recovery through our leading detox center. You will be treated as an individual, with respect, and without judgment.
Talk to one of our team today for a confidential assessment of your situation. Our team will then be able to recommend the best course of action for you to begin your journey. This will be based on what’s right for you and your situation.
