Withdrawal Treatment for Alcohol (877) 804-1531
When a person is addicted to drinking, they are not only mentally addicted to the way it makes them feel, they are also physically addicted. If they stop drinking, they will experience physical withdrawal symptoms. Because withdrawing from alcohol can be dangerous if not in a supervised medical facility, a person should seek withdrawal treatment in Waco.
Alcohol has sedative-like effects on the body and activates receptors in the body that slow the autonomic or "fight-or-flight" part of the body's nervous system. When a person stops drinking, the alcohol is no longer present to blunt the body's response and it starts to overreact, resulting in the wide variety of symptoms withdrawal can cause. Through treatment programs in Waco, a person can take medications that can help minimize these symptoms whenever possible.
Is Alcohol Withdrawal Dangerous?
According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 5 percent of those going through withdrawals will experience a condition known as the delirium tremens or DTs. The DTs cause a number of serious and potentially life-threatening symptoms, which include hallucinations, disorientation, and dramatic increases in heart rate, body temperature, and pulse. Alcohol withdrawals can also cause seizures, which can damage a person's brain and result in injury to their body should they fall or hit something while they are having a seizure.
In addition to these considerations, long-term abuse can lead to nutritional deficiencies and electrolyte disturbances that can further complicate the withdrawal process. For example, those who abuse alcohol are often deficient in vitamin B1, which is also known as thiamine. Thiamine deficiency can lead to a nervous system disorder called Wernicke syndrome, which can lead to irreversible dementia. At a withdrawal treatment center, a person can receive intravenous thiamine to ideally prevent the likelihood this deficiency will cause Wernicke syndrome.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms can vary based on the person's overall health, how long they have been drinking, and how much they drink on a daily basis. A rehab center should be prepared to treat the symptoms of withdrawal, even the very worst ones that can occur. According to the National Institutes of Health, the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal will usually start somewhere between 6 and 48 hours after a person had their last drink. They may first experience symptoms that include:
- Anxiety
- Headache
- Restlessness
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Sweating
- Tremors
- Trouble concentrating
These symptoms will often subside within 24 to 48 hours and give way to the potentially more serious set of symptoms known as the DTs. The DTs do not usually appear until a person hasn't been drinking for about two to four days. A person can also experience seizures, which occur in an estimated 25 percent of the people who go through alcohol withdrawal. Fortunately, at alcohol withdrawal treatment in Waco, a medical professional can administer medicines that decrease the likelihood a person will have a seizure.
Why Should I Go Through Alcohol Withdrawal at a Treatment Center/Facility?
Withdrawal treatment in Waco can be an important first step in getting and staying sober. At a treatment facility, you can get the supportive care you need to navigate through the symptoms that alcohol withdrawals can cause. At our drug rehab in Waco, you can receive medications that help you withdraw from the drug as well as promote sleep and rest. You can also receive intravenous fluids, which can contain vitamins and minerals like thiamine to protect against adverse effects from alcohol withdrawals. The facility's professionals can monitor your vital signs and provide treatments whenever possible to keep you from experiencing the most severe withdrawal symptoms.
Once you have experienced the most acute phase of withdrawals, a rehab center can recommend services to help you continue on your sobriety journey. Examples include individual counseling, 12-step programs, and sober living homes to provide a safe place to remain sober and rebuild your life. According to the National Institutes of Health, most people who go through alcohol withdrawals make a full recovery. You too can be a part of this success rate.
The decision to seek treatment is an important one. Because alcohol withdrawal symptoms are not easy to navigate, it's important that you give yourself the best chance possible to succeed through the withdrawal process and continue the work that comes with staying sober. Through medical and mental health support at an alcohol withdrawal treatment center, you can achieve sobriety and live a healthier, happier life finally free from alcohol abuse. Call Waco Alcohol Rehab Centers now at (877) 804-1531.