Entering drug and alcohol detox is a tough decision that takes courage and determination. Depending on how long alcohol has been in your system, your detox can take up to two weeks to feel better and more like your old self. If you haven’t been in contact with your old self for a long time, the total detox process can be quite arduous.
How long does it take to detox at an alcohol rehab in Florida? With medical help, your detox can be made more comfortable. For example, nausea is a common concern for many types of detox. If your stomach is so upset that drinking water is difficult, your medical team can provide you with anti-nausea meds or even hydrate you via IV as you work through this exhausting condition. Many going through detox also suffer from dizziness. Having someone to check on you during detox can save your life. Never attempt detox alone.
Physical Concerns
The first three days of detox are the time when you particularly need support to protect yourself from physical hazards. There are conditions that can increase your risk of dehydration, such as
- fever
- nausea
- elevated blood pressure
Once you’re dehydrated, in addition to the general yuckiness, you may also suffer from heart palpitations and dangers elevations in pulse as well as blood pressure. Long-term alcohol use can lead to dizziness and tremors in the first three days. If you are trying to detox alone, you may be unable to stand to cook or even get a glass of water. Dehydration and nausea are a dangerous combination. Never try to detox alone or with someone checking on you occasionally. Being monitored may feel like a breach of privacy, but you will be safer under medical supervision.
Mental Considerations
As your brain sheds the toxins that have built up from alcohol use, your perception of reality may become unreliable. For example, you may start to suffer from hallucinations or delirium tremens. You may become confused, and paranoia may be a problem. Once you get past the first 48 hours, you may not be able to trust your own perceptions for 72 hours on average. This is the part of detox that can be hazardous to your loved ones.
If you choose to go through withdrawals with the support of a family member or friend, they may be at risk if you lose touch with reality. You will feel terrible. You may become paranoid or even violent. Even if you can get through these first five days suffering no harm to your person, the idea that you may hurt a loved one should make your decision to enter supervised medical treatment the most obvious decision.
Emotional Support
Many who struggle with addiction are trauma survivors. After 5 days of detox, emotional concerns can crop up. You may become depressed and need to sleep more, but nightmares will make it impossible to stay asleep. You may be moody, cranky, euphoric, or uncontrollable. Many working through the last 5 to 14 days of treatment simply enter a brain fog. You know you need to do something but you can’t choose what to do. You may want to read or journal but be unable to focus. You may start a television show but be unable to focus through the commercial breaks.
You could spend your days foggy and your nights suffering through terrible dreams. During a supervised detox, you can
- seek spiritual counseling to help you center
- talk to a private therapist to build a plan to live in recovery
- enjoy group therapies to help you understand that you’re not alone
Part of moving from detox and treatment into recovery is building new community. You will also need to create new habits; old triggers that made drinking a habit and fed your addiction will need to be redirected to new behaviors that offer better rewards. Quality counseling can help, as can recommendations from others in recovery. Detox is tough. Common attitudes about addiction may have contributed to a great deal of shame, either from those around you or from within. Your ability to get through a supervised detox is an indication of strength, not a sign of personal weakness. Your future is on the other side of this arduous process. Ready to get started? Call us today at 772-266-5320.
