Alcohol Detox Gilbert, AZ: When Detox Is Necessary for Alcohol
Even though alcohol is a legal drug, it’s still addictive and many people drink enough to qualify for alcohol use disorder (AUD) – about 15 million Americans. If you’re worried that you’re drinking too much or that a loved one is, you’re not alone. The good news is that treatment is shown to be effective no matter how far down the path to alcoholism you’ve already traveled. For some, alcohol detox in Gilbert, Arizona is the necessary first step in recovery.
Getting Ready to Get Better
Not everyone who drinks alcohol has a problem, but if it’s interfering with your life, then you do. The sooner you stop drinking and get treatment, the better. It’s a common myth that everyone’s rock bottom has to involve homelessness, crime, prostitution, and jail time to get sober. For some people, it does.
But your rock bottom doesn’t have to be that low. You might decide that you’re done drinking. However, right now you might be asking yourself if your problem is really “that bad.” Here are some questions to ask yourself to see if it’s time for you to stop drinking.
- Do I have to keep drinking more and more to get buzzed or drunk?
- Am I facing legal consequences like DUIs or jail time due to how much I drink?
- Do I feel like I have to hide the evidence of my drinking from other people because they might disapprove or get angry?
- When I haven’t had a drink for a while, do I get nauseous, headachy, have “the shakes” or otherwise feel bad?
- Do I still see my friends and family as often as I used to before I started drinking? Or do I tend to isolate myself so I can drink more?
- Have I stopped participating in hobbies and activities that I enjoy because of alcohol?
- Am I getting behind on bills or not eating enough because my money goes to buying alcohol?
- Do people in my life tell me they think I drink too much?
If your honest answer to any of the above is “yes,” then now is the best time to stop. If you’re relatively early on in your drinking career and still physically healthy, you may be able to stop just with the aid of Alcoholics Anonymous or similar 12-step groups.
On the other hand, if your drinking already spans months or years and you’re in bad physical condition, you probably need more help to get sober and stay that way. Also, if you have a co-occurring mental health disorder such as ADHD, depression, or bipolar disorder, you can get treatment for that in alcohol rehab in Gilbert, Arizona.
The important thing about treatment is to ensure that you have enough time to address why you started drinking and learn life skills. Then, when facing challenging circumstances, you don’t have to reach for the bottle. You’ll have healthy habits and coping mechanisms instead.
Long-term sobriety is absolutely within your capabilities. You can live the joyful life that you want and deserve, but you may need some time in therapy and treatment to build your foundation for recovery.
For more information on how our addiction treatment programs can help heal drug or alcohol dependence, please give The River Source a call at 866-294-9331.
Alcohol Detox Gilbert: When Is It Necessary?
For some people, alcohol detox in Gilbert, Arizona may not be necessary. Detoxification is the first step in the treatment process, but it’s not the only one. With alcohol use disorder, your brain is used to the presence of alcohol. When you stop drinking, your brain must adjust to the lack of it, and that adaptation period causes withdrawal symptoms.
You’ve probably heard someone say that alcoholism is a progressive disease. That means that everyone with AUD starts off with the mild stage. You don’t jump to late-stage or severe alcoholism right away. But that also means that the more you drink, the worse your alcoholism gets. If you don’t stop during the mild to moderate stages, you will have a severe form of AUD at some point.
If you’re still in the mild form of the disease, you might not need a supervised detox in a rehab facility. You may be able to withdraw at home or by making a few visits to the doctor or to urgent care. Your symptoms will make you uncomfortable, but they’re not dangerous to your health.
In the early stages of AUD, you’ve developed a tolerance so that you have to drink more to get the same effect. You may have started withdrawing from friends and family, and you’re probably hiding how much you drink and don’t want to hear people criticizing your intake. Some people will start having blackouts at this stage.
Those at the moderate stage may need professional help to detox. Withdrawal symptoms could be uncomfortable enough that you feel the need to drink over them. You might miss work or school due to hangovers and may notice physical signs like weight swings, bloating, and redness in the face.
If you keep drinking and end up in the severe or late stage of AUD, you will most likely need a supervised detox. Not only are the withdrawal symptoms severe, but they can become life-threatening. If you try to withdraw on your own, you could experience hallucinations, tremors, vomiting, and fevers. A few late-stage alcoholics will have delirium tremens (DTs), which can be fatal if not treated.
A supervised medical detox can keep you comfortable and safe. It will also help you taper off the alcohol gradually to avoid or minimize the more serious withdrawal symptoms. If you’re in bad physical condition, such as being undernourished or dehydrated, detox will help with that too.
Alcohol Detox Gilbert, Arizona: 5 Tips to Get Ready
Once you’re ready to detox, there are a few things you can do to be prepared and get ready for treatment afterward.
- Let your friends and family know so they can support you and help you prep.
- Take care of any loose ends at work, school, or financial or legal issues.
- Determine what rehab you’ll attend after detox.
- Pack only the essentials that the rehab says you’ll need.
- Write a letter (or video it) to your future sober self.
What Comes After Alcohol Detox?
There are several levels of care involved in treating alcoholism in Gilbert Arizona, and not everyone needs to go through the full continuum of care. However, if you do need a supervised alcohol detox in Gilbert Arizona, you’ll likely need both inpatient and outpatient rehab. While you’re in rehab, you’ll be planning your aftercare, which might include sober living and recovery meetings such as 12-step groups.
- Inpatient rehab takes place at a residential facility and is highly structured. You’ll attend therapy, both group and individual, and take classes to learn life skills including stress reduction and communicating effectively.
- Outpatient rehab often has two (or more) levels. At first, you’ll go most of the week; afterward, you may attend just on nights and weekends so you can return to work or school.
- Sober living facilities provide additional support and community to strengthen your recovery foundation.
Alcohol Detox in Gilbert, Arizona: The River Source Can Help
If you are ready to get help to get the life you want and deserve, we are here for you. In addition to standard evidence-based approaches, we customize your plan and integrate holistic treatments such as yoga and meditation to heal your mind, body, and spirit. We’re so convinced that we can help you at The River Source, Gilbert that if you relapse within one year of going through the full continuum of care, you can return for free.
Don’t wait any longer for the fulfilling life that can be yours when you’re sober. Call us at 866-294-9331 today.
