Alcohol detoxification services are among the most requested by patients in addiction therapy centers, and no wonder. The use of this type of addictive substances is very widespread in practically all Western countries, and professional help is needed to stop using them.
Now… What does this type of therapeutic intervention consist of? In this article you will find a summary about how the alcohol detoxification process occurs and the basic information that must be taken into account about this topic.
Alcohol addiction: a problem that needs to be treated urgently
There are many reasons why alcoholism is a serious problem that must be taken seriously from the first moment
One of them is, for example, that it is one of the drugs that causes the most harm to third parties, not only to those who consume it and develop dependence. It has a very high impact causing accidents (not all of them linked to driving vehicles) and also in intimate partner violence.
On the other hand, alcohol is one of the most addictive substances, which means that it greatly limits the decision-making of those who begin to develop a disorder of this type; At the same time, it greatly increases the risk of developing pathologies beyond the addiction itself: cancer, neurological diseases, etc. It also greatly increases the risk of developing addictions to other substances.
Finally, receiving alcohol detoxification treatment as soon as possible is also very important because without professional help it is very difficult to “get rid” of drinking, among other things because its use and abuse is very normalized in our society: on a daily basis, Addicted people are exposed to many situations that lend themselves to drinking a single drink, which in a matter of minutes usually transforms into a succession of them. Relapse is very common, and you have to prepare in the best way possible with the help of addiction experts
Alcohol detox: elements involved
These are the most relevant aspects of alcohol detoxification from professionals.
1. The first hours are key
As is the case with many drugs, the hardest part when it comes to overcoming addiction comes in the first hours of stopping consuming that substance.
Alcohol withdrawal, which is normally known as “mono”, presents its peak of discomfort two or three days after the last drink, and continues in a softer and more bearable version for a few weeks. During this first stage it is very easy to relapse if you do not have professional support. This is, in many ways, the purely detox part, as this is the time when most of the alcohol leaves the body.
However, it must be taken into account that detoxification is not the only part of a process of overcoming addiction, for two reasons. Firstly, because even after these days, the body still continues to present changes produced by the habit of consuming alcohol, and these predispose the person to continue drinking.
Secondly, because beyond the neurological aspects of alcohol dependence, There are a whole series of consumption habits and routines from which we must also “disengage” This is the purely psychological element that contributes to the maintenance of addictions and that should not be underestimated, because it can be what leads to relapse months after having had the last sip of alcohol, as we will see.
2. Training in stress management techniques
Continued exposure to stressful experiences increases the risk of consuming alcohol and further developing addictions. That is why, in the process of treatment against dependence on alcoholic beverages, Health professionals address this area by helping people use stress and anxiety management resources
3. It is important not to exchange addictions
In the alcohol detox phase, it is common for people to try to relieve their discomfort by taking other drugs. This must be avoided at all costs, because in those moments of vulnerability, you are more vulnerable to developing new addictions: that is, you do not start from 0, just as someone who has never taken any psychoactive with addictive potential would do.
4. You have to accept a certain level of discomfort and discomfort
To successfully overcome the detoxification part, it is important not to try to completely block the sensations of physical and psychological discomfort produced by withdrawal. Doing this only leads to frustration since the simple act of staying alert to eliminate possible negative thoughts and sensations from consciousness causes us to attract those experiences to our mind.
It is much better to develop habits of accepting discomfort and managing the focus of attention, so as not to give them more importance than necessary and to be able to focus on other things.
5. Habits are the key
As we have seen, the fight against addiction is not something that should be carried out solely through introspection; It is also reflected in behavior, the way in which the patient relates to the environment and to others. Furthermore, this is also true in the first days of quitting, that is, during alcohol detox.
Thus, In a therapeutic process against alcoholism, elements of medical care and elements of psychotherapeutic care coexist to adopt new habits and routines that serve to stay away from situations in which it would be too easy to relapse.
Are you looking for treatment for alcohol addiction?
If you have developed an addiction to alcohol, it is very important that you take measures quickly to overcome it and stop using it, relying on the help of health professionals. In CITA Clinics We are specialized in the treatment of addictive disorders, and we have both outpatient care services and the possibility of entering our residential module in the middle of nature. You can find us in Barcelona and in Dosrius (Mataró); To see more information about how we work or access our contact information, you can visit this page.
