About 18 million Americans need specialized help for alcoholics. But only a small fraction of them ever get the help they need. This is unfortunate, as the right help opens a world of possibilities for a better life in sobriety.
Many people seeking help start by asking, “How long will detox take?” To an outsider, this is far from the most important question in their lives at this point. But knowing the answer to this question and others about detox for alcohol make entering a program more comfortable. Reducing anxiety is a better way to help the person you love to get help for alcoholics.
How Long Does Detox Help for Alcoholics Take?
Detox is an important first step toward sobriety. This type of program helps the body clear itself of alcohol toxins. At the end of the detox, you are clean and sober. The entire process of detox help for alcoholics takes about seven to 10 days. How long the help for alcoholics takes in detox depends on several factors, including:
- Length and severity of your addiction
- Whether you abused other substances as well as alcohol
- Your history of alcohol abuse
- Whether you suffer other health conditions or mental illness
- Your individual needs
Going Through Alcohol Detox
When you go through detox in West Palm Beach or Fort Lauderdale, Florida, you experience a variety of withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include mild effects like nausea and headaches. But your symptoms can quickly worsen, becoming delirium tremens (DTs) with seizures and hallucinations.
If your health is otherwise good, the alcohol withdrawal timeline takes you through several phases. These phases include acute withdrawal, which is the week to 10 days of your worst withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms of acute withdrawal include rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, intense sweating, body temperature changes, nausea, and vomiting.
After acute withdrawal comes early abstinence. This period of anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, and other psychological symptoms will last three to six weeks after you stop drinking. These symptoms occur after you leave the detox facility, usually while you undergo rehab treatment or support programs.
Protracted abstinence is the last phase of alcohol withdrawal. During this phase, you need support around you to continue on a positive path of recovery. Anxiety, unease, negativity, cravings for alcohol, and the potential for relapse will mark this time in your recovery. With the right support and therapies, you get through this period.
Dual Diagnosis at an Alcohol Detox Program
At Serenity House Detox, we realize that in many cases, alcohol abuse and mental health conditions can be connected. For some people, they began using alcohol as a way to cope with mental health symptoms. However, for other individuals, their alcohol use brought on mental health symptoms. In both cases, it is critical to seek treatment for both conditions simultaneously. Doing so can significantly improve your chances of long-term recovery.
Concurrent treatment for addiction and mental health conditions is called dual diagnosis treatment. Dual diagnosis treatment simply means that we’re giving you the tools to manage your new-found sobriety and maintain your mental health. Many people find that this treatment significantly benefits them and gives them the chance to be healthier and happier in the future. Our dual diagnosis treatment options include:
- Depression treatment
- Anxiety treatment
- Bipolar disorder treatment
- PTSD treatment
- Schizophrenia treatment
Detox Help for Alcohol Abuse and Addiction
Alcohol detox is the beginning of recovery from alcohol addiction. If you or someone you love suffers from alcohol addiction, Serenity House Detox provides the programs you need in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Find relief with any of the following programs:
- Inpatient detox program
- Medical detox program
- Luxury detox center
- Men’s and women’s detox
- 12 step recovery
Contact Serenity House Detox now at 866.294.5306 to take your first steps into your new and better sober life.
At Serenity House Detox, we believe that detox is the first step on the path to lasting sobriety. With locations in Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, our life-changing addiction detox programs in Florida empower individuals struggling with addiction to seek a new beginning. Learn more about Serenity House Detox and our treatment philosophy.