How to Support a Loved One During Alcohol Detox
Why Alcohol Detox Is Necessary
Every person has a different reaction and different needs when they quit drinking. Treating alcohol addiction usually involves a medical detox program because although symptoms range from mild to severe, they are also unpredictable, and serious issues can arise if a person tries detoxing at home.
Withdrawal symptoms usually show up within 6 to 24 hours after their last drink, and in the case of serious addiction, they can begin while alcohol is still in their system. They may include symptoms like:
- Irritability
- Anxiety and mood swings
- Tremors, especially in the hands
- Uncontrollable sweating
- Confusion or brain fog
- Insomnia and nightmares
- Headache
- Increased heart rate
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hallucinations
- Alcohol cravings
- Delirium tremens
A medical alcohol detox program will ensure that these symptoms do not cause the substance abuser to suffer, and with proper medical supervision, your loved one will be kept safe from dangerous issues like seizures and delirium tremens, which can sometimes become deadly if untreated. Symptoms usually last anywhere from three to ten days, and without professional addiction treatments inside a safe, sober facility, your loved one may find them too overwhelming and return to drinking just to make it stop. Alcohol detox is not a cure for addiction but is the first step on your loved one’s road to recovery.
Tips for Supporting a Loved One During Alcohol Detox
Tips for helping your loved one during detox to overcome addiction include:
- Not drinking alcohol around them
- Do research with them to make the process of finding treatment centers less intimidating
- Do not enable them or engage in a codependent relationship by covering for their mistakes, buying their alcohol, giving them money, etc.
- Provide unwavering, continuous support for your loved one during detox
- Be non-judgmental, with open communication about the reasons behind their heavy drinking or binge drinking
- Attend a meeting like Alcoholics Anonymous with or without them, read a rehab blog, etc. to learn more about alcohol use disorder, withdrawal symptoms, and what happens in a rehab program
What Comes After Alcohol Detox?
After detoxing, moving directly into an alcohol rehab program is recommended. It may be a residential addiction treatment program (inpatient addiction rehab) or an outpatient program like intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization programs for drugs and alcohol. Most rehabilitation programs offer behavioral therapy, evidence-based treatment programs, physical health care, and mental health care, and some even offer alternative holistic treatments to help overcome addiction.
At Novo Detox, we offer residential addiction treatment after exiting the alcohol detox center, and we also provide connections to outpatient treatment facilities in our nationwide network that may include an alumni program or further peer support afterward, depending on your loved one’s unique needs while overcoming addiction.
Alcohol Detox at Novo Detox
Alcohol detox at Novo Detox is safe, comforting, structured, and virtually pain-free. When your loved one comes to our detox center to begin their recovery process, they will be provided with:
- A bio-genetic metabolic screening to check for vitamin deficiencies and to ensure their treatments are appropriate for their unique needs
- Prescription medications in medical detox that will help with pain, alcohol cravings, distress, restlessness, and another discomfort as the alcohol leaves their system, with medically assisted alcohol addiction treatment plans if needed
- Medical care 24 hours a day, so they will never be left alone during alcohol withdrawal
- Contact with loved ones is encouraged at this time for additional support
Therapy and counseling will continue on after our detox programs into an inpatient addiction treatment program and may include treatments and programs like:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy program
- Dialectical behavior therapy program
- Family therapy
- Individual therapy
- Dual diagnosis treatment therapies for those with substance use disorders and mental health issues Group therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy
- Holistic treatments like acupuncture, herbology, saltwater therapy, reflexology, Qigong, Yoga, Meditation, Tai Chi, and detox massage
- Case management services, life skills, and social skills training
- Aftercare planning, sober living skills, and relapse prevention programs
Along with alcohol abuse, we also treat other substance use disorders including meth addiction, opioid addiction, cocaine addiction, etc. through integrated drug detox and rehab programs. Please call us at (844) 834-1777 for insurance verification, to learn more about our medical detox center and our substance abuse treatment programs, or for any other questions, you may have about helping your loved one overcome their addiction in our luxury recovery center.
