Alcohol Detox

Recognizing Alcoholism in Yourself

One of the greatest barriers to treatment for alcohol addiction is oneself. It’s extremely common for individuals who abuse alcohol or are addicted to it to deny the severity of their problem. They tend to mistakenly believe their can control their drinking or they may simply not want to abandon a lifestyle that involves drinking. Yet, alcohol abuse can and will lead to the erosion of one’s physical and mental health. Continued alcohol abuse can wreck other essential aspects of a person’s life, too, like their marriage, family life, and career. If you are struggling with alcohol addiction, alcohol detox at Sylvan Detox can put you on a path to recovery–and improved health.

What is Alcoholism?

Alcoholism or alcohol addiction is a chronic condition that is relapsing and generally believed to be incurable. It can, however, be successfully managed with abstinence. Why is substance addiction said to be incurable? Because alcohol and drug addiction changes the chemistry of the brain. This is why detox alone cannot help people stop drinking. The ‘mind’ is addicted as well as the body. Even after detox and months or years of sobriety, a person is likely to start their addictive habits afresh simply by having a drink. In order to successfully stop drinking, a person can’t drink alcohol anymore or they’re likely to return to former patterns of abuse.

Signs of Alcohol Addiction

There are many signs and symptoms of alcohol addiction. You should suspect you have an alcohol use disorder if you:

• Think about drinking each day or feel preoccupied with thoughts of drinking alcohol.
• You spend a considerable amount of time drinking and recovering from the effects of your drinking.
• You are unable to limit your alcohol intake.
• You experience blackouts
• You engage in high-risk behaviors like driving after drinking.
• Your drinking is affecting your family or work performance.
• You’ve tried to stop drinking and failed.
• You experience withdrawal symptoms when you don’t have a drink in a certain period of time.

If you experience these symptoms, you should get help. Medical and drug detox and treatment can help you end your dependence on alcohol.

What is Alcohol Detox Like?

Alcohol detox helps people overcome their body’s physical dependence on alcohol, but only the physical dependence. Detox does not address the individual’s mental and behavioral dependencies on alcohol, which typically involve the triggers for relapse. Alcohol detox lasts about a week. After completing detox, clients can begin their rehab treatment, which addresses the other aspects of their alcohol addiction.

What To Expect During Detox?

During alcohol detox, clients can expect 24-hour monitoring and support at Sylvan Detox. Withdrawal symptoms tend to be inevitable, but we offer treatments that can greatly reduce their severity. Some people experience only mild symptoms. Others may experience severe symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and tremors. We offer medications and holistic therapies that reduce discomfort and help clients get the rest they need as their body begins to heal from the damaging effects of alcohol.

How Long is Detox?

Medical detox usually lasts for about a week. However, someone may complete the process in a few days. Others may need more than a week to be completely weaned of alcohol. The length of time a person has been addicted to alcohol and their own chemistry are factors in this time frame. Withdrawal symptoms usually begin in a few hours after a person’s last drink. They can peak anywhere from 24 to 72 hours after the last alcohol use. Ultimately, these symptoms do subside. After a few days of feeling unwell due to withdrawal, people emerge feeling refreshed and ready to begin the next phase of their treatment program.

Symptoms of Alcohol Detox

During alcohol detox, people can expect to experience withdrawal symptoms that include headache, tremors or shakiness, depression, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and sweating. Some people experience a severe set of alcohol withdrawal symptoms known as delirium tremens which can involve fever, hallucinations, and even seizures. That’s why it’s crucial to undergo detox in a rehab or hospital setting so that symptoms can be managed before they become severe or trigger health emergencies like seizures or irregular heartbeat.

Acute Detox

Sylvan detox features acute detox. This refers to clinically monitored detox. Some people undergo detox in an outpatient setting at other rehabs. However, we provide inpatient detox to ensure that clients are safe and get the around-the-clock support that may be needed to contend with severe withdrawal symptoms. 

Why Choose Sylvan For Alcohol Detox

Sylvan Detox features medical detox programs. If you’re suffering from alcohol addiction, you can undergo alcohol rehab at our safe detox facility staffed by professional nurses and on-call physicians. We are a Joint Commission-approved rehab in Los Angeles with a reputation for caring and effective addiction treatment. Clients can get the help they need to end their dependence on alcohol and make a fresh start in life. Our treatment facility offers clients a comfortable stay. We feature chef-prepared meals and holistic therapies that support recovery. Clients can enjoy a massage, yoga, and saltwater therapy during their detox program.

Continuum of Care

Sylvan Detox features medical detox and residential treatment programs. We do not offer outpatient rehab treatments, but many of our network partners in the region do. Inpatient treatment and detox are ideal for people just beginning their recovery journey. We offer an intensive level of support, helping each person create a strong foundation for building their sober life. 

A Variety of Treatments and Therapies

In addition to our medical detox programs, Sylvan Detox features a wide range of evidence-based, alternative, and holistic addiction treatments. Together, our therapies support whole-person recovery. Clients can expect to attend individual and group therapies that involve treatment approaches such as dialectical behavioral therapy, creative healing, denial management, relapse prevention, 12 step principles, life and social skills, goal setting, anger management, strength building, aftercare planning, and more. 

While the prospect of giving up alcohol may seem overwhelming, you can do it–and Sylvan can help. Contact us to learn how we can provide you with an individual treatment plan that begins with alcohol detox. Let us help you regain your life and health.