Anyone struggling with an alcohol addiction should go through detox when they try to stop drinking. But life does not stop when detox treatment starts. It is perfectly natural to ask, “How long does it take to detox from alcohol?” Although it can take some time, the benefits can be worth it if you enter detox and stick with addiction treatment. No one person’s detox experience will be the exact same, so the alcohol detoxing timeline will vary from case to case.
How Long Does It Take To Detox From Alcohol And Why?
Alcohol detox can last several weeks. Although that can be alarming to some people, detox programs may continue over multiple weeks for a reason.
When someone with an alcohol addiction suddenly stops drinking, they start experiencing withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can start two hours after someone has stopped drinking and can continue for several weeks. The symptoms that appear and how long they last will vary depending on the person and the history of their drinking, but some common alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
- Racing Pulse
- Sweating
- Headaches
- Fever
- Mood Swings
- Confusion
- Seizures
During detox, people work through their withdrawal symptoms in a comfortable and safe environment. It is necessary for them to stay in detox as long as the withdrawal symptoms persist for a really effective detox. Going through alcohol withdrawal can be extremely dangerous and in some instances even deadly, due to the severity of the alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Thankfully, alcohol withdrawal-related death is highly uncommon.
How Long Does It Take To Detox From Alcohol If I Try It At Home?
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms will last the same amount of time no matter where you go through detox. However, attempting to go through detox on your own can be incredibly dangerous. Not only can the intensity of withdrawal symptoms pose serious health risks, but they can also be harsh enough to push someone back to drinking. People in recovery often relapse because the withdrawal symptoms become too much to handle.
The safest way to go through detox is at an alcohol detox center. At detox centers, trained medical staff members are always on-hand to help with any withdrawal symptoms that appear. They will also be able to identify symptoms that are crossing into dangerous territory and will be able to provide assistance or even transfer the client to a hospital if necessary. Their support, along with the comfortable environment and treatment programs these centers provide, will help anyone going through detox stay with treatment as long as they need to.
Detoxing does not have to be a large mountain to climb. At Serenity House Detox & Recovery in Houston, TX, we work to make sure you have all the tools at your fingertips to get the most effective treatment possible. This way you can leave rehab feeling better about yourself and stay clean and drug-free from then on. Oftentimes, staying sober is the hardest part of recovery. When you have all the right tools and the support behind you, staying sober feels easier and worth it.
Stop Asking “How Long?” And Start Detoxing
Overcoming alcohol addiction is not easy, but it is doable. We have the compassionate experts and the detox services to get you through your withdrawal. You do not have to fight this battle alone. Serenity House Detox & Recovery will make it more comfortable than you think. Do not wait any longer to get the treatment that you or your loved one needs. Call our treatment experts to learn more about the programs we offer today at 866.516.8356. Start on your journey to a new life, free of alcohol.