If you’re a social drinker, you may not recognize when your drinking goes from hobby to habit. If your alcohol consumption turns into addiction, it’s time to consider the options for seeking treatment. While you may want to quit on your own, this isn’t the best idea for severe alcohol addiction. Read on to learn how long it takes to detox from alcohol and the best options for treatment.
Detoxing From Alcohol
The process of detoxing from alcohol can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on how much alcohol you have been drinking. On average, it takes someone in a treatment program 30 days to recover from alcohol addiction. This estimate varies depending on your weight and how often you’ve been drinking. The detoxification process from alcohol is the first step in recovery. There are many ways you can go about detoxing, but this should always happen with medical supervision. Here are some things to think about before deciding to detox from alcohol.
How Long Does It Take to Detox From Alcohol?
The road to recovery from alcohol addiction is long, but the actual detox process may last a few days. According to statistics, most people overcoming alcohol addiction stop experiencing symptoms 4 – 5 days after they had their last drink. This estimation will vary based on the intensity of the alcohol addiction, as well as whether or not you receive medical assistance. The following timeline details what you’ll likely experience in a detox:
- 6 – 12 In the first stages following intense alcohol use, you’ll experience anxiety, insomnia, nausea, and stomach pains. This is just the beginning of withdrawal symptoms after you stop drinking.
- 12 – 24 hours In the next 12 hours, your withdrawal may escalate to include symptoms like seizures and hallucinations.
- 48 – 72 hours In the next 489 – 72 hours, you’ll likely experience confusion, high blood pressure, fever, delirium tremens, and confusion. Without the help of professional treatment, you may even experience com or death.
Avoid the potential complications of alcohol withdrawal by seeking professional help for your detox. Visiting a rehab center is the best option to fully recover from alcohol addiction.
How Long Does It Take to Recover From Alcohol Addiction?
Though withdrawal from alcohol typically ends after 5 days, recovering from alcohol addiction is a process that can last a lifetime. After detoxing from alcohol, the next step is to enter a recovery program. If you hope to maintain the sobriety you achieved in your detox, it’s best to choose a professional treatment program like intensive outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, or dual diagnosis programs. While you may want to speed up your recovery time, experts recommend a minimum of 30 days to fully recover from alcohol addiction. Here’s what to expect from a 30 inpatient treatment program at a rehab facility:
- Inpatient treatment – Inpatient treatment or residential treatment allows a patient to live at the rehab center throughout their treatment program. This program often includes medical detox and residential care for a minimum of 30 days. In this program, you’ll likely receive CBT and similar therapies to help you overcome your dependency on alcohol.
- Recreational therapy and counseling – Once you’re in treatment, you’ll start therapy to help you learn how to cope with your sobriety. This includes one-on-one and group counseling as well as recreational therapy that uses sports, music, dance, and art to help you adjust to recovery.
- Relapse prevention – Relapse prevention focuses on equipping clients with effective ways to treat relapse. This program will help you learn how to deal with triggers and cravings without turning to alcohol. Relapse prevention begins in rehab but is a lifetime effort that will help you stay sober long-term.
Why You Should Avoid Quitting Cold Turkey
Many people envision themselves quitting their alcohol addiction whenever they want to. While you may want to stop drinking on your own, this isn’t the best way to do so. Remember that with the help of a professional treatment facility, you’ll be able to detox, enter treatment, and adjust to a life of sobriety. Detoxing from alcohol is a long process, but you can get started today. If you’re ready to learn how to begin recovery from alcohol addiction, contact us at 833-364-0736. We’re here 24 hours a day and always waiting to speak to you.