How to Safely Detox from Alcohol in Merseyside
Alcohol addiction is an illness that affects your ability to live a healthy and fulfilling life. It affects your personal and professional pursuits as you slowly start to lose control of your stability and everything you’ve worked so hard to accomplish. To assist you in your journey to recovery from addiction to alcohol, it starts with the process of alcohol withdrawal.
Overcoming the grip of alcoholism can be challenging but if you’ve made the brave decision to get sober, there are 3 steps that you can safely detox from alcoholism in Merseyside. In this guide, we will explain the procedure of alcohol withdrawal and the options available to you.
What is an Alcohol Detox & Why is it Necessary?
Alcohol addiction not only affects the person who is dependent on it but also has a cynical impact on the lives of their families and loved ones. Because many people are also in denial about their drinking custom, it becomes harder to find help before it causes lasting and destructive effects on mental and physical health.
Why is alcohol detox needed? Because of the severe and lasting effect that alcohol dependency has on your well-being, friends, work, and family life. Alcohol addiction is known to contribute to hypertension, high cholesterol, lack of focus, and the risk of heart attacks or stroke. Heavy and frequent drinking has also been linked with depression and anxiety.
When you wake up hungover or you can’t remember the events of the night before because of alcohol, it becomes impossible to live a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Alcohol is a depressant and works on the nervous system. It increases the risk of feeling depressed or anxious, but it also causes ill health. When you drink alcohol for a long time, you heighten your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and strokes. It can also cause unsteadiness, slow reaction times, and increased weight gain.
Detoxing from Alcohol is the process of stopping the consumption of alcohol until the substance is no longer in the body. Trying to detox without the support of a GP or a medical facility makes it challenging to cope with the effects of alcohol withdrawal.
The only way to prevent hangovers, the blackouts, and to get your life back on track is to pursue alcohol detox. An individual simply cannot recover from alcohol addiction if the alcohol is still in your body. Detoxing helps you begin with a clean slate, and it eliminates the risk of suffering relapse when you have taken the initiative to work on your recovery and health.
To know the impact of alcohol withdrawal and the importance of finding the help that you need in Merseyside, we look at the essence of withdrawal symptoms and ways to overcome the complications of addiction.
Will I Experience Withdrawal Symptoms?
Individuals who develop alcohol dependency also have an alcohol tolerance. Tolerances occur when you need to consume more of a substance to experience its effects and to stop withdrawal symptoms from developing.
Withdrawal symptoms are a part of any detox and are no different when you quit using alcohol. What makes this procedure difficult is that withdrawal in detox from alcohol causes challenging symptoms that make it hard not to relapse. Typical symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol include nausea, headaches, shakiness, and adverse effects that could threaten your life.
For those impacted by severe alcohol dependency, alcohol detox should be medically managed. Experienced staff or a trusted GP in Merseyside can help ease the discomfort caused by withdrawal but more importantly, it can safeguard against relapse and symptoms such as rapid heart rate, tremors, nausea, and Delirium Tremens.
Together with the management of complicated symptoms, support groups can reduce the occurrence of Delirium Tremens that can lead to death without professional care. DT includes persistent hallucinations, paranoia, high temperature, and seizure. It is a serious condition and must be professionally managed for safe and healthy recovery.
Merseyside’s Addiction Statistics
Local authorities in Merseyside revealed that the county recorded the highest rate of drug offences per 1,000 population in 2020/21 – 9.2, up from 8.3 in 2019/20. In the summer of 2021, the Government flagship drugs programme Project ADDER was announced to expand to Liverpool. That invested an additional £31 million in a programme focused on cutting drug-related crime in several British regions, including Liverpool City Region.
How Do I Safely Detox from Alcohol in Merseyside
If you have decided that the time is right to participate in a safe detox from alcohol, you have the option to meet with a GP or to receive at-home detox apart from inpatient services. Let’s look at the services provided for detoxing from alcohol…
Via a Residential Detox or Rehab Facility Near Merseyside
Home detox or inpatient rehabilitation improves the chances of overcoming addiction. An alcoholic will stay within the residential rehab full-time with the assistance of medical staff to look after the alcohol detox. Because you have access to professional support 24/7, it is more comfortable and safer than trying to detox by yourself.
A major benefit of a residential rehab is the option to enter into treatment immediately after detox. It significantly increases your chances of maintaining sobriety as you work through therapeutic programmes to help you cope and prevent relapse. Outside of a rehab facility, even those with moderate cases of alcohol addiction may struggle to maintain an alcohol-free lifestyle.
While residential detox is a good option for those with access to funds, it can be expensive. The average cost for rehab in the UK is £2000-3000 per week.
Via a Private Home Detox Service
An substitute to a GP monitored or inpatient programme is the at home detox. If you have never heard of the private treatment, it is provided by detox specialists who will come to the home environment to monitor your progress while helping with alcohol detox. Therapy is based on an individual examination and the severity of your symptoms. The benefits of in-home detox include the chance to remain close to your family and friends in Merseyside while saving on the costs of treatment in comparison to residential rehab.
Experienced staff work with you to provide a personalised and administered detox, with the option of remaining at home in Merseyside close to friends and loved ones. It is also affordable in comparison with residential rehabs and offers further attention and therapeutic support in comparison to detox using a GP.
To find a dependable home detox service, you will need to find a provider who is listed by the government.
When you choose a home detox, it is necessary to find a regulated services. This ensures that the provider is authorised to support your recovery and prevent relapse.
Via a GP
You can alcohol detox with the support of your GP who is experienced in alcohol recovery. GPs help in the recovery process by examining their patients to find out the seriousness of alcohol addiction. If the patient is examined, a GP will advise on a detox management plan to assist ease your withdrawal and minimise the possibility of relapse. With the help of a GP, you can achieve a safe alcohol detox in Merseyside. Your doctor can also endorse an NHS facility if you require further treatment or round the clock monitoring.
The purpose of going through detox with the assistance of a GP is that it is cheaper than an inpatient detox or rehab. The downside is that you will have to control the symptoms and potential triggers on your own which increases the possibility of relapse.
Need Help with a Safe Alcohol Detox in Merseyside? We can Help!
Our home detox service is fully registered & compliant.
Addiction to alcohol affects individuals from all aspects of life and there is no shame in asking for the help that you need. Perhaps you want to stop using alcohol, but you don’t know where to go?
To go after the right treatment options for your needs, you can learn more about our detox at home service below.
Additional Alcohol Detox Services We Provide in Merseyside
Sober Coach
Sober coaches are a necessary part of maintaining your sobriety. Our professional sober coach is there to help you through stressful times and to maintain you on track to manage your recovery. They will help you personally and with strategies to prevent relapse from alcohol.
Home Based Addiction Therapy
When you need to oversee alcohol dependency, one of the best way you can take is to receive a supported and medically monitored home detox. Our at home detox does not entail inpatient or residential rehab so you can maintain to stay with your family while receiving the healthcare that you need.
Alcohol Detox FAQ
How long does an alcohol detox take?
The symptoms of withdrawal can start hours after you quit drinking but generally lasts between 24 and 72 hours. Some people can experience withdrawal for weeks after detox; however, the intensity and the duration of symptoms during detox will be influenced by health issues, the period of alcohol dependency, and whether other substances are used.
What should I do during an alcohol detox?
The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be challenging but with rest, a balanced diet, and keeping hydrated, you can ease much of the stress that is placed on your mental and physical health. Practicing meditation and managing stress can help you cope and overcome addiction.
How does alcohol detox medication work?
Because alcohol detox can lead to very uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, medication is used in treatment. Benzodiazepines are prescribed to reduce the possibility of seizures while slowing the activity of the central nervous system. This creates a relaxing effect on the mind and body while reducing symptoms such as muscle cramps and high levels of anxiety.
Can I still work during a home alcohol detox?
Owing to the nature of withdrawal and the severity of symptoms that you may experience during detox, it is best to take some time off to dedicate to your health and recovery.
Author / Jason Shiers / Dip.Psych MBACP
Jason Shiers is a Certified Transformative Coach & Certified Psychotherapist who is a specialist in addiction, trauma and eating disorders. He has been working in the field of addiction for 25 years now.
