What are the Dangers of Detoxing Yourself from Alcohol?

Detoxification from Alcohol is Dangerous

Detoxification from alcohol is not a one-size-fits-all criterion.  For those who only occasionally abuse alcohol, abstinence may be an uncomfortable experience without posing any life threatening health risks aside from a headache, sweats, nausea, hypertension, and rapid heart rate.  The entire discussion changes, however, for those who are diagnosed as alcohol dependent or have a history of chronic alcohol abuse.  For this group, detoxification from alcohol needs to be carefully supervised by a health care professional that knows how to treat withdrawal symptoms that may range from severe to life threatening.

Reactions to alcohol withdrawal are unique for each person.  In addition to physiological influences such as age, body weight, and general health condition,  it is also important to know the actual amount of alcohol consumed every day and how long alcohol abuse has occurred over time.  Without the supervision of a health care professional, detoxification from alcohol can in fact be fatal.  Symptoms of alcohol detoxification include sudden mental and neurological changes, nausea, heart attack, palpitations, body tremors, incoherency, inability to talk, multiple types of hallucinations (e.g., visual, auditory, olfactory), seizures, stroke, coma, and death.

Major Symptoms of Alcohol Detoxification

Mental and Neurological Reactions

Within six to forty-eight hours of the last drink, mental and neurological changes may suddenly develop in individuals undergoing alcohol detoxification.  Symptoms such as visual, auditory, or olfactory hallucinations may occur in which the heightened effect of images, sounds, or even smells in any type of environmental situation may induce extreme flight or fight responses.  Seizures are often brought on by delirium tremens, and may range in severity from mild to grand mal.  The profound impact of alcohol withdrawal on the brain is so intense that even a mild seizure can lead to respiratory distress and heart failure if untreated.  Other mental reactions to alcohol withdrawal include confusion, disorientation, difficulty talking, and temporary loss of short-term memory.

Heart Attack, Stroke, and Death

Chronic alcohol abusers are at the greatest risk for experiencing the most dangerous withdrawal symptoms from alcohol.  As mentioned previously, seizures are commonly associated with delirium tremens and manifest the primary neurological impact of alcohol withdrawal on the brain.  Seizures and DT’s often create irregular cardiac activity such as palpitations, arrhythmias, tachycardia, and abnormal spikes in blood pressure that increase the potential risk of succumbing to cardiovascular injury or death.

Burning Tree Helps Alcoholics Break the Cycle of Relapse

Burning Tree knows that time is a critical factor in recovery, so we have developed a unique long-term rehab center that specializes in relapse prevention.  If you or someone you love has not been able to reach your goals of sobriety, it is time to talk to people you can trust.  Our licensed addiction specialists, therapists, and clinicians utilize a dual diagnosis approach to treating alcohol dependent behavior and mental disorders, so you receive therapeutics found only in the top rehab centers in the country.  At Burning Tree, we will take the time to resolve all of the issues that are standing in the way of your recovery.  In our program you will be carefully monitored every step of the way by people who are trained to deal specifically with addiction withdrawals.  Relax.  You are in good hands at Burning Tree.  Call us now.