The challenges of alcohol detox on your own
Lifestyle Fashion

The challenges of alcohol detox on your own

Face it, if you are dependent on alcohol, quitting will be hell. Of course, what do they say; “If you have to go through hell, don’t stop, keep going.” Yes, it’s New Years, so maybe one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to stop drinking, or maybe you just want to cut down substantially. If you’re already an alcoholic, you know you’ll have to quit smoking altogether. You are probably wondering if that is possible.

Well, it’s possible, but you probably can’t do it on your own. You’re going to need some support from friends and family, and maybe some professional assistance, especially if you want it to stick. In fact, 90% of self-initiated alcohol detox successes relapse in less than four years. Most of them in the first 3-6 months. Okay, 100% minus 90% = a 10% success rate for self-detox alcohol.

Another interesting fact is that after so many attempts and so many failures, dependent alcohol users stop believing that they can quit or even that it is possible. That is another depressing and sad fact.

Alcohol detox you can do yourself can be dangerous to your health

Most people who attempt a Do-It-Yourself detox try to get off Cold Turkey. If you have been drinking for a while and consume a large amount of alcohol, it is likely that your body has become tolerant to the effects of alcohol (poison, neurotoxin). Your body has gotten used to it, adjusted to it, and rewired your brain and system.

If you remove it abruptly, your body can no longer function without it. That’s when all hell can break loose. This phenomenon is more than overwhelming withdrawal symptoms. It is literally shutting down your internal organs. This could lead to kidney failure, heart attack, lung problems, delirium tremens, ketoacidosis, brain damage, and even death (cite below).

The romance of cold turkey tough guy bravery

So why do so many people try and fail at their self-made detox New Year’s resolutions and goals? Well, if you’ve tried and failed in the past, you’re certainly not alone. You shouldn’t punish yourself for it, or dwell on your failure. It is not that you lack the will or the character to carry it out. The real problem is that your body can’t handle it. Look, no matter how strong you think you are, or how much pain you can take, there is still the reality behind alcohol use disorder.

We all wish we could muster the strength to simply quit alcohol and never have another drink. It’s just not that easy. Your body at this point needs alcohol to function, and your mind inherently knows that the only way to feel normal is to have a drink, then everything will be fine. Your brain is telling you that if you don’t fuel your body with alcohol, it won’t work right. Unfortunately, once alcohol dependence sets in, this is actually true. Do you see the problem?

Sure, it would be pretty sexy and show that you’re in total control if you could just call it quits. It’s just, well, it doesn’t work that way.

Reference:

“Alcohol and the Brain: Pharmacological Insights for Psychiatrists”, by David Nutt, published in The British Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 175, Number 2, August 1999, pp. 114-119.

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