In order to avoid relapse during alcohol withdrawal, you need to make some necessary changes to your habits. This may mean changing the people you hang out with, especially if these people trigger your drinking problem or enable it. Some family members want to support you during your journey but only end up enabling your behavior because they can’t stand to see you struggle. Although they have good intentions, it is not helping you make progress in your recovery journey.

You have to avoid your drinking buddies and those who minimize your struggles. These people do not want you to get sober. They will tell you that it’s not a big deal. You may have to cut these people off your life if you are to make significant progress. Instead, you have to surround yourself with people who want what’s best for you.

There are other, smaller changes you can make to your day-to-day life that will help you stay sober. You can try using intentional breathing techniques such as deep breathing exercises. This will help engage your prefrontal cortex, which is what handles reasoning and critical thinking within the brain. It’s a small change, but if you do it consciously, you can encourage your brain to make better decisions.

When people are stressed, they often forget to breathe. So if you are in a stressful situation and you are craving for a drink, deep breathing is a simple thing you can try to get it under control.

Breathe in through your nose for four seconds and then hold your breath. Breathe out through your mouth for four seconds, pause for another four seconds, and repeat the process. People in withdrawal can use this to maintain their critical thinking skills and effectively resist an alcoholic drink.

These are only some of the changes you can implement in order to improve your chances of long term recovery. In fact, we should discuss a few more changes you need to try out to improve your physical and mental health.

Taking care of your body is a step in the right direction, as this will help you improve your condition significantly. This is easier said than done for someone struggling with addiction, but implementing a few of these changes may go a long way.

Speaking of going a long way, try going for a walk on a regular basis. This gives your body plenty of exercise, and it can also be a relaxing activity for your brain. It can be tough to pull yourself off the couch, but if you do this regularly, you will start to feel its effects. A good walk can even recharge your mind and improve your emotional state.

If you combine walking with the deep breathing exercises we mentioned earlier, it’s even better. Take the time to enjoy your surroundings without worrying about anything. Clear your head and just take a nice walk.

Why stop there? You can implement exercise into your daily routine. The mental health effects of exercise are immediate. Even a small amount of exercise is perfect for someone coping with alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Exercise releases endorphins into your brain, making you naturally happier.

As you work out, your body will also get stronger. Your mental state will improve as you notice how much more powerful you are becoming. Exercise is one of the best natural remedies for alcohol withdrawal. But perhaps more importantly, it will give you a boost in self-confidence that is essential for your recovery.

Working out is only half of the equation. What you eat matters too. Include more fruits and vegetables into your diet because you need those vitamins and minerals to recover. This will also balance out the sugar levels that your body is used to. They’re simply good for your body.

Lessen your consumption of fast food and junk food, and try to maintain a more balanced diet. 

Taking care of your body is important, but you have to take care of your mind too. Taking some time to meditate will give you a relaxed and balanced feeling, which is important as you tackle withdrawal. It’s hard to stay focused on your recovery goals when you are dealing with uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

With meditation, you can get out of your reactive state of mind and get into a proactive state, which is great for dealing with alcohol withdrawal, especially if you are dealing with mild symptoms.

Aside from withdrawal symptoms, people in recovery also have to deal with intense cravings. When a person is addicted to a particular substance, their daily lives tend to revolve around seeking it out, obtaining it, using it, and recovering from it. They lose interest in things they used to enjoy, and alcohol becomes their top priority. They may even neglect their responsibilities in favor of drinking.

What they need is a proper distraction. There are many activities for you to channel your energy into without going right back to alcohol.

Music is a good choice, for example. Music therapy is often used as an alternative therapy in many rehab facilities because it relaxes the mind. During detox, distraction is your friend, and music is a great distraction because it lets you focus on something else other than your symptoms. You can take in the music, the beat, and the lyrics, and enjoy your favorite genre. You can even explore new types of music and discover new artists who may inspire you or bring messages that resonate with you.

Addiction sucks the fun out of life, and music helps bring a little bit of fun back. While addiction may cause you to think that life isn’t enjoyable, you only need a few reminders to see that life is worth living. It’s worth fighting for a healthy and happy life.

During detox, you may find a renewed interest in music. If not, you can still try other creative avenues that are more suitable for your tastes.

Perhaps your interests lie in literature or academics. You can read a book, absorb some new knowledge, or give your imagination something to explore. Either way, books will help expand your mind. Books offer an escape from reality, absorbing you into wonderful new adventures that will make you forget the urge to drink. It’s like taking a walk or listening to music. Reading is not only a good distraction; it is also good for your mental health.

In fact, you can take this time to reconnect with any of your old hobbies and interests. Or you can even start a new one. It can be something you’ve always wanted to try or something unexpected that you’ve never considered trying before.

The possibilities are endless. You can choose something creative or artistic so that you can find new ways to express yourself. You can try out a new sport and get physically active. Or you can just try something fun and new that is healthy and enjoyable. As long as you’re not drinking or falling back into old habits, you should be fine. These activities will help you stop drinking once and for all.

Replacing alcohol with various activities is not easy for everyone. Adopting a new hobby and forming new habits will take some time. So realistically, what you need now is a solid game plan.

People struggling with alcohol withdrawal need to plan ahead for every situation that may push them back into their addictive ways. Avoiding relapse is the primary goal. Some people in recovery go to their local liquor store, tell them about their sobriety journey, and ask the staff not to sell them any liquor.

If you pass by the grocery store a lot and end up buying liquor often, you can plan a different route so your exposure is reduced. Whatever your strategy, you need to have a strategy in place for these scenarios. Planning ahead will help you limit your setbacks and stay on the right track.

If you are going through medical detox, you can come up with a visiting schedule between friends, family members, and other loved ones so that you never have to spend any alone time.

That’s not all you can prepare for. Some people in recovery create a little kit full of things that inspire them and remind them why they went into rehab in the first place. Withdrawal will make you feel like all that pain isn’t worth it. But in the long run you will see that staying focused and determined will bring you to a healthier future that is not driven by any substance.

In this kit, you can even add a letter that you write to yourself. It should encourage you and remind you that sobriety is just on the horizon. Pull the letter out and read it to yourself out loud whenever you are craving for alcohol. This has been shown to be effective at helping people process information and make better decisions. Read your letter as many times as you need to.

There is no substitute for proper medical assistance from healthcare professionals. Seek professional help. Remember that addiction, especially alcohol dependence and withdrawal, can sometimes be life-threatening. Some withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous.

Delirium tremens (DT), for example, is a serious condition that is sometimes encountered by those suffering from alcohol withdrawal. It is characterized by severe nausea, hallucinations, and seizures. Someone who experiences delirium tremens needs immediate medical attention.

This is why quitting cold turkey and detoxing from the comfort of your home is usually not recommended.

You do not have to go through this process on your own. You are not alone in this journey. You have a much better shot at making a full recovery if you seek out the help you need.

Millions of people have gone through alcohol withdrawal. You can rest assured that there is a solid community out there of people who understand what you are going through and are able to offer their support.

Alcohol withdrawal is painful enough. No need to face these dangers alone when there’s a proper medical approach that you can go through that will make it much easier to recover. Admitting that you need help is the first step in a long journey to lasting sobriety.

Withdrawal symptoms may be painful, but pain is only temporary. The discomfort you are currently feeling will go away. Make that first step towards recovery today.

If you are experiencing alcohol withdrawal, it means you have already started the difficult process of lowering your alcohol intake. Due to intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms, you may find yourself struggling for days, or even weeks. It may eventually lead to relapse. However, proper alcohol detox can keep this from happening.

Alcohol detoxification is the process of gradually lowering a person’s alcohol intake while managing their withdrawal symptoms. This is typically done in a safe and comfortable medical environment where patients can receive round the clock support from healthcare professionals. They may be given medications to keep their cravings and withdrawal symptoms under control.

During detox, the body will gradually eliminate alcohol from its systems. It’s the opposite of adjusting to the constant presence of alcohol. This process is all about teaching the body to function normally again without the need for liquor.

Severity of withdrawal symptoms may vary from one person to another, based on a number of factors. Medical detox addresses the physical aspect of addiction, allowing people to get sober again by making the person less dependent on alcohol.

It helps to know what to expect when dealing with things like addiction and alcohol withdrawal. With that in mind, here are some of the most common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal: anxiety, headaches, nausea, irritability, fevers, mood swings, vomiting, insomnia, palpitations, tremors, fatigue, and excessive sweating.

Some people also experience changes in blood pressure or their heart rate. They have low energy, poor appetite, poor coordination, and gastrointestinal problems.

In the worst cases, people going through alcohol withdrawal suffer from seizures, hallucinations, kidney problems, liver problems, and delirium tremens. It is also possible for severe withdrawal symptoms to become fatal.

Delirium tremens is commonly seen as one of the deadliest effects of alcohol withdrawal. It may begin two to three days after the person’s last drink. Some individuals go for more than a week before encountering it.

This condition can drastically alter the body’s temperature. It can affect a person’s blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing, which makes it very dangerous. DT can even reduce the amount of blood flow to the brain. This is why some people who experience DT feel nervous, disoriented, confused, agitated, etc. There’s also a high risk of dehydration due to DT.

Alcohol withdrawal seizures may occur 6 to 48 hours after the last drink, but the peak is usually after 24 hours.

Remember that withdrawal symptoms may vary from one person to another. Generally speaking, however, these symptoms usually occur within the first 24 hours since the last drink.

Usually, these symptoms begin to improve within five days. However, some patients go through it for weeks. The good news is that the severe withdrawal symptoms listed here do not last for weeks.

Just like how withdrawal symptoms and their severity can vary from one person to another, so can the length of medical detox. The amount of time you have to spend undergoing detox will depend on the severity of your condition, and like we said, this is affected by various factors.

Generally speaking, those who consumed more alcohol for a longer period of time may experience severe symptoms. This may also be the case for someone who took drugs along with alcohol. There are also genetic factors like family history, underlying medical issues, mental health problems, age, gender, and body weight.

On average, detox only takes a week based on the patient’s circumstances. Even if detox is over, the body may still take longer to fully heal on its own. It takes even longer to break down the destructive thought patterns and behaviors that led to alcohol abuse and addiction.

Alcohol detox consists of several stages: the early stage, the peak stage, the weakening stage, and the final stage. The early stage is around 24 hours after your last drink. It is associated with mild symptoms, and medication is not required.

During the peak stage, withdrawal is at its worst. Relapse is most likely during this stage because the body is going through immense changes. This is when medication plays a larger role in keeping the patient’s condition under control.

The weakening stage is when the body has become accustomed to the absence of alcohol. Symptoms may begin to subside. The patient will slowly be weaned off of their medications while new forms of therapy are introduced.

The final stage involves leaving detox and getting started on your behavioral therapy.

Medical detox is not a comfortable solution, but it is one of the most effective ways to beat alcohol addiction. Look for an addiction treatment facility near you today and learn more about

Treatment is an addicted individualʼs best option if they want to recover. Beating an addiction not only requires eliminating the physical dependence, but also addressing the behavioral factors that prevent them from wanting to get better. Simply quitting may not change the psychological aspect of addiction. Some people quit for a while, and then take drugs or alcohol again, only to overdose because they did not detox properly. Recovery involves changing the way the patient feels, thinks, and behaves.