Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment in Lubbock, TX
Alcohol withdrawal occurs when you stop using alcohol once a dependence has set in. Alcohol withdrawal treatment in Lubbock is essential for safe, comfortable withdrawal and successful detox from alcohol.
Why Do Withdrawal Symptoms Occur?
Dependence is characterized by withdrawal symptoms, and it may occur over time with chronic use of alcohol. When you drink heavily, your brain compensates for the frequent presence of alcohol by changing the way it functions chemically. For example, your brain will suppress the activity of GABA, a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of calm, while increasing the activity of glutamate, a neurotransmitter that produces feelings of excitement. It does this to reduce the effects of alcohol, which is a depressant.
As a result of these brain changes, you build up a tolerance to alcohol so that you need increasingly higher doses to get the desired effects. As your alcohol use increases, your brain continues to suppress GABA and increase glutamate, and at some point, your brain function may shift so that the brain operates more comfortably when alcohol is in your system than when it's not. Then, when you stop using, normal brain function rebounds. GABA activity increases dramatically, and glutamate is considerably reduced. This rebound of neurotransmitter activity that causes withdrawal symptoms.
Alcohol withdrawal treatment in Lubbock helps you get through withdrawal with a high level of emotional support and a variety of medications that are administered as needed.
Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be excruciating, but they can also be dangerous or even fatal, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Withdrawal symptoms may range from mild to severe, depending on how much alcohol is in your system at the time of detox and how long you've been dependent on alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal treatment centers can offer a variety of medications to ease some of the symptoms and prevent a range of dangerous health conditions.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms typically set in within two to 12 hours after the last drink. Early withdrawal symptoms include:
- Intense cravings.
- Insomnia.
- Anxiety.
- Headache.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Tremors.
- Profuse sweating.
Some people may begin to experience hallucinations between 12 and 24 hours after quitting alcohol, but they know the hallucinations aren't real, and they usually end within two days.
In some cases, withdrawal seizures may occur between 24 and 48 hours after the last drink. Medication can help prevent seizures as well as treat them if they occur. The more times you've undergone detox from alcohol, the more likely you are to experience seizures during detox.
Delirium tremens, or DTs, is a serious condition that can set in between 48 and 72 hours after your last drink. DTs peak around the five day mark and include symptoms like:
- Severe anxiety.
- Confusion and disorientation.
- Seizures.
- High blood pressure.
- Racing or irregular heartbeat.
- Fever.
- Hallucinations that are indistinguishable from reality.
- Severe tremors.
DTs are very dangerous, and they can be fatal. Risk factors for DTs include a history of seizures during withdrawal, older age, a long history of drinking, and certain medical problems. Alcohol withdrawal treatment centers help ensure your safety by providing medical supervision and medications as needed to prevent or quickly treat the symptoms of DTs.
Why You Should Choose Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment Programs in Lubbock
Because alcohol withdrawal can turn dangerous very quickly, alcohol withdrawal treatment programs feature 24-hour supervision by medical personnel who can intervene if necessary. A high quality alcohol withdrawal treatment facility will offer a high level of emotional support and provide a comfortable, welcoming, and soothing place to detox. This support and comfort can be absolutely essential for successful withdrawal. Most people who try to detox on their own will turn right back to alcohol very quickly just to make the discomfort stop.
Many programs that offer alcohol withdrawal treatment in Lubbock provide a range of complementary therapies to help improve your sense of well-being during detox, and some can even provide relief from cravings, insomnia, and other symptoms of withdrawal. Complementary therapies may include art therapy, yoga, aqua therapy, acupuncture, and massage.
Detox is Not Addiction Treatment
The National Institute on Drug Abuse stresses that detox is not the same as addiction treatment, although it's often the first step in a high quality treatment program. Alcohol withdrawal treatment in Lubbock addresses only the physical dependence on alcohol.
Addiction is a complex disease that's characterized by the inability to stop drinking even though it's causing legal, financial, health, or relationship problems. Successful addiction treatment requires intensive therapy once drug detox in Lubbock is complete. A variety of treatment therapies are used to address the complicated issues that underlie the addiction, which often include a history of trauma, chronic stress, family dysfunction, or mental illness.
While alcohol withdrawal treatment programs help you detox safely and in comfort, relapse rates for alcohol are extremely high if treatment isn't provided. Effectively ending the addiction will require further treatment through a high quality drug rehab program in Lubbock. Call us now at (877) 804-1531.