If you are wondering whether or not you might need a rehabilitation center to stop drinking, then you have probably already identified that you have a problem with alcohol. While some people can stop drinking “cold turkey” and have no problems, others might get violent shakes and require medical attention. At what point do you decide that you need help with alcohol detox? There are several factors to consider. First, start by looking at the amount of alcohol you are consuming lately. If you are drinking large amounts of beer, wine, or liquor then your need for alcohol detox is probably great. What constitutes a large quantity of alcohol? As a general rule, anything over a twelve pack of beer or a pint of liquor per day is too much. For example, if you are drinking a fifth of liquor a day, your detox will be rough.
The next factor to consider is determining whether or not you might need alcohol rehab is to look at how long you have been drinking. If you started drinking a month ago and have never had anything to drink before that, then you probably can quit on your own. However, if you have been drinking daily for years, then your body will go through a serious detoxification from the alcohol and you should probably seek supervised rehabilitation.
Another factor that many people do not take into consideration is the use of prescription drugs while you have been drinking. Benzodiazepines like Xanax, Ativan, or Valium can make the initial withdrawal from alcohol very intense and dangerous. Alcohol rehab should not begin unless medical supervision is available due to the life threatening combination of drugs and alcohol detox. Please take this seriously.
Convulsions are the main symptom to watch for when detox begins. Shaking hands are a likely sign that a seizure is about to occur without medical treatment. If your hands begin to shake, go straight to an emergency room. Do not hesitate!If you are still unsure whether you need supervised medical attention during detox, watch your symptoms for a day or two without alcohol. If your symptoms become noticeable, you should probably seek medical treatment immediately. With no noticeable symptoms, you may be able to just attend a local AA meeting and begin to start an alcohol free life. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and seek professional help. If you live in the Orange County, Surf City Recovery can be your first stop to living a sober life!