Alcohol detox at home is possible in a lot of alcohol addiction cases. In order for you to alcohol detox at home you will first have to visit your doctor and tell her that you want to alcohol detox at home. She will have the knowledge, via your medical records whether you can indeed be fit to alcohol detox at home. There can be many bad side affects to alcohol addiction withdrawal symptoms, and alcohol detox at home might not be such a great idea if you are likely to suffer some of the more severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Alcohol can be strange and wonderful drug. I always loved drinking my beer. Whenever I traveled, I tried all the best beers that were on offer in the country that I was visiting. For instance Belgian beers were something else. There were this bunch of mad monks hold up in monasteries all of their lives, and what were they doing, they were down in their cellars brewing this crazy mans beer. I always thought the Belgians were a quiet bunch of people who went around trying to convince people that they weren’t French.
Anyway, that is not why I am writing this post, the reason why I gave up alcohol was because I got too fond of drinking beer. I was drinking beer every night of the week. Maybe 8 cans, maybe 10 cans, sometimes more. I was just beer mad. But I really got scared one day after a really heavy drinking session the night before, I had a good dose of the shakes and felt awful. That’s when I decided I would quit drinking altogether and go on alcohol detox.
Now I’ve gone and done a lot of researching about alcohol detox centers. But I didn’t think that I needed to sign myself in anywhere, because I wasn’t that much of an alcoholic. So I decided to try out alcohol detox at home. It wasn’t a very hard decision to make. I just knew I had to give up drinking. So I prepared myself for about a week, you know, psyching myself up. I think one of the lessons to be learned here is that you must get yourself psychologically ready to give up drinking long before you actually go through the process of taking your last pint of beer, or your last shot of whiskey.
I had been thinking about alcohol detox for a long time. I had come to the conclusion that there was no quick fix alcohol detox solutions available. If I wanted to stop, I would just have to get on with it and suffer the consequences. In the past every time I wanted a drink I just went out and satisfied that want by buying cans of beer. When you are drinking that much beer you always tend to crave for junk food at the same time so the beer belly that people associate with beer drinkers is also connected to eating loads of crappy food. When I was drinking beer I used to eat tons of potato chips and anything fatty I could get my hands on.
So I knew that when I eventually went on the dry, I would have to stop eating all the junk food as well. Detoxing your system is not just about getting rid of a drug problem. You pick up toxins almost everywhere you go, every time you walk down the street you breathe in toxins from car fumes and airplane fumes, toxins are just about everywhere in the air. You can also pick up toxins from things that you are touching; the toxins would get in through your skin. One of the biggest factors in toxic consumption is the food that we are eating. Ultimately we don’t know where any of that food comes from and we don’t know what toxins are concealed within it.
So, I got myself psychologically ready for my bout of alcohol detox at home. What I did first was to set myself a day to give up the drink. I knew this was very important because it gave me a goal to achieve. You can say it all you want, I’ve heard it time and again. A person is going to stop. But unless you actually set yourself a timetable to do something about it, and to actually drink that last drink or smoke that last cigarette, you won’t get any closer to your goal of kicking the habit.
The next thing I did was set up my house for the detox. I went to the local shops and bought a few gallons of fresh water. I had read somewhere that this was very important in detoxing of any kind. It helps to flush the toxins out of your body through your piss and through your sweat. Plus I would have a pint glass full of water beside me instead of beer. I also bought vegetables, a few packets of soup, some low-fat chicken and fish, vegetable juices, fruit juice is, and anything else healthy I could think of. I loaded up my kitchen with enough supplies for about a week.
With the alcohol detox programs that I researched they all said that over-the-counter medication would probably be enough for my type of alcohol detox. So I got some medication for headaches, diarrhea, nausea, and some mild painkillers. So that was everything from outside the house.
Inside the house, I tried to set myself up as comfortable as possible. I already had a wardrobe full of warm clothes and had plenty of blankets. I wasn’t sure whether I was going to get the dreaded night sweats, you know hot and cold flushes. But I needed to know that everything I would need was around me.
I was also told that if I was going to alcohol detox at home I would need to keep phone numbers of friends and relatives, plus the phone numbers of the local hospital and my doctor close by the phone just in case of emergencies.
So I was ready to start my detox. I will post again soon to continue the story. You might want to look at some of my other alcohol detox posts. I hope you got something out of this post for alcohol detox at home.
Thank you for all this..
Ok… What happened? Did you detox at home? Was it successful? Thinking of detoxing at home to!
Fortunately I was able to detox at home, I found someone who was very supportive of me and got me through all the bad spells…. It’s all worth it, drink for me was just a way of hiding and I thought I might as well be dead than carry on not living my precious life…. Good luck Laura
Please don’t encourage folks to alcohol detox on their own. It can be very dangerous.
Thanks for your advice. Was thinking of quitting smoking as well as acohol for quite sometime. But… I felt fatique even when not consuming alcohol. Something like tiredness, dizzy, clouded mind as an experience. Then I sat up on the compuer and learnt that, it’s something like withdrawal that which happens in both cases.
Yeah I also told myself early in the morning. I will quit smoking, I will quit smoking, I will quit smoking, I will quit smoking before i was finally able to rise from bed. I have been an alcoholic too to be honest and I’m fighting aloholism too.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU. EITHER FIGHT IT OR YOU ARE FINISHED.
And thanks for your information on Alcohol Detox At Home.
I see that you accomplished your goal from your answer to Laura. Would it be too much to ask what you had to endear before you succeeded as I have a friend with no medical coverage but desiring to detox at home. She is some what leary of attempting it and i am trying to help her in this endeavor. Thanks ans congratulations!!!
Hi Ernie, Thanks for commenting. Nothing is really black and white when it comes to this kind of thing and what’s good for one person may not be good for another. My efforts at home detox were never about becoming a teetotaller, it was always about control. I had to get my life back into a space where alcohol wasn’t the first thing I thought of when I finished work. I never drank before work, I didn’t think of taking a drink when I got up in the morning.
My life was being lived as two different people. On the one hand, I was the responsible father who got up every morning, went to work and did my thing. On the other hand, as soon as the work was done the other person took the reins. That’s when I wanted to drink and keep drinking on most occasions. The two sides started to become fuzzy at first and then gradually started to melt into one…that’s when I really knew I had to get help.
I didn’t need medical attention because I knew it was all in my head. But not everyone is the same. I did talk to my doctor beforehand and he gave me the go ahead and didn’t see any problems… only benefits.
It was very difficult for me to sleep for about a month without having a drink. Most of my other issues were psychological, getting my head around staying sober when every fibre in my body wanted a drink.
If your friend wants to try detoxing at home she must first go to her doctor at the very least. The doctor can be the only one to assess any risks involved.
I wish her all the very best. She has that got one thing that a lot of sufferers don’t have, a person who is willing to help. That’s exactly what I had, someone who cared enough to help me through it all. All the best to you too my friend.
Jack
I disagree with you Kitty. Of course it is very dangerous for some folks but it is a legitimate and preferred method of detoxification for others. There is no way I could have gone through institutionalized detox. The trick is to let your doctor into your plans and see what they think.
I’m assuming with no lack of response it didn’t work ?
I’m not sure I understand the question Tim…
Ok, I’m a 45 year old male and have been drinking for probably 30 of those years!
I had 6 months of sobriety in 2010 but threw it all away because I thought I could make it without the support of my AA group; I also convinced myself that the AA group may lead to a relapse because of the constant alcohol talk.\
Now, I am in a state which I cannot leave. I drink a pint of vodka + a 250ml bottle of wine per day. I desperately try to quit but, on day 2 or 3, my brain begins to loose focus and betrays me to the point where I have to second and third guess every decision.
I don’t get the shakes or have hallucinations but when my brain fails me, I must drink today so I can have a good day tomorrow.
Honestly I feel like quiting life after each failure. Unfortunately, that feeling grows stronger with each failure.
What a f’up cycle alcoholism creates.
Drinking use to be a way to elevate the fun while out with friends. But after years of abuse, it only deflates the mind, body and soul into a deep despair, of which there is no comparison.
If you are a teenager, or in your early 20′s, be afraid of alcohol for it is everywhere! As for it’s ability to be an addictive substance? Alcohol has to be the numero uno! Why? Because it’s legal and free from social scrutiny, unless you’ve made it to my level; then it’s something you have to do alone because you know your loved ones hate you once they realize you’ve been drinking. I’ve never been an angry drunk, just a weepy one that hates what he’s doing to himself and his loved ones. My loved ones see my degradation and want me to seek help or leave.
I’m rambling and I’m sorry. I’ve had my pint of TAAKA and am about to hit the store for my daily bottle of wine.
Head my warnings you cocksure young adults. Be very afraid of alcohol. Once it has you, it’s too late. But you’ll never realize that day until it’s too late. It will sneak up on you before you know it and you’ll be begging for detox and praying for a hypnotist that can make you blind to all of the alcohol around you!!
Stephen in Texas
GOOD SITE. I AM CURRENTLY DETOXING FROM DRINKING WINE EVERYDAY.. I was a hard drinker with the voka and the henessy until they told me I have scaring on the liver. So i THOUGT DRINKING WINE WOULD BE BETTER THAN THE HARD STUFF. Well no…. Ha. I currently have prepared and able to take couple of days. BEEN SICK, VOMITING, SWEATS , CHILLS, NAUSEA AND VERY WEEK. Been two days cant eat or hold anything down. Its been 39 hours. I look forward to the fourth day. Much respect. I am 39 year old female. So just all you reading alcohol is alcohol. NO ONE IS DIFFERENT OR WEAKER. i GOT IT NOW..
I have, for the last 2 weeks, tried to detox at home and made it for 2 days but then had to go to Quik Stop for gas which is where I buy my beer and I bought a few cans. My insurance will pay for detox but I have to pay an $1150 co-pay, which I cannot afford. I’m going to start again tomorrow, Monday, always my day to quit. I do have Klonopin to prevent seizures and stocked up on food and juice and plan to lay on the couch for a few days and watch tv but, as soon as I leave the house, I go to Quik Stop. I don’t have anywhere else to go and AA just doesn’t do it for me; most of them are there because they’re court-ordered or old-timers who come because of habit; I have never met anyone in AA who has helped me despite their willingness to give out phone numbers. I am all alone and desparately trying to live without alcohol. Is anyone in this same situation? I’d appreciate your advice on how to go it alone.
My husband is 28 years old. Yesterday on my way home from work. I found him laying in the street bleeding and unconscious, he was riding our daughters razor dirt bike and was side swiped by a car. This situation was devastating. He was drunker than a skunk might I add, as well as on xanax. I have been dealing with this situation for six years now. He says he can stop at anytime and drinks because he is bored. Thats a crock of s%$t, I don’t know how to help him, or if I even can. He walked away with some stiches and bruises. Just got really lucky. This is not his first time hes put himself in these situations. He has agreed to stop as of today, I went to the extreme of telling his family everything going on with him. We all have decided to walk away if he cannot stop. I never go on these types of things but I know he will be detoxing, I have seen him go through it a good 3 times, he can only make it that long before hes drinking again, why is it so hard to just not pick it up again after all the detoxing, I dont understand and I feel like giving up. Any advice?
Was in the hospital twice last month and one time this month…anxiety,panic attacks first diagnosis..perimenapausal the second and alcohol poisoning/ overdose the third time..i am 46 years old..august 8th would have been my one year sobriety but fell off of wagon late may ( absess tooth) plus insomnia my excuse this time..have not been back to work yet..fighting every day…don’t have meds here or saline to make it without pain..believe me don’t like hospitals and the negative attention that is related to alcoholism…trying to detox at home but don’ t sleep more than 20 minutes at a time..awake soaking wet and in panic mode..does not take me long to finagle ride..knowing just one more drink will make it go away..sometimes go to store 4 times a day for beer..just one 24 oz. in my mind won’t hurt me..no liquor in house except the one i’ll pick up at circle k, it’s 7:10 a.m. here in arizona..was at store b4 6 a.m. when they start selling alcohol here..was embarrased,got gasoline,left and went to another circle k,picked up one 24 oz. Natural lt.nasty beer and 2 little smirnoff shooters so no one at home would notice when they get up…i can handle the dry heaves,sweats,etc. but am having trouble this time with anxiery,dizziness and now afraid to sleep, get this falling feeling..weird..heart pounding so hard wakes me..is their a doc out there or someone with similar experience to tell me when these symptoms will pass…thank you..good luck to you all!!!
i start tomorrow. i have a big group of people to help me, when and if i call. how long has it been, did it work? i guess once an alcho always that way. have a good doc a will seek physc help too.
what are the chances? different 4 everybody i guess.
i found a 21 day course was $13800 aud. im not a rock star. hell.
standard detox 5 days here.
if i have no money to buy, arranged by me, talked to all the local bottle shops, ask not to serve me. do you think i have a chance?
I started my detox on Tue 16th so this is my fourth day and it is the first day I have felt human’
The first three weren’t good, this is my second go at detoxing so I knew what I was in for,
but it is something that I have to do Alcohol is a dangerous drug but it is so easy to get.
What gets me is that there is so much help and centers and public awareness out there to help
smokers give up but very little out there to help drinkers give up.
Anway I hope I stick at it this time because I know that I can never have another drink because for
me 1 drink is to many and 100 is not enough.
Good luck to you all.
Good luck to you Maico
“Tried” to quit drinking a handful of times over the past few years. Drinking is my way of dealing with depression and anxiety… it used to make me feel like it made all of my problems go away. And hey as long as I got up in the morning and functioned as a mother and went to work everyday… I deserved to have a drink once I got home and started dinner. After several years a glass of wine lead to two to four and on to vodka martinis. Alcohol has become poison to me… for me. It has effected my family, my friends and my career. I decided that it was too difficult to quit on my own and went to a councilor. I call my drinking time “wine time”… it starts between 5 and 7 pm and last until…?… well whenever I fall asleep…usually between midnight to 3 am. This progression has made it difficult to function… besides that it’s hard to get up sometimes I still felt intoxicated. It’s taken over and it’s no one’s fault but mine. I try not to drink but between 4 and five withdraw takes over… I shake … so much by the time I get my glass of whatever the nights poison is… I can barely get the glass to my mouth without spilling it. It’s very scarey…I feel sick, dizzy and confused at times.
That is NOT me. My councilor has advised me to do an inpatient detox for 7 days. It would be close to impossible for me to do that. I just beginning my research on detoxing at home. My boyfriend and best friend can stay with me and help me… I’m very lucky to have their encouragement and support. I need to weigh my options and decide what’s best for me… I don’t know how I could manage 7 days away… I’m afraid if I try at home I will get sick or worse… but I guess what scares me the most would be not trying and continuing to ruin my life and ultimately killing myself slowly. I would appreciate any advise or experiences with detoxing at home.
14 days to make a decision…
I’m on day one of detox and I’ve gota go work not lookin forward 2 this wish me luk.
I start my detox on Tuesday and believe me I can’t wait. This will be my 5th detox,the longest I’ve lasted totally abstinence was 2 months! Its not easy,but its achievable. Good luck to each and everyone of you who are sharing this illness.
I wish you all the best Kevin
Good luck Russell, It can sometimes be much more difficult to overcome the barriers inside the head than any physical barriers.
Thanks for the article, Jack. This is giving me hope, and helping me to gear up with the necessary arsenol to “come down”. I have a very close friend who lives with me, and is very supportive. I saw my doc who gave me a script for valium, and ran some blood work on me which I’m waiting for the results. I don’t get major withdrawal symptoms and really don’t think there is anything seriously wrong… but just need a little support. Fell back into this after several months.
Good luck Annie
I have been drinking heavily for 20 years, and every single night for the past 2-3 years, usually 9 beers and then a bottle of 750ml white wine to finish things off.
I woke up still drunk (as usual) yester morning, and my three year old daughter told me that I stink! this is the first time she has made a comment about me drinking and it hit me hard. So hard that I have decided this is it, no more for me. I was really afraid of stopping cold turkey, but decded to go ahead. No drinks for me yesterday.
Well I’m happy to say that I had an excellent nights sleep, and woke up completely refreshed! Gee I missed that. My mind is sharp today and I have had the most productive day at work that I have had for a long time.
Yeah, it’s day one, but when I think that if I have a drink I am choosing alcohol my daughter who needs a sober dad, I cannot let her down. She needs me…
Hi Jason, you sound like you’re doing great…one day at a time dude…your daughter is your best motivation…All the best of luck.
Jack
God bless you all. I am there inside of each story. I started doing drugs and alcohol at age 12. I am 53 now. For the past five years I have been attempting a sober life. Typically I make it to nine or ten months at a stretch. Then I go out for a month or so and realize the same things done over and over only lead to the same things done over and over. I hate alcohol. But it is what it is. It has been my friend for so many years. Then it became my demon. Alcohol addiction is serious. It can be fatal through many paths. Detoxing at home is one remedy but it should be done only through good counseling and advice. This can be through friends who are recovering or medical professionals. Do not leave results to chance. Detox is PAINFUL. IT CAN BE FATAL. If you have the insurance and ability to set aside some time the best way is to go to a hospital or facility. If not, then do not give up. Getting alcohol out of your system and feeling better can be achieved. Just do not die in the process. My first visit to a clinic my BAL was .49. Most folks would be dead. You do not get there over night; it takes years. I am detoxing again at home but at a much less dangerous place. A month of wine drinking to “calm the nerves.” Right. Now I have the shakes again, anxiety, sweats, you guys know the drill. Your counsel has been helpful. I can only hope that folks out there who suffer from the same disease will help and support each other and give sound advice to those seeking help.
Hey Mike
I just can’t get over the amount of people out there who are willing to help. It doesn’t matter if that help is merely through a kind word to a fellow human who you know is suffering. Thanks to people like you who put yourselves out to help those who are on the journey… in the words of Bobby Kennedy:
“First is the danger of futility; the belief there is nothing one man or one woman can do against the enormous array of the world’s ills — against misery and ignorance, injustice and violence. Yet many of the world’s great movements, of thought and action, have flowed from the work of a single man.”
May your God bless you!
Jack
I have been drinking a liter of whiskey a night for years, I have high bp and am 45 yrs old. I am starting day four with no alcohol. Had the hot cold sweats, headaches,halucinations but no shakes or vomiting yet. I haven’t slept in more than a decade I just pass out. So therefor I haven’t slept in going on four days. Worried about having a seizure or something that may result in death. Should I try to have a drink or a beer or two and taper down gradually if I begin to feel any of the major symptoms some people list above? I’m really scared to do this at home but I do not have insurance and was almost ignored and pushed out of the hospital when I was there in August 2011.
im 36 years old female…this is been my life for 20 years. over 20 detoxes – hospitals, clinics, rehabs, pysch wards etc for just alcohol….almost had a year this year but it seduced me back into its wrath and i am here trying to do it over a weekend. i did get ativan to take to get through shakes and withdrawal symptoms….which mine are so bad i usually call 911 om myself bc too painful> i hpe this works as its been 48 hrs and i am okay and have to be at work at 3. nothing worse. my life was reduced to my bed and the bottle.
I WANT TO LIVE THE LIFE WE ALL DESERVE!!!