Firstly- congratulations on finding this article: in searching for this, you’ve taken the first step towards detoxing from alcohol and started your journey towards a happier, healthier you. We’re here to assure you that with the right help and support, it’s possible for you to live an alcohol-free life.
Do I have an alcohol addiction?
Alcohol addiction is a serious form of problem drinking. People suffering with this condition will often have an uncontrollable obsession and compulsion to drink against their will. Sadly, people suffering with alcohol addiction will generally place drinking before all other commitments including family and work.
We are here to assure you that you are not alone in your journey to beat alcohol addiction. There are private alcohol addiction clinics such as Sanctum who can offer a holistic and compassionate approach to treatment, ensuring you will have the full support you need to overcome your addiction.
What is an alcohol detox?
Understanding what an alcohol detox is can make the process seem much less daunting. A specialist addiction clinic will be able to explain the whole process to you, ensuring you feel fully informed and reassured about what your alcohol detox will entail.
An alcohol detox is the process through which all traces of alcohol are removed from the body, ensuring that a person is physically stable and ready to start therapy as part of their long-term recovery from alcohol addiction.
It is commonly known that detoxing from alcohol can have some unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, and this can seem frightening to people considering undergoing an alcohol detox. However, it is important to remember that with the correct help from a specialist addiction clinic, any withdrawal symptoms and side effects can be effectively minimised.
Where will my detox be carried out?
Private addiction clinics such as Sanctum can offer different options for where you detox may be carried out, depending on your needs. You may detox at Sanctum’s clinic, located in Wilmslow, Cheshire. There could also be the option for you to detox in one of the clinic’s private residences, or in your own home, supported by a professionally trained medical team.
What are the different types of alcohol detox?
When it comes to detoxing from alcohol, there are three main routes. An addiction specialist will be able to advise you on which is the best route for you, taking into account factors such as your medical history and the amount of alcohol that you consume each day.
The three routes are:
– Detox with medication
– Reduction
– The Sinclair Method
We will now discuss each in more detail.
Alcohol detox with medication
The most effective form of detox is one that is medically assisted and supported by trained specialists. Attempting to detox on your own is rarely successful. A specialist addiction clinic can provide the professional support you need. A specialist detox clinic will have a team of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals on hand around the clock to help you through the detox process.
So, what exactly is an alcohol detox with medication? Put simply, it’s a detox from alcohol supported with medication. When undergoing a detox with medication, you will stop drinking completely (go ‘cold turkey’). By stopping drinking alcohol completely, a patient will be taking a much faster route to recovery, but they will experience withdrawal symptoms. It’s important that these symptoms should be managed professionally by an experienced addiction specialist or clinic otherwise they can be life threatening.
Medication is used to manage withdrawal symptoms safely and effectively, ensuring that they have minimal impact on a patient’s detox and recovery process. A specialist addiction clinic such as Sanctum in Wilmslow, Cheshire, will aim to minimise the negative impact of withdrawal symptoms, and make the detox experience as safe and as comfortable as possible.
The reduction method
Your options when detoxing from alcohol are either to stop drinking completely, or instead gradually reduce alcohol consumption until you get to a point where you are no longer drinking at all- this is called ‘reduction’.
By reducing alcohol consumption gradually, the patient doesn’t experience withdrawal symptoms, however this process is much slower and takes longer to complete than if a patient stops completely. Patients who detox using the reduction method will usually need to be supported by counselling to ensure that their recovery stays on track.
The Sinclair Method
The Sinclair Method is a treatment method developed by Dr. John D. Sinclair. Unlike traditional treatments that require the patient to stop or reduce their alcohol consumption, the Sinclair Method allows the patient to continue drinking alcohol at the beginning of treatment. This is because the treatment involved combining alcohol consumption with the prescription medication Naltrexone.
Naltrexone works to block endorphins, so when Naltrexone is taken prior to drinking it prevents endorphins from being released when alcohol is consumed. When the endorphins are blocked, the alcohol doesn’t give the patient the feeling of pleasure that drives them to drink excessively. Without the ‘buzz’ that alcohol gives, there is less desire to keep on drinking excessively.
Over time, the brain learns not to associate alcohol with pleasure, resulting in reduced cravings and improved control over alcohol use. Naltrexone is also a powerful treatment for other addictions, such as food addiction.
How to start your detox journey
Advice and support from addiction recovery specialists is key to a healthy, successful detox and a full recovery. The professionals at a specialist addiction clinic will take into account your individual circumstances and ensure that you undertake the most suitable detox route.
To start your recovery journey today, contact Sanctum for a confidential, non-judgemental chat.
