Getting professional help for alcohol addiction is probably your best choice to effectively manage the symptoms of withdrawal. Quitting “cold turkey” is not a reliably effective method and can be dangerous if your withdrawal symptoms are severe. Without medical supervision, your risk of relapse is also far greater. With professional help, the severity of your addiction and any co-occurring health conditions will be taken into account to create an effective treatment plan.
Is it safe to stop drinking cold turkey?
In short, no. When you’re ready to quit drinking, it’s tempting—even empowering—to want to try and stop drinking on your own. But, depending on the severity of your addiction, when you stop drinking, the withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable at best and life-threatening at worst.
Without the right support to manage your withdrawal symptoms, you could also relapse. Relapsing without support can cause additional stress, shame, and guilt—all things that are normal parts of addiction. In addition to managing the symptoms of withdrawal, a professional treatment program can help you get to the root of the addiction so that you can learn how to effectively manage your triggers and find better ways to cope with cravings and emotions.
Alcohol withdrawal effects
Withdrawal symptoms can be severe depending on how long and heavily you’ve been drinking. You’ll probably start to feel the effects fairly quickly following your last drink, and the symptoms can be at their worst about two or three days into withdrawal. Symptoms of withdrawal can include:
- Seizures
- Delirium tremens (DTs)
- Hallucinations
- Severe dehydration
- Tremors
- Heart palpitations
- Dangerously high fever
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Anxiety
- Diarrhea
- High blood pressure
During the withdrawal process, you’ll start to feel better and might think you no longer need help. However, having support—sometimes for more time than you think is necessary—can help you deal with any symptoms that might arise. Even if that’s group support, individual therapy, or just checking in with a sponsor, having help makes a difference. Building your support network will be a major part of creating your relapse prevention plan during addiction rehab.
The safest way to quit drinking alcohol
The safest way to end your addiction safely after completing detox is through an alcohol addiction treatment program at a rehab center like Red Oak Recovery®.
- Benefits of professional treatment include:
- 24/7 supervision from trained professionals
- When appropriate, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help with withdrawal symptoms
- Nutrition counseling as you build a healthier version of yourself
- A variety of talk and experiential therapies to build a customized treatment plan
- A community of peers who can support you through the experience
Quitting alcohol is a major decision, and you should be proud that you’re taking the first step. You’ve already made a major commitment, and reaching out for help—instead of trying to quit cold turkey—can give you the strength and skills to stick with it.
Start alcohol addiction treatment at Red Oak Recovery®
Receiving treatment in a comfortable and caring environment, surrounded by peers and professionals who will support you through your journey, is an experience that will set you up for success and reduce your risk of relapse. Through a combination of evidence-based and experiential therapies, the team at Red Oak Recovery®, located in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, can help you get back to living a healthy and productive life armed with effective coping techniques and strategies. Call our team at 828.382.9699 today or complete the online form to get started.
