Location
Our Seattle Location
Northpoint Seattle’s outpatient treatment program is located in beautiful Seattle, Washington, and we work to help the surrounding communities.
- Seattle
2111 N Northgate Way Suite 101,
Seattle, WA 98133, United States
Sammamish, Washington Alcohol Detox for Safer Alcoholism Recovery
You should consider going to an alcohol detox in Sammamish, Washington if you’re an alcoholic. Maybe you’ve been thinking about recovering from alcoholism for a long time.
However, you may have thought that all you’d need to do was go to rehab. Maybe you assumed that going to a few AA meetings would be enough. The fact is that detoxing is a vital step, and you really shouldn’t ignore the need for it.
Whether or not you’re familiar with alcohol detox programs, you need as much information as possible. You need to know how valuable taking this step will be for your long-term sobriety. We’re glad you’re here so that you can learn as much about detoxing as possible.
Do You Have Questions About Addiction? Call Our Recovery Experts Now.
What are the Sammamish Alcohol Detoxification Centers Like?
The first thing you’ll notice is that going to a detox center is probably much different than you’d expect. You might expect to find a relatively sterile setting that looks more like a hospital. While it is possible to detox in a hospital, most detoxification programs are much different.
There’s no reason for you to feel uncomfortable or out of place when you’re going through alcohol detox. In fact, it’s much better for you if you’re comfortable and you’re made to feel at home. That’s what you should encounter at alcohol detox.
Your treatment plan should be explained to you at length. If you’ve been wondering how to detox from alcohol, they’ll talk with you about the different methods. If you have any questions, they’ll answer them for you as well.
When do People go to Alcohol Detox Facilities?
The detoxification process should be your first step in your recovery. It’s important to address the physical side of your addiction to drinking first. This is going to help you get through your alcohol withdrawal symptoms. In the long run, this will greatly benefit you as you move forward with your treatment.
During alcohol detox, symptoms are still going to be present. However, they won’t be as severe. It’s not necessary for you to suffer just to recover from your addiction. You can recover quicker and experience much less physical and mental pain and anguish. These are just some of the goals of detoxification.
Detox is necessary for alcoholics because of the way alcohol changes you both physically and mentally. This drug is extremely damaging to the brain. Going through detox will help to reverse some of that damage. It can also make the recovery process much faster.
What’s Wrong with Detoxing Alcohol on Your Own?
You may be tempted to try and detox from alcohol on your own, without any professional help. You may even promise yourself that after you’re no longer going through withdrawal, you’ll enter rehab. There are a few things you need to know about making this decision.
When it comes to how long it takes to detox from alcohol, it takes longer without professional support. When you’re in a program, you benefit greatly from the tools and knowledge they have to offer you. They know so much about this process and how it will affect you. If the detox timeline is a concern for you, you should know that quitting cold turkey is going to take longer.
Secondly, you should know that you run the risk of experiencing complications. The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can become severe very quickly. In fact, you can go from having mild symptoms to having life-threatening ones in the course of minutes.
Holistic and all-natural detox has been all the rage for a few years now. There are so many products on the market that promise amazing results for recovering alcoholics. Some of these include:
- Vitamins for withdrawal
- Supplements to help with symptoms
- Detox drinks
- Dietary recommendations for those who are detoxing
- Making better lifestyle choices, such as by using the ayurvedic method
These all sound like they would be wonderful. The truth is that they’re usually little more than marketing gimmicks. None of them have been proven to be effective, and they can cause more harm than good.
When you stop drinking, you may be at risk for developing delirium tremens, or the DTs. Symptoms can include:
- Having seizures
- Becoming delusional
- Extreme confusion
- Excessive fatigue that quickly changes to having a lot of energy
- Feeling sensitive to light, sound and touch
These and other symptoms can begin without any warning. You may also quickly spike a high blood pressure or heart rate, or experience other medical issues. None of these can be controlled with vitamins, supplements, drinks, or other methods.
What is Alcohol Withdrawal, and What’s the Timeline Like?
Alcohol withdrawal is what happens when you suddenly stop drinking. Your body has taken time to adjust to having it regularly. It’s gotten used to it, and it’s become a part of your routine. Once you quit drinking, this can throw your body out of balance. The result is that you go through withdrawal.
The signs of alcohol withdrawal can be quite different for everyone. There are many withdrawal timeline charts online that can help you understand the process. Without professional help, you may have symptoms that last for several weeks. Again, the withdrawal timeframe varies based on how much you drink, and how long you’ve been an alcoholic.
Some of the more common symptoms people experience when withdrawing from alcohol include:
- Experiencing tremors or the shakes
- Feeling anxious or depressed
- Having nightmares and other problems with sleep
- Excessive sweating
- Cold and clammy skin
- Becoming pale
- Losing your appetite, and possible weight loss
When symptoms become severe, this is often referred to as having alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Symptoms like nausea and vomiting, high blood pressure and confusion can appear quickly. Some people experience them within six hours of their last drink. Other people may not have them for a few days.
Yes, it is possible for alcohol withdrawal to lead to death. Unfortunately for too many people, it does. 5% of people who attempt to quit drinking cold turkey will experience the DTs. This is why if you do attempt to quit drinking on your own, don’t do it alone. You need to have a trusted friend or relative with you at all times.
You may reach a point during the detox process when you can’t call for help. If the DTs develop, they can come on very quickly. At that point, your loved one should call 911. This is something you may not be able to do on your own.
According to Wikipedia, the mortality rate for delirium tremens without medical intervention is as high as 40%. With treatment, the chances for survival are much better.
There are certain characteristics that may put you at a higher risk for DTs than someone else. For instance, you could be at risk if you:
- Have a history of heavy alcohol use and experience a head injury.
- Have gone through alcohol withdrawal before.
- Have a long history of drinking and then you suddenly stop.
- Don’t eat enough food when you quit drinking.
- Have consumed a lot of alcohol over a period of ten years or more.
Of course, there are instances when the DTs can develop in someone who would be considered low risk. When it comes to your health and sobriety, it’s not always so cut and dry.
How Going to a Sammamish, WA Alcohol Detox Center Can Keep You Safe
When you choose to go to an alcohol detox facility, there are many ways that you can remain safe. By going through the detoxification process, your withdrawal symptoms can be minimized. Your detox time will also be shortened, which means you’ll feel better much faster.
By getting the right kind of help, your risk of delirium tremens can almost be eliminated. If you do develop DTs, you’ll be in a place where you can get immediate assistance. Your blood pressure will be closely monitored, as well as any other signs of complications.
Your Options for Detoxification in Sammamish in WA State
There are several different ways that you can go through the detoxification process. Your addiction recovery needs will dictate which method will be the right one for you. However, you’ll probably be recommended for one of the following.
A hospital detox isn’t for everyone. However, if it’s determined that you have a mental health condition, you may go to detox first. At one point, this was really the only way that people had to rid their bodies of alcohol-related toxins. While it’s not as popular today as it once was, it’s still available.
If you detox in a hospital setting, you won’t be permitted to have any visitors. You’ll probably be given some medications to help control your symptoms. Some hospitals may even offer a 3-day detox, but be careful. This might not be safe.
Most people find that inpatient detox is what they really need. This is usually at an alcohol rehab that also offers detoxification services. You may go through the process and then continue with inpatient treatment. Or, you may be referred to an outpatient facility for rehab. It all depends on what your needs are.
Inpatient detox is very effective, which is why it’s so widely utilized. They will monitor you carefully to be sure that you’re getting all the help you need.
Residential detoxification isn’t quite as popular, but it is necessary for some people. Maybe you’ve been drinking for most of your life. Or, it’s possible that other forms of treatment have failed you in the past. These are both good reasons to undergo a residential program.
You’ll be able to stay at this facility for quite some time, and some people stay for several months. It’s good that this type of help is available for those who need it.
There are several alcohol detox drugs that are on the market today. One of them is called Vivitrol. This medication can help to reduce your urge to drink. It can also help to eliminate or improve your withdrawal symptoms.
You may also be given additional medications to help you feel better faster. Blood pressure meds, anti-seizure drugs and anti-nausea drugs are all very common for recovering alcoholics.
What to Expect After Attending the Detox Center in Sammamish, Washington
After you’ve gone through the detoxification process, it will be time to consider your next steps. Detox is great, but it’s only going to target the physical part of your addiction. You also need to address the psychological component, and this is just as important. When one part of the addiction is ignored, you’re not able to fully recover the way that you want to.
Unfortunately, sometimes people will detox and then they’ll go home without any other type of care. You need some form of alcohol rehab after you’ve detoxed. This might mean entering an inpatient facility, but it doesn’t have to. You may want to consider going to an IOP (intensive outpatient program) instead. This would ensure that you get a high level of care, but that it’s flexible at the same time.