Identifying the tipping point when occasional enjoyment of an alcoholic drink morphs into addiction can be tricky. Even more difficult is breaking free from alcohol use disorder, a form of alcohol addiction that can interfere with daily activities and relationships, cause you to behave recklessly, and prompt withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking.

Deciding to give up alcohol is a courageous step. If you have alcohol use disorder, however, detoxing — the process by which alcohol leaves your system after your last drink — can be dangerous if withdrawal symptoms occur. You can detox more safely when you receive care and monitoring from addiction medicine specialists, like the ones at Tanner Health System.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal may appear hours or days after your last drink and include:

• Anxiety
• Clammy skin
• Depression
• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Lack of appetite
• Mood swings
• Nausea
• Nightmares
• Rapid heart rate
• Trouble sleeping
• Vomiting

Some individuals may experience delirium tremens, a type of alcohol withdrawal that can cause tremors, seizures and hallucinations.

What happens during the alcohol detox process?

Medical detox allows you to clear alcohol from your system in a safe, professional environment where specially trained providers can help you cope with or minimize withdrawal symptoms. Willowbrooke at Tanner offers inpatient detox to help patients get sober and proceed to the next stage of recovery.

During the alcohol detox process at our facility, you’ll receive continuous monitoring, and a medical team will oversee your care. You may receive medication to help with detox and temporary sedation to reduce the risks of withdrawal symptoms. Other treatments, such as behavioral health counseling, will help you improve your mental health and begin understanding the roots of addiction. We’ll prepare you to continue your recovery so you can find a lasting solution to alcohol addiction.

Are you ready to reclaim control from alcohol? Learn more about how addiction services at Willowbrooke at Tanner can help you break the cycle of dependence.