Going cold turkey at home: Doing it safely
Going cold turkey at home: Doing it safely
If you’ve decided that you want to tackle alcohol addiction head on, then getting treatment is paramount to that. Seeking professional help is among the best things you can do in order to get your life back on track, but of course that costs money.
It’s always advised to get treatment, and go through withdrawal in a medical environment with professionals around to help, due to the complications that can occur from withdrawal symptoms and overall health, many people do indeed decide detoxing at home is the right decision for them.
For the most part, this is largely down to comfort and financial reasons, but it can make it much more difficult too.
If you’ve made that decision, then your own health and safety is paramount. Here are our top tips for going cold turkey from alcohol at home, and starting your own recovery process…
Remove all alcohol from your home
It perhaps goes without saying but one of the first things you should do is take all alcohol out of your home. If you’re self-detoxing, you need to ensure there are no temptations lying around your property and just get rid of all alcohol. When the cravings kick in, you may not be able to control and get through them, which would lead you directly towards the cupboard where alcohol is, if it’s still lying around.
Ensure you have support
While you may wish to do this on your own, it’s important to confide in someone to be on hand to help and support you. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are tough on a person both mentally and physically, and there can be complications so having a hand to hold, and get you medical help if you need it, is a must.
It will also help the process, having someone to talk to, watch TV with and just that little bit of comfort during what will be one of the hardest times of your life.
Clear your diary
There’s no real time scale on how long it will take to get through your detox and withdrawal. For some people it can take days, some it can take that little bit longer. Then there’s the recovery process, it’s not a case of getting up and going straight back to work. You need to take the time to fully concentrate on going through the recovery process. That may mean taking a few months of work to relax, be calm and avoid any unnecessary stress that may drive you back to alcohol.
Stay hydrated and eat a balanced diet
Throughout the entire recovery process, you should do what you can to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids throughout. You’ll find initially that you have a severe loss of appetite, so in the early stages you may want to include broths and soups in your diet to get the nutrients you need in your system.
Once your appetite returns, focus on healthier foods and a balanced diet as this will start to boost your strength and aid your recovery.
