Cornerstone of Southern California, Celebrating 40 Years

It is important to understand that detoxing from Alcohol can kill and should never be done without medical supervision. Severe physical reactions to stopping drinking such as delirium tremens, which have both neurological and physiological effects on the body, can occur and without proper preparation and planning may hinder the withdrawal and detox process. Californian’s excessive drink statistics are slightly below the national average, but the dangers of alcoholism nonetheless remain.

A detox at Cornerstone will provide you with the appropriate setting in which to begin your recovery journey. We will administer the professional care required to manage the effects of alcohol detox, making it as safe and as gentle as possible. Withdrawal symptoms from alcohol can occur fairly quickly after the last drink, so you may have experienced or been witness to, the beginnings of alcohol detox yourself or in a loved one. We have years of experience when dealing with the alcohol detox process and are adept at making all stages of the withdrawal as comfortable as possible.

We’re here any time of the day to talk

Call us and speak to one of our caring addiction counselors.
Call Today (714) 547-5375

What is an Addiction?

When you are obsessed with any legal or illegal drug or alcohol, it is known as an addiction or substance abuse disorder. If you are chemically dependent on something, you cannot quit it by yourself.

At a point, even if you want to stop consuming that substance, you won’t be able to do that. When you are dependent on a certain drug or alcohol, it affects your central nervous system and your health will deteriorate.

Besides, if you don’t give in, you will have to face some terrible withdrawal symptoms.

To get rid of this issue, you can always get into drug and alcohol rehab. In this way, you will be under medical supervision, and your withdrawal symptoms will be managed medically.

Alcohol Detox Guide: Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline & Duration
Alcohol Detox Guide: Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline & Duration

What is Alcohol Detox?

The alcohol detox is the primary step for recovering from alcoholism. However, this process is critical; hence, you should never try to do it alone.

When you go through an alcohol detoxification program, the substance will be eliminated from your body. And you will start to feel some symptoms that may worsen over time.

The severity of these withdrawal indicators may vary from person to person, and it depends on various facts such as,

  • How much do you drink alcohol
  • How often you drink and for how long
  • If you have any co-occurring disorder or not

However, drug and alcohol detox doesn’t mean lifelong recovery. You will have to go through some therapeutic treatments after the detoxification.

Alcohol Detox Guide: Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline & Duration
Alcohol Detox Guide: Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline & Duration

Do I Need to Detox?

If your relationships, career, and every aspect of your life are affected by alcoholism, you need to detox. Here are some indicators that will determine if you need to go through this process or not.

  • Having temporary blackouts
  • Experiencing hangover even if you are not drinking
  • Showing signs of extreme mood swings
  • Go drinking without any care for other responsibilities
  • Become isolated and choose alcohol over friends and family

If you are experiencing these signs, you might have an alcohol addiction. And no matter how mild it is, you should seek professional help as soon as possible. And if you are determined enough, overcoming this situation won’t be that hard.

What is the Safest Way to Detox from Alcohol Addiction?

Sometimes people with a minor addiction feel that they can cure their compulsion at home. But the withdrawal signs tend to worsen over time; hence, they cannot handle that condition themselves.

Therefore the safest way to detox from alcohol addiction is to enroll in an alcohol rehab program. The drug addiction treatment programs are designed to provide you with proper medication, support, and care at every stage of your recovery journey.

Furthermore, a team of efficient staff and highly qualified doctors will be checking up on you 24/7. This ensures you will be protected from any substance abuse damages and the healing programs will allow you to adapt to changes gradually; this will result in giving you a better chance of a lasting recovery.

We’re here any time of the day to talk

Call us and speak to one of our caring addiction counselors.
Call Today (714) 547-5375

How Does an Alcohol Detox Work?

The alcohol detox makes sure you are going through the withdrawal symptoms without any harm. If you get into alcohol rehab, the professionals will treat your substance use disorders and health condition. This way, the risks of damages will be reduced to a great extent.

During the drugs and alcohol detoxification process, the substance will be flushed out of your system. And after a while, you will feel signs such as nausea, headache, restlessness, etc. But if the case is more complicated, you may also experience hallucinations and seizures.

The withdrawal indicators will be normal in the beginning, but they will worsen over time. 

How Long Does an Alcohol Detox Last? Alcohol Detox Timeline and Duration

The alcohol detox affects every patient differently. As a result, every alcoholic’s journey will be different.

When you are done with the detoxification process, you will go through a series of therapies, activities, and treatments. If you don’t follow the regulation carefully, there is a possibility that your drug addiction will return. This happens in most cases and that is why it is essential for you to dedicate yourself to your recovery journey.

What is the Alcohol Addiction Detox Process?

The alcohol detox process varies from person to person, depending on various factors. Medical professionals will create plans for the individual clients based on their addiction severity, amount of alcohol consumed regularly, co-occurring mental illnesses, and medical history.

However, a general alcohol detoxification process can be divided into four stages. The stages are:

  • Early Stage
  • Peak Stage
  • Weakening stage
  • Final Stage
Alcohol Detox Guide: Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline & Duration
Alcohol Detox Guide: Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline & Duration

Early Stage

  • You will start to feel the signs of withdrawal mildly. This phase usually starts 2-3 hours after your last alcohol consumption.
  • You won’t need any medications at this point.

However, if your addiction isn’t severe, this stage may start after 6-7 hours after your last drink.

Peak Stage

  • The Peak Stage starts after 24-48 hours of your last consumption. In this phase, the withdrawal symptoms will be rigorous.
  • You may relapse during this phase, and your condition will be controlled with medication-assisted treatment.

During this stage, most of the alcohol has left your system. You are therefore feeling all the withdrawal signs at once. To face this level safely, you should get into drug and alcohol rehab.

Weakening Stage

• When the weakening stage comes, your body will get adjusted to the absence of alcohol. As a result, the signs of withdrawal will start to fade, and you will feel better.

• Other forms of treatments such as group or individual therapies will be introduced in this phase. These activities will help you to adjust to the community without any trouble.

Final Stage

  • The final stage will start 7-14 days after your last drink. Now you can leave the detox program and get into the inpatient residential treatment for a better recovery experience.
  • If you don’t want to live in rehab, you can enroll yourself in an outpatient program and receive treatment from home.

What are Common Withdrawal Symptoms from Alcohol Detox?

Withdrawal from alcohol is extremely unpleasant and we understand that sometimes the very thought of having to suffer the withdrawal symptoms can be enough to keep people stuck in the addictive cycle.

Rest assured that you no longer have to deal with these symptoms alone. Reach out to our team at Cornerstone. We have witnessed many who thought detox was impossible and that the symptoms would overwhelm them. Now they live a life free of alcohol.

Mild Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawals

  • Anxiety
  • Nausea
  • Sweating
  • Insomnia
  • Headaches

Severe Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawals

  • Tremors
  • Frequent seizures
  • Hallucinations
  • Disorientation

When you have other health issues such as chronic pain or lung diseases, the symptoms may become fatal at any time. Therefore, the best way to prevent life-threatening damage is to get into drug rehab.

If you do so, our medical professionals will keep monitoring you all the time. So when you are feeling any discomfort, they can take immediate action.

Moreover, our drug treatment program will also teach you how to cope with the symptoms and that’s vital to helping you lead a healthy lifestyle.

Back to homepage: Addiction Treatment Center Orange County

Alcohol Detox Guide: Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline & Duration
Alcohol Detox Guide: Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline & Duration

How Long Do Withdrawal Symptoms Last?

Again, the timeline of your withdrawal signs depends on your addiction level, alcohol dependency, and many more factors. Here is a common timeline of how long the symptoms may last.

6 Hours After Alcohol Consumption

You may feel mild discomforts such as anxiety, excessive sweating, nausea, vomiting, and insomnia. Moreover, your hands will feel shaky at this level.

24-48 Hours After Alcohol Consumption

In this stage, you will start feeling serious discomfort. You may get delusional, or having seizures are quite common.

48-72 Hours After Alcohol Consumption

This is the most dangerous time for any alcoholic who is going through detoxification. Delirium tremens happen during this period, and you may suffer from excessive sweating, high blood pressure, confusion, seizures, and delusion.

Additionally, faster heartbeat and a rise in body temperature are common too.

What Happens After an Alcohol Detox?

We regard the detox process as the first of many measured steps on your journey to recovery. Once the detox process is complete, we would strongly advise that you continue with our inpatient treatment program. Treatment for addiction at Cornerstone is informed both by holistic therapies as well as the 12-steps of recovery that originated in Alcoholics Anonymous. Our carefully crafted programs will be individually tailored to your personal needs and involve group therapy, 1-to-1 sessions, and relapse prevention, among many others. Residents are encouraged to participate in mindfulness practices, music therapy, yoga, and meditation. Alongside these activities, we place an emphasis on having fun in recovery with regular visits to the beach and activities such as mini-golf or bowling, which all combine to create a program that addresses the mind, body, and spirit.

Respect for the family unit is important to us here at Cornerstone. We believe that alcoholism affects the whole family, and we offer support to all family members; our experience has shown that a supportive healing family can go a long way to help our clients in achieving long-term sobriety.

Transport to and from 12-Step fellowship meetings is available 5 days a week and regular attendance at meetings is strongly advised.

Getting Enrolled in an Inpatient Alcohol Rehab

If you enter into an inpatient detox program to continue treatment, you will receive full medical and emotional support during your recovery; we have all the resources required for the process. Professionals will monitor all of your symptoms and problems, as well as constantly check your medical status. This way, you will never have any trouble while getting better physically – long-term sobriety will be possible.

Moreover, we will set up an outline for your recovery, including individual therapy, medication, healthy activities, group therapy, and partial hospitalization; we also teach you how to cope with withdrawal issues and prevent addiction in the future.

The addiction specialists at Cornerstone detox center also work on improving your mental health and underlying issues – this is essential for a lasting recovery.

Receive Outpatient Addiction Treatment

If you don’t want to begin residential treatment, you can go through the outpatient drug detox program. You will benefit from receiving all our help and you will be able to stay at home and continue to attend work during the recovery process.

After enrolling in an outpatient program, you will get the same treatment services as you would in an inpatient program. However, you won’t have 24/7 medical help.

Move to a Nurturing Environment

You can also move to a nurturing environment and have a fresh start. After receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment, you can move to a new place, get a job and become financially independent to live a better life.

What Are the Steps to My Drug or Alcohol Addiction Recovery?

If you want a long-lasting recovery, there isn’t any alternative to professional addiction treatment. When you sign up in a treatment center, it will be easier for you to go on with your life with a healthy mindset.

Here are steps you can take to get free from the addiction. Just remember, no matter how bad the situation is, you always have hope; it is never late to have a fresh start.

  • First, you need to admit to yourself that you have an addiction problem. And then, you can inform your dear ones. This is only the first step, and we know it isn’t easy.
  • Get professional help as soon as possible. If you keep avoiding the issue, it will only get bigger.
  • After drug detox, follow the guidelines and treatments provided by the rehab center.
  • Enjoy your freedom and stay away from the things that nearly killed you – You deserve a better life.

How Long Does Detox Treatment Take?

The duration of your detox from alcohol is dependent on the seriousness of your condition. We understand that one size doesn’t fit all and we will build a treatment plan around your specific needs. However, normally symptoms of alcohol withdrawal usually begin to dissipate after five to seven days. Our detox professionals will be on hand to support you throughout the whole detox process. You will be able to stay with us as long as you need, as this important stage of recovery is not to be rushed.

How Much Does Alcohol Detox Cost?

The alcohol detox cost is different for each person; hence, there is no definite answer. However, the alcohol detox cost may range from $500-$1000 per day in alcohol rehab with Cornerstone.

When it comes to inpatient treatment, the cost will be up to $20,000 for a month. Additionally, the outpatient treatment cost will be around $5000 for a three-month program.

There will also be medication expenditure. As there are plenty of medicines used on patients every day to control the symptoms, the charges aren’t budget-friendly.

However, at Cornerstone, we also accept health insurance. As a result, you can pay fully or partially for your treatment with the insurance. But in this case, conditions will be applied. The facility will accept your insurance or not, depending on your insurance provider, type of insurance plan, your residential situation, and some more confidential facts.

Hence, before taking any decision, ask us if the cost will be covered by your insurance policy or not; we will check and advise you accordingly.

Can I Detox at Home?

No, detoxing at home is never a good option for an addict. There will be several stages of your substance withdrawal and you need medical professionals and medication to go through this successfully, and that’s not possible at home.

At the severe stages of alcohol withdrawal, you will be experiencing hallucinations, seizures, or delirium tremens, which can end your life if not taken care of properly. Therefore, detoxing in a rehab center is the best thing to do.

Alcohol Detox Guide: Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline & Duration
Alcohol Detox Guide: Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline & Duration

Managing Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Our round-the-clock care and support team aims to make your detox from alcohol as gentle as possible. Managing these symptoms normally requires medication, this is necessary in order to keep you safe from harm while also easing the symptoms of withdrawal. Our detox team is skilled at dealing with symptoms across all stages of alcohol detox, and our team of professionals will be there 24/7 to help you manage any issues that may arise during the detox process.

Alcohol Detox Medication

Detoxing from alcohol addiction requires medication. There are over 150 FDA-approved medications that can be used for alcohol detox. Our team of professionals will assess your needs and personalize a program that works for you and your specific symptoms. Sedatives can help with anxiety and stress but blood pressure may need to be monitored. Whatever the need, rest assured that at Cornerstone your detox from alcohol will be made as comfortable as possible.

If You’re Taking Other Drugs

Occurrences of polydrug use are common, this means that you may be abusing more than just alcohol. Most people we treat have issues with more than just one, we urge you to be open and honest with us. The more we know about you, the easier it will be for you to detox and the gentler that process will be.

If You’re Taking Prescription Medications

It’s important that you let us know of any medications you are currently taking before the detox. This is so we can check that our detox medication will not interact adversely with your other medications. If you are unsure of which medications you are currently taking your Doctor will be able to supply you with a full printed list from which we will work.

Physical Withdrawal Symptoms

Many of the psychological symptoms of alcohol withdrawal will occur just as quickly as the physical symptoms of withdrawal. You may begin to feel panicked, irritable, and/or depressed. Often people also report feeling extremely exhausted and anxious. Like any addiction, habitual behavior once stopped can create a void. There may even be a grieving process, many people report that stopping drinking alcohol was like losing a close friend.

At Cornerstone, we have supported thousands of alcoholics through detox and recovery. We have given families their wives, husbands, or children back. These individuals once lost to alcohol, are now able to face life alcohol-free.

Is an Alcohol Detox Enough for Long-Term Recovery?

While a detox from alcohol is important, it is normally not enough to sustain long-term recovery. Like most addictions, alcoholism is a symptom of an underlying cause. It is this root cause that needs treating in order to achieve lasting sobriety. The detox process is a precursor to a treatment process that over time will give you the strength and tools to face life without the need for alcohol.

Unfortunately, we have vast experience of individuals coming through our doors in need of detox, only to rush back to their lives, without further treatment, once they no longer suffered from the symptoms of withdrawal. Many of these people relapse within months, some sooner.

Those who commit to the treatment process, understand that years of drinking will take more than a couple of weeks to remedy. Giving yourself time to heal wounds allows you a much better chance of long-term sobriety. Cornerstone can give you this chance. Our detox program is just the first piece in the jigsaw of recovery.

Alcohol  Detox FAQ

Is an alcohol detox dangerous?

Yes, detoxing from alcohol can result in death and should never be attempted alone and without medical advice.

What is the safest way to detox from Alcohol?

Detoxing from alcohol needs to be managed effectively. The safest way of doing this is in a detox unit where 24-hour care and supervision are available. If you or a loved one are suffering from alcoholism, seek medical advice before stopping.

Can you avoid alcohol withdrawal symptoms?

No, but they can be lessened and made much easier to face. There are lots of medications available to aid with all aspects of a withdrawal. Our expert detox team at Cornerstone has been detoxing people successfully since 1984, we do this safely and with confidence. Every recovery journey starts with the first step, let’s make it together.

 

Contact Us

Detox is only the first step toward your salvation from alcoholism. And with proper care and support, you will come out victorious. Hence, to finish your journey with success, consider getting professional help.

When you get into our drug addiction treatment program, you will get individualized care from compassionate staff, and your medical conditions will be monitored by an efficient team of doctors. This way, your long-term recovery will be assured and you can lead an addiction-free lifestyle.

So if your loved ones are suffering from alcoholism and want to learn about the detox programs, contact us directly or visit the linked site pages for more information and help. Rest assured that our admissions team will help you fight your alcohol or drug addiction and our rehab will take all the important steps to influence the well-being of your brain and body.

Call 24/7

Our admission team is at your service 24/7. You can contact us anytime to discuss your treatment, payment options, and consultation. Call us on (714) 547-5375

Paying for Detox

To make the detox programs affordable for everyone, we accept all major insurances, click here for more information.

Our Locations

You can easily reach out to us in Orange County, California. As these centers are located in a convenient area, you won’t have any trouble finding us.

Alcohol detox Orange County, CA
Alcohol rehab Anaheim CA
Alcohol rehab Irvine CA
Alcohol rehab Mission Viejo CA
Alcohol rehab Newport Beach CA
Alcohol rehab Orange County CA
Alcohol rehab Santa Ana CA

We are here for you

If you or someone you care about is suffering from the painful grip of addiction to alcohol or drugs, we can help.
Call Today (714) 547-5375