Alcohol Detox

When a person consumes alcohol, it lowers the individual’s inhibitions. As a result, many people often do or say things that they regret while under the influence of alcohol. We’ve all heard the phrase, “blame it on the alcohol” before, as if to say that people shouldn’t be held accountable for their words or actions while under the influence of alcohol. (Hey, actor and singer Jamie Foxx even has a song about it.) But, we’ve all also heard sayings like, “drunk words are sober thoughts,” as if to say that what people say or do while drinking is their truth and thus should be taken seriously. So, which one is it? Should or shouldn’t people be held accountable for their words and actions while drinking? Is alcohol a truth serum?

So that you get a conclusive answer to these questions, we’re going to go into detail about the short and long-term effects of alcohol abuse on the brain and body. We’ll also discuss if consuming alcohol always makes a person speak his or her truth. 

What is Alcohol?

Alcohol is a liquid substance, or drink, with the drug ethanol in it. Ethanol is the psychoactive substance that makes people that consume alcohol drunk. 

Ethanol is created when yeast breaks down the sugars in different foods such as grapes or grains. The process of ethanol breaking down the sugar in foods like fruits and grains is called fermentation. 

While alcohol may act as a stimulant at first in that it usually causes people to feel more excited and energetic when it’s initially consumed, it actually is a depressant. This means that as you consume more and more alcohol, you’ll start to feel your body slow down. For example, large amounts of alcohol consumption cause your heart rate, breathing, speaking, and consciousness to slow down. This is why many people that are drunk on alcohol start slurring their words when they speak. 

What are the Effects of Alcohol Use?  

As we’ve just mentioned, the effects of alcohol use can vary depending on how long you’ve been drinking. Therefore, the short-term effects of alcohol use are different from the long-term effects of alcohol use. Some of the specific short-term and long-term physiological effects of alcohol use are given below.

Short-Term Effects of Alcohol Use

Whether you’re just drinking socially or you suffer from an actual alcohol use disorder, you can experience the short-term effects of alcohol. This is because the liver can only metabolize about one drink of alcohol per hour. Therefore, consuming any more than one drink of alcohol per hour can raise your blood alcohol level (BAC) and cause you to become intoxicated. Factors that can affect how quickly a person experiences the short and long-term effects of alcohol include weight, size, height, gender, and liver function and health. 

Common short-term effects of alcohol use include the following:

• Vomiting
• Blacking out
• Dulled vision
• Mood swings
• Poor judgment
• Lowered inhibitions
• Loss of coordination
• Trouble concentrating
• Increased blood pressure
• Reduced core body temperature

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Use

When people continually consume large amounts of alcohol over a long period of time, it can cause chronic health issues. It can also cause people to ruin relationships that they had with others due to them constantly saying things that they never would have been brave enough to say before. In other words, people that chronically abuse alcohol constantly show that drunk words are sober thoughts. Chronic alcohol abuse can even lead to the development of alcohol dependency or addiction.

The common long-term effects of alcohol use include:

• Stroke
• A fatty liver
• Cardiomyopathy
• Loss of memory
• Irregular heartbeat
• Loss of brain matter
• High blood pressure
• Loss of attention span
• Trouble learning new things
• Inflammation of the liver, or alcoholic hepatitis
• Throat, mouth, larynx, breast, liver, colorectal, or esophageal cancer
• Excessive amounts of extracellular matrix proteins due to chronic liver disease, or liver fibrosis

Effects of Alcohol Abuse on the Body

When a person chronically abuses alcohol, it can cause the body negative effects that can last for the rest of that person’s life. In fact, chronic abuse of alcohol can cause adverse effects on numerous different bodily systems and their body parts. Some of the bodily systems and parts that are affected most by alcohol abuse are described below.

Digestive System

When a person chronically abuses alcohol, all of that alcohol consumption can cause the lining of that person’s stomach to wear out. It can also cause the stomach to produce more stomach acids than normal, which can then lead to ulcers. 

Chronic consumption of alcohol can even alter the way your digestive system breaks down, absorbs, transports, stores, and excretes foods and liquids and their nutrients. This could, in turn, cause people to experience nutrient deficiencies. Alcohol abuse can even cause a person’s body to struggle to maintain proper blood sugar control. 

Central Nervous System

Common nutrients that people develop a deficiency towards when chronically abusing alcohol are thiamine and Vitamin B1. When a person has a deficiency of these two nutrients, it can cause that person to develop Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome include confusion, poor coordination, learning issues, and trouble remembering things. 

When a person develops liver disease due to alcohol abuse, it can, in turn, harm the brain. As a result, chronic alcohol abuse can cause a person to develop sleep issues, changes in mood and personality, depression, anxiety, impaired concentration, and incoordination. It may even be hard to develop new brain cells after chronic alcohol abuse. 

Cardiovascular Health System

While consuming a small amount of red wine a day can be good for the heart, chronic alcohol abuse isn’t. This is because chronic alcohol abuse can cause a person to develop high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, and trouble with pumping blood throughout the body. 

A person’s heart having trouble pumping blood throughout the body can cause a person to develop blood clots, stroke, a sagging or stretched out heart muscle known as cardiomyopathy, or a heart attack. Chronic alcohol abuse can also cause a person to develop anemia. 

Reproductive Health System

When you consume too much alcohol, it can cause your body to develop reproductive health issues. These reproductive health issues include erectile dysfunction or irregular menstruation. In fact, heavy long-term drinking can cause reduced fertility altogether. 

A woman that drinks during her pregnancy is more likely to develop a miscarriage, stillbirth, or a child with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) than one that doesn’t drink during pregnancy.  

Liver

The liver is one of the bodily organs that alcohol abuse affects the most. This is because the liver is responsible for metabolizing any alcohol that enters the body. Therefore, when a person chronically abuses alcohol, it can cause that person’s liver to become inflamed and scarred. Other negative health conditions that alcohol abuse can cause the liver include fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver disease, and liver cancer. 

Bones

When you’re always abusing alcohol, you make it likely that you’ll develop a calcium imbalance in the body. You also make it likely that you’ll disrupt the body’s production of vitamin D. Because calcium is an important nutrient to consume to strengthen your bones and the body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium, chronic alcohol abuse can help cause osteoporosis. 

Pancreas

When a person abuses alcohol, he or she prompts the pancreas to produce harmful substances. This, in turn, can cause the pancreas to inflame, which would cause the person to develop digestive issues. When a pancreas becomes inflamed, it means that you have pancreatitis. 

Effects of Alcohol Abuse on the Brain

A short-term effect of alcohol abuse on the brain is ethanol reducing the communication amongst brain cells. As a result, many people start to loosen up their inhibitions when they begin drinking. This leads to people saying whatever thoughts pop up in their minds that they would’ve normally repressed. This once again goes to show that drunk words are sober thoughts. 

When people consume large amounts of alcohol, they can cause their brains to experience a temporary blackout, and thus experience temporary memory loss, or temporary amnesia. When you chronically abuse alcohol long-term, you can permanently impair your brain’s function in certain ways. For example, chronic, long-term alcohol abuse can cause your brain to shrink or develop dementia.

Long-term, chronic alcohol abuse can also cause the brain to go into alcohol-induced psychiatric syndromes. Examples of alcohol-induced psychiatric syndromes include alcohol-induced depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, sleep disorder, etc. Because many mental health disorders are linked to alcoholism in the first place, alcohol abuse can increase the symptoms of an already occurring mental illness and vice versa. 

Drunk Words Are Sober Thoughts… or Are They?

Now that you know all the short and long-term effects that alcohol use can have on the brain and body, it’s time to answer the questions at hand. Are drunk words sober thoughts? Is alcohol a truth serum? 

Well, if you look back, one of the consistent effects of alcohol use, whether social or chronic, is a loss of inhibitions. Inhibitions are the awareness of others around you to the point where you cannot think, act, or express feelings in a fully natural and truthful way. Therefore, the loss of inhibitions as a top symptom of alcohol use means that people that get drunk off of alcohol are likely expressing their natural and truthful thoughts that they normally wouldn’t express around others if they had their inhibitions. In other words, drunk words are sober thoughts and alcohol is a truth serum. 

One argument that you can still make against the idea that drunk words are sober thoughts though is that alcohol abuse, especially when chronic and causing addiction, makes chemical changes to a person’s brain’s chemistry. This, in turn, leads to alterations in the brain that changes your behavior. Therefore, people that are suffering from alcohol addiction may not be their true selves until they become clean and sober and receive treatment. 

Therefore, even though drunk words are sober thoughts when it comes to people that socially drink or suffer from mild drinking problems, when it comes to people with alcohol addictions, you shouldn’t assume that their drunken words are sober thoughts. 

Coastal Detox Has Everything That You Need

At Coastal Detox, we know how difficult it is to manage the effects of alcoholism. That’s why we provide alcohol detox and addiction treatment services that can help you get clean and sober. That way you won’t have to worry about saying anything that you wouldn’t normally say due to your loss of inhibitions. 

Coastal Detox also provides detox and addiction treatment services for a wide variety of drugs, including heroin, crack, cocaine, meth, and prescription drugs. We even combine holistic therapy with all of our medication-assisted treatments. That way our detox and addiction treatment services are both safe and relaxing. 

To learn more about our award-winning detox facility here at Coastal Detox, contact us today. We’re dedicated to helping you reach all of your sobriety goals. 

External References:

https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/alcohol-truth-serum#2

Alcoholism can be a dangerous and very negative condition regardless of who you are. This substance use disorder is the cause of millions of deaths every year. A person can become dependent on alcohol to the point where they need it in their system to function. While there are many treatment options for alcoholism, some turn to hypnosis to stop drinking. But, of course, hypnosis for alcoholism isn’t exactly the first thing people think about in regards to treatment.

As an alternative treatment, hypnosis for alcoholism has its benefits and uses. Over time, hypnosis has the potential to encourage a person to give up drinking altogether. While it may sound like a strange form of treatment, there are some studies that show its benefits for alcoholism. 

Regardless of what method of treatment you prefer, doing nothing is not an option. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcoholism, now is the time to get help. Rehab centers like Coastal Detox are here to help you on your journey to recovery. You don’t have to go through this alone and you certainly shouldn’t wait to get help. 

A Closer Look at Alcoholism 

While it’s widely acceptable to drink occasionally and share a drink during special events, excessive drinking is the sign of a bigger problem. Alcoholism (or alcohol use disorder) comes the form of excessive and frequent drinking. A person suffering from alcoholism may continue to drink even if they want to stop. 

A person’s entire life can be consumed by alcohol and drinking. They may begin to neglect responsibilities or be under the influence at different hours of the day. Along with this are the wide number of negative health effects alcohol can have on the body. Over time, these symptoms and effects can begin to worsen. 

How Alcohol Affects the Brain

Alcohol depresses the central nervous system, which directly affects your brain’s typical activity. Alcohol slows a person’s brain down and increases the activity of the GABA neurotransmitter. GABA is short for gamma-aminobutyric acid. When a person drinks, the individual’s GABA signals increase drastically. 

The GABA transmitters actually affect the entirety of the brain instead of just a part of it. This is why memory loss, decreased motor coordination, and slurred speech are all aspects of alcohol abuse. Over time a person’s body will start to build a tolerance to alcohol (which means they need to drink more to get the desired effect). 

This can devolve into something much worse as a person continues to increase their dosage of alcohol. A person will eventually become dependent on alcohol and this is where things can turn dire. It is important to be aware of this dependency and work towards getting help, in a timely manner. The situation tends to worsen over time. 

The Signs of Alcoholism and Abuse

As with many addictions, there are telling signs that indicate a bigger problem. Not only does alcohol affect the mind and body but it also affects how people begin to behave. There are a number of red flags that indicate possible alcoholism. It’s important to be aware of these signs so you can get help. Common signs of alcohol abuse may include:

• Building a tolerance to alcohol 
• Frequent cravings to drink alcohol 
• Poor performance at work or school
• Inability to control how much they’re drinking
• Continuous drinking even if they don’t want to
• Spending long amounts of time drinking or recovering
• Lost interest in activities, social events, and personal hobbies
• Withdrawal symptoms when not drinking (shaking, sweating, etc.)

When a person struggling with alcoholism stops drinking alcohol they may begin to experience withdrawal symptoms (which only increases dependency). These symptoms can range in severity and only get worse over time. Some of these symptoms include:

Hypnosis for Alcoholism

Hypnosis has been proven to be an alternative method of addiction treatment. There is some benefit if a person is interested in going this route. To truly understand how this treatment method works, one must know more about how hypnosis works. 

Hypnosis is a trance-like state (an altered state of mind) that is consciously induced by an individual. This total change of consciousness can be tracked using fMRI and EEG  machines. This stream of consciousness can be achieved through self-hypnosis as well. There are certain resources that can be used to achieve this hypnotic state. 

The Feeling of Hypnosis

One of the more commonly asked questions about hypnosis is what does it really feel like? When a person is in a state of hypnosis, they are more focused on the inner experience than the world around them. Inner experiences can include thoughts, feelings, imagination, memories, and sensations. 

One of the biggest aspects of hypnosis is relaxation. During hypnosis for alcoholism (or any subject), a person becomes relaxed about their memories or thoughts rather than anxious. Hypnosis and relaxation can make a big difference when dealing with such a stressful condition. 

The Elements of Hypnotic Trance

There are three primary aspects of the hypnotic trance” absorption, disassociation, and suggestibility. Each works together to create an effective trance state for the person. Let’s take a look at each of these elements separately. 

Absorption

Absorption can be looked at as a deep mental focus. When a person is hypnotized, they become deeply involved in their thoughts and experiences. Absorption is an intensely deep focus on what’s happening inside the person’s mind. This sensation could be compared to reading an immersive book or watching a great movie. By definition, being absorbed can be impactful, and sometimes you can’t even tell how much time has passed. 

Dissociation

Dissociation is arguably the most important part of hypnosis for alcoholism. During hypnosis, your mind will separate your thoughts from other distractions. This allows you to see a new perspective on certain thoughts without any kind of distraction (feelings, memories, emotions, etc.) in the way. 

When using hypnosis for alcoholism treatment, disassociation allows you to see your drinking problem from a whole new perspective. It also allows you to see things clearly and identify triggers or emotions along the way. Disassociation can be the key to seeing things in a way you hadn’t before. 

Suggestibility

Suggestibility is another very useful key to hypnosis. During a hypnotic trance, you are much more open to suggestions. This does not mean you will follow a person’s orders exactly; it just means you are more open to change. 

Under hypnosis, you are still in control of your thoughts and actions (contrary to what is shown on TV and movies). During hypnosis, the suggestions you hear should be guided towards the root of your problems. This is where using hypnosis for alcoholism treatment can be an effective method. 

These suggestions also offer specific tips on dealing and identifying certain problems. This can shed light on some of the lost memories of your mind that might explain the root of your addiction. If nothing else, it can help you look at your addiction from a new, clear point of view. Hypnosis can also help you focus on your reality which alone can change your drinking habits. 

The Benefits of Hypnosis to Stop Drinking

Hypnosis just might be an alternative method for helping a person with their addiction. Hypnosis alone will not be able to ‘cure’ a case of alcoholism but it is a solid option to compliment treatment. Having a clear and focused mind can go a long way when you are struggling with alcohol abuse. 

What many people forget is that alcoholism has a massive impact on the mind and how it thinks when under the influence. Hypnosis allows you to forget the minor distractions so you can focus on the root of your problems. With this in mind, hypnosis should be used with other treatment methods to ensure long-term recovery and sobriety. 

Other Treatment Methods

While hypnosis is a great option for the mental aspect of alcoholism, sometimes extra help is needed for the psychical effects. Dependency and tolerance can bring a number of negative effects that hypnosis can’t solve alone. It’s important to use the other treatment options as a supplement to hypnosis. Let’s take a look at some of the other common alcoholism treatment options. 

Detoxification

Detoxification is a crucial step to alcohol addiction treatment. Detox is a process that purges the body of substances and alcohol. It helps with some of the intense withdrawal symptoms of suddenly stopping one’s drinking habits. Typically, medication is used to deal with these symptoms during detox. At Coastal Detox, we specialize in detox services for you and your loved ones. 

Residential Treatment 

Residential (or inpatient treatment) allows for the most comprehensive treatment. This form of treatment is best for severe cases of addiction (alcoholism in this case). Here you can get the best treatment from therapists, doctors, and others in the same situation. It is definitely worth looking into if you or a loved one is struggling immensely with alcoholism. 

Get Help Today

Hypnosis for alcoholism treatment is an alternative option and allows for a clearer, better mind. If you or a loved one is suffering from alcoholism or addiction, now is the time to get help. Let Coastal Detox be your first step towards a healthier, better life. Contact us today for more information on treatment options.

Helping an alcoholic seek treatment or simply cut back on drinking is a difficult task. For everyone, there are different reasons you’re looking to help. 

Maybe you are still cleaning up the broken glass from the ornaments shattered when Uncle Charlie knocked over the Christmas tree after finishing off that 12 pack of beer. 

Maybe you are sitting in the emergency room with your sobbing child whose arm was dislocated when Daddy became outraged because she accidentally spilled his fifth drink. 

Perhaps you are worried whenever there is the sound of emergency vehicle sirens in the near distance because you know that your girlfriend likes to stop in at the corner bar after work. 

You know when it’s time to seek assistance for your loved one who abuses alcohol or is an alcoholic. So, how exactly to help an alcoholic? Read more to help answer that important question.

Addiction, whether of cocaine, heroin, prescribed medications, or alcohol, can elicit a toll on one’s life. In fact, addiction or alcoholism can elicit a number of tolls on one’s health, one’s ability to hold employment, to one’s emotional state, to one’s relationships with family, friends, and co-workers (NIH). Addictions, including alcoholism, affect the well-being of all who care for those who are affected. Outlined below are eight suggestions on how to help an addict and/or an alcoholic.

#1 Help Yourself First

What? I’m not the one who abuses alcohol! Why would I seek help? Alcoholism affects the entire family. Just as the instructions for airline travel includes placing oxygen on yourself prior to assisting others, the same goes for helping someone with an addiction. Alcohol abuse affects every aspect of one’s life. 

Those who interact intimately with someone who abuses alcohol feels the stress of the uncertainty of what will happen next. How will I be able to awaken to go to work? How will I get home in time to watch the kids? How can I afford groceries after I spent all my money on alcohol at the bar? How can we afford the lawyer for the DUI charge, let alone fix the car? 

There are so many uncertainties when you have a loved one who is an alcoholic. Seeking assistance for oneself in order to help that person navigate the difficult task of detox and rehab is a logical first step. It is important to express your concerns, your fears, and your disappointments. You will feel relief once you express your feelings and have them validated by those who have experienced similar issues. 

Many addiction treatment programs offer assistance for family members of those who suffer from alcoholism either through family therapy or support groups. 12 step programs are known for providing support for spouses and children (Al-Anon) and support for the alcoholic (AA) or addict (NA). Remember that no matter how strong and in control that you are at this time, there may be a point in your future when you may need to interact with those who also have had emotional trauma from living with the specter of alcoholism. 

#2 Seek Professional Assistance for the Alcoholic

You have had long, heartfelt talks with your loved one. He or she has admitted that it’s time to make changes in his/her alcohol consumption. Yes, he/she has made promises before. Yes, he/she has been able to stop drinking for days/weeks/months. Detox can be painfully difficult. Relapse is common and almost inevitable.

Withdrawal symptoms from being an alcoholic are related to the fact that alcohol is a depressant, and sudden stoppage can cause overstimulation of the brain and neurotransmitters (health.harvard.edu). 

Withdrawal Symptoms May Include:

• Insomnia
• Tremors
• Anxiety
• Seizures
• Hallucinations
• Abnormal heart rate and/or pressure
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Death

Seek assistance from accredited medical professionals. The first place to begin is with their family physician, someone familiar with their unique health concerns and needs. Although his or her physician may not share information with you without your loved one’s permission, he or she can listen to your concerns and recommend action. Many physicians are experienced in dealing with addictions like alcoholism or may be able to offer referrals to those who do. The professional healthcare provider (PCP) may also be able to recommend local groups that work specifically with alcohol addiction and its consequences like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). 

Professionals, like those at Coastal Detox, a licensed and accredited healthcare facility in Stuart, Florida, are trained in how to help an alcoholic or an addict by easing the alcohol withdrawal symptoms through medication, meditation, counseling, and a number of supportive holistic approaches. 

#3 Realize That There May be Another Underlying Mental Illness or Disorder

What other disorder or illness may have contributed to one’s abuse of alcohol or other substances? Does your spouse have social anxiety? Does your wife have bipolar disorder? Has a childhood of trauma contributed to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? Chronic unrelieved pain may contribute and lead to addiction and/or alcoholism. 

An untreated mental or physical illness will contribute to alcohol abuse or addiction (dual diagnosis or co-occurrence). That illness may create an unconscious effort by your loved one to self-medicate with alcohol or other substances. 

Someone with high anxiety or experience the racing thoughts of one in the throes of mania (manic behavior) may seek the depressant properties of alcohol. Someone in physical or emotional pain may seek the solace and numbing of alcohol ingestion. Medical and professional assistance is vital so that your loved one will receive the appropriate intervention and treatment to help an alcoholic or an addict achieve long and lasting sobriety.

#4 Assist! Do Not Enable the Alcoholic

It’s very hard to be supportive while avoiding being enabling. When you rely on that person’s paycheck to pay the rent when you want your extended family to accept your loved one when you want to quell your own anxiety, you make excuses; you call them off work “sick,” you avoid those conversations. Don’t enable the alcoholic or addict! Instead, help them by showing them your resolve. 

You have to make the alcoholic or addict responsible for their own actions. Address them with what you are feeling, witnessing, hearing, and ultimately experiencing. Tell that your concerns are based on love and concern for them and your relationship with them. Make them understand that you will do what you can to support them in their journey to sobriety from alcohol and/or drugs but that you can’t do it for them. Tell them that you respect their individual right to make choices for themselves but that you will applaud and assist them in celebrating their successes.

#5 Do Not Set the Alcoholic Up For Failure

When your loved one is in recovery from alcoholism and/or addiction, you will want to do whatever it takes to help them succeed. Plan activities without alcohol. Encourage engaging activities that your loved one enjoys. Use the healing power of the natural world by walking along a tree-lined path, visiting a zoo, or working in a garden – together. If the weather doesn’t permit outside activity, engage them in hobbies that they enjoy, games that are involving, or tasks that showcase their particular talents. 

Keep the temptation of alcohol out of the home. If it’s not handy, then it becomes more of a conscious effort if your loved one chooses to drink or take drugs. One relative of mine would dilute vodka with water to extend the length of time a half-liter would last. It was counterproductive, though, as it took responsibility for the amount drunk from the alcoholic to the loved one. Remove it from home and transfer the responsibility to the alcoholic and/or addict.

Avoid attending restaurants and events that serve alcohol. There are plenty of excellent “family” restaurants. Enjoy the atmosphere and the tastes of food unaltered by the bitterness of alcohol.

#6 Praise The Alcoholics Efforts

Everyone responds to positive reinforcement. Encourage the alcoholic or addict efforts at sobriety. Congratulate them on their decision to seek medical and professional assistance. Praise their successes no matter how small. You can be their greatest cheerleader. Recognize that sobriety is probably the most challenging task they have ever attempted by an alcoholic and/or addict. It can be done, and your support and encouragement may be the key to their success.

#7 Reward Yourself

Congratulate yourself! It’s hard; it can be very hard living with and loving someone who abuses or is addicted to alcohol and/or drugs. Applaud your own efforts at assisting your loved one to find help to beat their alcoholism or addiction. Celebrate the changes in your interactions with your loved one at avoiding blaming them but encouraging their responsibility. Cheer your decision to keep your home free of the temptations of alcohol and avoiding places and situations where alcohol or drugs are frequently abused.

#8 Research Acceptable Places For Detox And Addiction Treatment

You care deeply for the health and well-being of your loved one. What better way can you show how much you care than by seeking and researching acceptable places for detox and rehabilitation from alcohol and/or drugs. As stated earlier, alcohol or drug withdrawal can be difficult and can cause serious health consequences. Alcohol and/or drug withdrawal should be medically supervised with the assistance of a trained medical and professional staff. A holistic, licensed, and accredited facility such as Coastal Detox, in the beautiful Treasure Coast city of Stuart, Florida, will assist your loved one in achieving their sobriety goals. Coastal Detox offers a variety of therapies to allow one to Sail into sobriety including:

• Medication
• Acupuncture
• Massage
• Infrared sauna
• Nutritional supplementation

Coastal Detox is open 24/7 and reachable by phone for tours at (866) 924-3350. Call and hear how Coastal Detox can make a difference in your loved one’s life and your own. You can also reach out to us online here. 

References:

www.aa.org

www.al-anon.org

www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov

www.health.harvard.edu

www.niaaa.nih.gov

 

A very serious but rare condition that can be brought on by the consumption of alcohol is alcohol-induced psychosis. While many drink alcohol to relax or to have a good time with family and friends, many are unaware of the many risks that are associated. There are many negative effects alcohol has on the mind and body. The risks of alcohol consumption vary due to the length of time, the amount consumed, and our own chemical makeup or genetics.  

Alcohol’s Impact on the Body

• The brain’s pathways of communication
• Liver
• Heart
• Pancreas 
• Increased risk of cancer
• Immune System 
• Skin

What is Psychosis?

The word psychosis is described as a mental break from reality. It is essentially the loss of reality and the confusion of what is real and not real. Psychosis is not a mental health illness. It is a symptom of another mental health diagnosis’. It can occur with the presence of other mental health conditions or it can be induced through substance use disorders. One of which is alcohol use disorder. 

Psychosis can include a hallucination, a delusion, or dissociation. Hallucination and delusion are words that are often confused and believed to be the same or have the same definition. They are not the same but are in fact similar. Below describes three main symptoms of psychosis for better clarification. 

• The first symptom is a hallucination. A hallucination involves seeing, smelling, hearing, tasting, and feeling that something or somewhere is real. Essentially a hallucination involves all or some of our senses. Those experiencing a hallucination may experience drugs entering their system or the experience of bugs crawling all over them. 
• The second symptom is delusion. A delusion is a belief that an idea is real and true even if it is not. A delusion may come in the form of paranoia. Those experiencing a delusion may feel like the world is after them or someone is trying to get them.
• The third symptom that may arise is dissociation. Dissociation is described as the feeling of being unattached from the world and sometimes from themselves. They may even feel that they are not real or others are not real even if they are. Dissociation may also be labeled as depersonalization. Both are rare in occurrence over hallucinations or delusions. 

Psychosis is generally brought on by mental health conditions such as schizophrenia but can also be caused by the use of substances. The following is a full list of symptoms of psychosis.

• Incoherent Speech
• Problems with memory
• Lack of clear thought or focus
• The inability to apply knowledge to make a choice or decision
• Inappropriate behavior
• The inability to differentiate reality from fantasy
• False beliefs or delusions
• Hallucinations
• Disturbed thoughts

What is Alcohol-Induced Psychosis?

Alcohol-induced psychosis or alcohol-induced psychosis disorder is a psychotic state brought on by the consumption or withdrawal of alcohol.  Meaning that for a diagnosis to take place the symptoms above must take place during or directly after intoxication from alcohol or during withdrawal. A diagnosis of alcohol-induced psychosis generally means that the symptoms will end once the consumption or withdrawal has ended. 

What Are The Types of Alcohol-Induced Psychotic Disorders? 

Alcohol-induced psychosis or alcohol-induced psychotic disorder is able to be broken down into three main forms. 

• Acute intoxication or alcohol poisoning
• Alcohol withdrawal delirium
• Chronic or long term alcohol use disorder

Type one of alcohol-induced psychotic disorder: Acute Intoxication

Acute intoxication, although uncommon, can occur after binge drinking alcohol. Binge drinking is the consumption of a large amount of alcohol in one evening or sitting. Hospitalization tends to occur in these instances. Which is also highly recommended due to the likelihood of alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning is a very serious occurrence and can lead to death if not treated properly. The signs that can present themselves during this form of alcohol-induced psychotic disorder are as follows:

• Long instances of sleep
• Aggression that is uncommon
• The impairment of consciousness
• Hallucinations that come and go
• Delusion or illusion
• At the end of the impairment amnesia sets in.
• Amnesia is the loss of memory of occurrences during the episode. 

Type two of alcohol-induced psychotic disorder: Alcohol withdrawal delirium

While it is a rare occurrence, alcohol withdrawal delirium (AWD) or delirium tremens, is a scary possible symptom of withdrawal. Thus the importance of proper treatment and monitoring. Withdrawal can be handled and managed to ease those suffering through the symptoms.

Alcohol withdrawal delirium, the second form of alcohol-induced psychotic disorder is caused by withdrawal from alcohol. It is more likely to occur in instances of those that suffered alcohol use disorder for a long length of time and had been consuming large quantities daily and had abruptly stopped their drinking. 

Some factors that can lead to an even larger chance of occurrence are head injuries and the lack of the consumption of food while withdrawing. Showcasing the importance of seeking treatment within a facility to assist the detoxing process. Medically assisted detox facilities, like ours here at Coastal Detox, specialize in the detoxification of alcohol from the system. Allowing the mind and body to have a more comfortable experience and receiving the nutrients needed to avoid issues like alcohol withdrawal delirium.  

Alcohol withdrawal delirium has a large number of symptoms that can accompany it. The symptoms begin to arise around six hours after the last drink was consumed. The following is a list of some of those symptoms, some of which do not present themselves until after 12 hours after the last drink was consumed.     

• Anxiety and/or fear
• Chest pain
• Irritability, agitation, and/or mood swings
• Nightmares and/or delirium 
• Increased heart rate
• Increased breathing
• Nausea, stomach pain, and / or vomiting
• Involuntary eye movement, muscle contractions, and/or seizures
• Fever and/or sweating
• Hallucinations

Type three of alcohol-induced psychotic disorder: Chronic or long term alcohol use disorder

The previous two types of alcohol-induced psychotic disorder can occur for those that have reached the chronic stage. However, due to the length of time and the amount of alcohol that was abused those in the previous categories are unlikely to experience the severity of the chronic stage. 

Chronic alcohol use disorder is caused by the long-term and heavy use of alcohol consumption. Due to the amount and length of use alcohol causes changes to the brain and the physical body. Thus leading to psychotic symptoms either from the changes to the chemical balance in the brain or even damage to the digestive tract. 

Unlike the other two forms of alcohol-induced disorders, chronic alcohol use disorder can produce three forms of alcohol-induced psychosis. 

• Alcohol Hallucinosis
• Alcoholic paranoia
• Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

The first condition, alcohol hallucinosis, are auditory hallucinations. This condition of alcohol-induced disorder is rare but can occur in those that had always displayed clear thought and memory. Aside from hallucinations, mood swings and delusions are likely to become present. This is not the same as delirium tremens.

Although paranoia is a common symptom of alcohol-induced disorders, alcoholic paranoia is due to brain changes caused by the heavy and long-term use of alcohol. Alcoholic paranoia is fear and intense anxiety to those struggling.

The third form is a combination of two other conditions. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is caused by a vitamin B1 or thiamine deficiency due to the lack of proper food or its digestion being supplemented by drinking. Some of the symptoms from both are confusion, coordination loss, inability to form new memories or loss of old, and hallucinations. 

How is Someone at Risk of Alcohol-Induced Psychosis?

As stated previously, psychosis is not a diagnosis itself. It is a symptom of other mental health conditions, some physical illnesses, or even in some cases while taking proper doses of prescription medications.

Many mental health disorders can present symptoms of psychosis. Some of those mental health disorders are schizophrenia, manic-depression or bipolar disorder, or those with a major depressive disorder. In some cases, those suffering from mental health disorders may turn to drug or alcohol abuse in hopes of self-medicating. Thus creating a more likely chance of developing a substance use disorder. 

Psychosis can also present itself due to untreated illnesses within the body. Physical illnesses like HIV or syphilis are some examples of diseases that can cause psychosis. 

Alcohol-induced psychosis is rare but can present itself to those who have experienced an acute intoxication, during withdrawal, or chronic alcoholics. Alcohol-induced psychosis can also be more common depending upon the genetics and the mental history of those suffering from alcohol use disorders.  Those who have already experienced an alcohol-induced psychosis are more likely to continue to experience it if drinking continues.

Is There a Treatment for Alcohol-Induced Psychosis at Coastal Detox?

Alcohol-induced psychosis is not a long-lasting condition. Generally symptoms of psychosis only last hours or days. Although, as stated previously, a psychotic episode is more likely to occur if someone has already experienced one previously. 

Treatment for an alcohol-induced psychotic episode begins by no longer consuming alcohol. Although the first step seems simply for those with an addiction to alcohol it is far from an easy task. The withdrawal symptoms from the refrain from alcohol can even bring about a psychotic episode. Thus the need for addiction treatment centers with a variety of treatment options.

Treatment centers, like ours here at Coastal Detox, are able to offer treatment options fit for each person. In the event of alcohol-induced psychosis, and many other conditions, there is a need for medically assisted detox. With the help of medical staff and trained personnel, recovery from alcohol use disorders and their symptoms like psychosis recovery is possible. 

While rehabilitation treatment and detox can be terrifying, we at Coastal Detox want to provide you and your loved ones with the best possible resources for a full recovery. By offering a variety of amenities for the mind, body, and soul to recover we are confident in placing you and your loved ones on the right track. Contact us today at 1-877-978-3125 and begin writing your own story of recovery. 

References:

https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/pep19-pl-guide-3.pdf

https://www.psychologynoteshq.com/alcohol-induced-psychosis/

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/289848-overview#a6

https://www.jwatch.org/jp201010180000003/2010/10/18/look-alcohol-induced-psychosis

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459134/

https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/schizophrenia/link-between-psychotic-disorders-and-substance-use

The liver is the organ responsible for removing toxins in the body during detox. The most important question to answer is what are the signs of alcohol detox? Being able to know when your liver is detoxing, is an important step in recovery. Excess binge drinking or chemical consumption means that the liver must work exponentially harder to cleanse the body of harmful chemicals. This is an essential process of the body’s system to ensure proper functioning. When abusing drugs and alcohol, many are unaware of how essential the liver detox system is to sustain life. 

Liver Detox: The Signs Your Liver is Detoxing

When making the decision to remove alcohol from your daily life after dependency, it is important to have all of the resources available to you during this time. Coastal Detox is available to provide you with the insight and support you will need to detox your liver safely. In only a few hours after abstaining from alcohol, the functions of the liver will automatically start the process of detox. How extreme this withdrawal will be, depends upon overall health, as well as how severe a person’s alcoholism has progressed. This process is typically broken down into three steps, lasting until the body has completely adjusted and removed all harmful substances, and will become more and more difficult as the detox continues. These three steps are essentially the timeline and symptoms that liver detox consists of: 

• 8 to 10 hours after your last drink of alcohol
• 24 to 78 hours after the first symptoms of liver detox begin
• 2 to 4 days after consuming your last sip of alcohol

Knowing what to expect when the detox of your liver begins, can prepare you for what’s ahead. Being informed of what liver detox and withdrawal consists of is the best preparation for a healthy journey to recovery, and will assist you in creating a plan for the type of treatment you will need. 

Liver Detox: Timeline of Detox 

• In the first few hours:
  • In the first 8-10 hours, the first symptoms will begin. Nausea and abdominal pain are the first physical symptoms, accompanied by the psychological influence of anxiety. Not only will a person detoxing experience fatigue, but you will most likely suffer from insomnia and restlessness as well. This is due to the liver is steadily playing catch-up and filtering out immediate toxins, becoming exhausted in the process. 
• The first day after:
  • Within the following day, 24-78 hours after consuming your last drink, the fatigue will likely continue. Confusion, problems focusing, or an overall haze in consciousness begins to set in. The body working overtime affects the brain’s ability to use the information surrounding you and can reduce reaction times, making for dangerous interactions to you and your environment. 
  • Thanks to the need for the body to compensate for the extra pressure being placed on it, your temperature will rise, resulting in even higher blood pressure readings. This leads to increased heart rate and anxiety, creating a loop back to anxiety and exhaustion. Typical at this point, there is a misconception that reaching for another drink may be the solution to ease the symptoms of withdrawal and reduce anxiety. Though this is not the answer, many people assume this to be the end of the liver detox cycle, and in turn, begin the abusive habit over again. 
• Within the first week:
  • Beginning two to four days after your last sip of ethanol, emotional irritation and agitation come into play. The craving will increase, and the habit of steadily drinking has the liver stuck in detox mode waiting to be overworked again. Hallucinations and auditory anomalies can be noticed, such as ringing in the ears and black spots in vision. Seizures and tremors of the extremities are common when going through this extreme liver detox and withdrawal. These can be terrifying things to experience alone or without the help or treatment rehab resource centers and should be reported immediately. 

With extreme cases of alcohol abuse and the need for liver detox, the symptoms of the third phase of withdrawal are the most difficult and life-threatening to endure. Not all people experience the discomfort of these factors. However in extreme cases, after four days without alcohol, the liver and body systems become confused and lead to severe consequences. During these times, Coastal Detox is here for you to ensure that you have the resources you need. 

Liver Detox: 5 Signs of Alcohol Detox

There are five telltale signs that you are experiencing liver detox. These include:

• tremors, anxiety, seizures
• nausea, vomiting
• headache, irritability, confusion
• an increased heart rate, sweating, high blood pressure
• insomnia, nightmares

These five signs of liver detox may happen all at once, over a period of days, or in all different combinations. 

Liver Detox: How Everyone Reacts Differently

Alcohol affects everyone, in every quantity, and under different circumstances. For example, a 110 lb female may feel the effects of a single ounce of liquor or a single glass of wine, much more quickly and with much more of a reaction than a 260lb man would. Knowing your limits, and how your body reacts to the substance is critical, and could be the difference between life and death. 

It has been scientifically proven that men process alcohol through their bodies at a more rapid pace than women do. This is due to different hormones and chemicals through the body and brain by biological makeup. In addition, different races and ethnicities also fall into this category by possessing different enzymes, whether, through food, environment, or biology, that may hinder or assist liver detoxification. Though to many extremes, this area of study is largely lacking scientific study. Because of this, it may be difficult for an individual to put a number or amount of adequate alcohol consumption into a chart and can leave to addiction and abuse, and essentially binge drinking. 

The “feel-good” effects of drinking alcohol rely on many elements, namely birth gender, age, weight measurements, ethnicity, food absorption and the amount consumed, and well as the time frame in which alcohol is ingested. According to a study done by the Mayo Clinic, more than three drinks a day for women is considered alcohol abuse, and more than 4 drinks within an hour are binge drinking. Just as well, within the time of a week, more than 6-8 drinks is considered alcohol abuse. 

In the case of men, and binge drinking alcohol, the number that constitutes a problem is increased by only one drink per day, making the dangerous number to be four measured drinks, and 5 drinks within an hour are binge drinking standards. That said, consuming more than 2 drinks a day through a week’s time, measuring to about 12-15 drinks a week is considered to be abusive drinking for males. 

Liver Detox: Excessive Alcohol Abuse

Both binge drinking and alcoholism can wreak havoc on one’s body and liver functions and detox. The negative interactions can be extremely dangerous and even deadly. Poor judgment aside, physical conditions that impact the function of the body include the following, when the overuse of alcohol takes its toll on the detoxification process of the liver:

A healthy body is the result of a healthy liver properly removing toxins from the body, such as alcohol and other substances used in excess. Liver detox can dramatically lower the risks associated with drug and alcohol dependency. 

Liver Detox: The Process of Detoxification

A healthy body and liver are constantly working to rid the body of toxins. Whether environmental or chemical, the detox of the liver is important to optimal performance. Even the foods that we eat require the liver to detox and filter some components from the body. Sugar, carbs, protein, caffeine, or nicotine require the liver to work to break down the beneficial from the waste. Liver detoxification, however, does not come without symptoms that are classified under experiences of withdrawal. 

Aside from the body’s detox system of the liver working to stabilize the nutrients and daily pollutants flowing through the digestive system, pumping out other things like alcohol, becomes a priority. In this case, other dangerous particles cannot get the attention and time they need to be processed properly, creating a hazardous environment.  When using alcohol to an excessive level, the body must work double-time to process ethanol, which is the active ingredient in alcohol. 

In the event that a person is consuming more ethanol than that body can filter through within the time needed, the liver cannot function properly due to the overload. Respecting the theory that one alcoholic beverage per hour allows the liver the time and energy needed to perform its process and preparing itself for the next round of work ahead of itself. By hindering this process, someone abusing alcohol may find themselves at risk of complications or even disease of the liver. 

Quitting “cold turkey” is one method of liver detox. Another is slowly weaning off of the substance. The second option seems more appealing, due to the lack of withdrawal symptoms a person can experience, however, both can be very dangerous. The shock to the system once dependence is formed is best done with the help of drug and alcohol treatment programs designed to safely assist you in regaining control over addiction. 

Liver Detox: Rehab Treatment Center Supervision 

For most people, dealing with the initial hours of liver detox can be done alone, or without the assistance of rehab treatment centers, or inpatient residential programs. However, any further into these conditions should be done under the guidance of medical professionals. This is to ensure that the level of care needed is provided at the right times to avoid life-altering tragedy or death as a result of detox. 

The symptoms and cravings that are encountered even just days after the initial detoxification of the liver, can result in relapse. Falling back into the vicious cycle of consumption and hangover, then to withdrawal, is easily the culprit leading to dependence and abuse. Without the steady oversight and care of a treatment facility, it may seem hopeless to be free of substance abuse and therefore lead to a life of suffering from alcoholism. 

If you have any signs that your body and liver detox is unmanageable after just a few of the beginning stages, it is advised that you seek medical attention and assistance from rehab treatment centers. The cleansing process can be scary and harmful if left untreated my a medical professional. While the desire to be free of dependence can be the ultimate goal, the fear of experiencing unwanted withdrawal symptoms can lead a person to avoid or put off improving their life through rehabilitation. Drug and alcohol resource centers have the tools and training available to make this decision a more permanent way of life. 

Liver Detox: Getting Help At Coastal Detox

Education, awareness, and hope are all you need to break free of the restraints of alcohol abuse and dependency. Liver detox is one of the most important steps to take, and can often be the most frightening. Our substance abuse treatment resource center at Coastal Detox, promises to take exceptional care to treat each individual with the utmost respect and to cultivate a successful path to wellbeing. Let’s beat substance abuse together. To learn more contact us here at Coastal Detox today.

References:

https://www.healthline.com/health/alcoholism/withdrawal#risk-factors

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/detoxing-your-liver-fact-versus-fiction

https://www.mydr.com.au/gastrointestinal-health/liver-and-alcohol-breakdown

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320371.php

https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics

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