It can be a process to learn what helps with alcohol withdrawal. Here are some 10 effective tips to help you get started:
- Drink Plenty of Fluids Containing Electrolytes
People with alcohol use disorder often suffer from nausea and dehydration during withdrawal. Drinking plenty of fluids, especially fluids containing electrolytes, will help address nausea and dehydration.
Magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium are some of the electrolytes usually found in sports drinks. Consuming electrolytes helps the body hydrate itself better, which can help with overcoming the alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
- Avoid Going Through Withdrawal Alone
Tell your family and close friends before you get started with the detox and ask them to support you throughout the process. The more support you have the better.
To ensure that you’re never alone during the first week of detox, you should consider creating a visiting schedule. A supportive family member or friend can help you in several different ways during withdrawal.
- Remember That You Aren’t Alone
People battling addiction often convince themselves that they are alone and they are going through their experience alone. The reality, however, is that it can be incredibly comforting to learn that millions of people have gone through withdrawal.
You should consider yourself part of a strong community. Stand in solidarity with everybody else who has made the brave decision to address and overcome their substance use disorder along with the challenge needed to live a healthier life.
- Ride Out Any Cravings
A persistent challenge during withdrawal is the craving for alcohol. There will be several times throughout the process where you will be tempted to have a drink. It can be a good idea to think of the craving as a wave; Cravings build, peak, and crash before finally dissipating.
The point is that your craving will eventually go away – the wave will crash. You shouldn’t, however, get caught off guard assuming that just because once craving stopped, another won’t come just as quickly. Cravings can often come quickly and in succession of each other.
- Write Yourself a Letter
Write yourself a letter before deciding to go through alcohol withdrawal and keep it nearby for quick reference. The letter’s content should be encouraging and it needs to remind you exactly why you are going through the challenge of detox in the first place.
Whenever you feel tempted, take the letter out and read it to yourself. It can even be a good idea to read it out loud since this has been shown to help you retain the information more effectively. Make sure that you read it as many times as you need during the process.
- Create a First Aid kit
Get a small-sized container and put some meaningful items in it. The items should be representative of the things that keep you stable and grounded. It is up to you to decide whatever you would like to put in the container.
The purpose of the container is reminding you of life without alcohol as well as why you entered recovery in the first place. When you experience your first withdrawal, you may feel as though it simply isn’t worth the pain. The first aid kit should help you remain focused and determined to succeed.
- Fast Forward
One of the most effective coping techniques is to “fast forward” your relapse fantasy. You might find yourself daydreaming about having one more drink. Instead of thinking about the temporary relief that will come with the drink, think beyond that to the pain that will inevitably come after.
Think about all of the work that you have done so far and how much of a setback that would be. Consider how resuming your drinking will only prolong the addiction and create additional pain as you enter detox again.
Try to mentally connect your consumption of alcohol to pain as opposed to relief or pleasure.
- Take a Cold Shower
If you’re experiencing strong urges to relapse, you should consider taking a cold shower to help you reset physically. It can help you clear your mind and has several other amazing benefits besides helping you deal with withdrawal. It can also help with hot flashes that you may experience during alcohol withdrawal.
- Don’t Forget That Pain Is Temporary
One factor you must never forget is that the pain is just temporary. It will not last forever. This thought process can be a useful mental tool when the physical pain of withdrawal is most severe. The NAD Cell Clinic can help you through withdrawal with IV vitamin therapy.
- Eat Healthy Fruits and Vegetables
When alcohol metabolizes in the body, it turns into sugar. Due to this, the body becomes used to lots of sugar. Eating healthy fruits and vegetables will help you balance the sugar levels that the body is used to. Furthermore, they are simply good for you.