Should Alcohol Withdrawal Be Medically Supervised?

The iconic English Philosopher and author Alan Watts famously said, “Things are as they are. Looking out into the universe at night, we make no comparisons between right and wrong stars, nor between well and badly arranged constellations.” This is emblematic of how one needs to love and care for themselves both in and out of recovery. This includes the way one must care for oneself by ensuring that one utilizes a medically supervised detox process rather than trying to do it on one’s own. One must show oneself enough self-love not to put oneself through an unnecessary amount of emotional and physical pain that comes with the self-detox process.

What Does It Mean to Heal at the Cellular Level?

Healing at the cellular level is all about healing every aspect of the “Self.” These are four components: the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It also has to do with getting to the underlying issues of one’s situation. This means that, as is often said in 12-Step recovery, “It is more about the thinking than it is about the drinking.” 

Healing at the cellular level is about a lot more than simply putting down the drink. However, none of that healing can happen unless that drink is ultimately first put down (and put down for good). This is where a safe and secure detox process comes in. It is the best place to start for alcohol use disorder (AUD) recovery, and. as will be discussed in more depth, it should never be attempted alone as it can be deadly.

The Importance of Individualized Alcohol Addiction Treatment

The fact of the matter is that the addiction recovery is a multi-billion-dollar industry. This unfortunately means that there are a lot of “bad actors” out there. These are recovery centers and treatment facilities that put their bottom line over the well-being of their clients.

Many of these recovery centers only offer “one-size-fits-all” recovery plans that don’t take into account individual needs. Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we believe this is not optimal enough for one to heal at the cellular level.

Individualized recovery begins with a focus on a personalized intake process. This process doesn’t just focus on the drink or the drug either. It focuses on one’s history, background, family dynamics, occupation/career, and goals for the future. This is also one of the best ways to determine if an individual requires a medically supervised detox.

The Multi-Angled Approach: The Importance of Comprehensive Addiction Treatment

Whether an individual goes through a detox process or not, they should have a plan that utilizes many means, methods, and modalities of recovery. This is what comprehensive addiction care is all about.

If an individual does require a safe and secure medically supervised detox, then they are in an ideal place to connect them to the next steps of recovery. This offering is not as readily available if one attempts to recover on their own. Plus, the chances of a relapse are much higher for an individual who tries to detox on their own.

Relapses are much more common than many people may think. They are also due to many of the feelings that arise during a self-administered detox. According to the peer-reviewed journal Current Psychiatry Reports, “It has long been known that addictive disorders are chronic and relapsing in nature…. The most common reasons for relapse given by substance-abusing patients include stress, negative mood and anxiety, drug-related cues, temptations and boredom, and lack of positive environmental contingencies (eg, job, family relationships, responsibilities).”

The Dangers of Detoxing Alone

Many people try to detox on their own from alcohol because they believe it is a relatively safe substance. This is due to the fact that it is legal, socially accepted, and highly prevalent all over the world. However, alcohol is actually one of the most dangerous and addictive substances out there.

Besides the social consequences that come from drinking (such as the greater chances of automobile accidents and fatal injuries from falls), alcohol has also been shown to be a factor in higher risks of cancer. 

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), “There is a strong scientific consensus that alcohol drinking can cause several types of cancer. In its Report on Carcinogens, the National Toxicology Program of the US Department of Health and Human Services lists the consumption of alcoholic beverages as a known human carcinogen. The evidence indicates that the more alcohol a person drinks–particularly the more alcohol a person drinks regularly over time–the higher his or her risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer.”

There are also many other negative effects that come from excessive alcohol consumption and AUD. The following are just a few of the signs and symptoms of those negative effects:

• Loneliness: Isolating away from family and friends
• Depression: Feeling worthless, hopeless, and helpless
• Sleep cycles: Sleeping too much or not sleeping enough (insomnia)
• Loss of appetite and negative changes in appearance
• Lack of care for one’s hygiene
• Feeling excessively anxious, nervous, or “stressed out”
• Struggling with gastrointestinal problems
• Having pancreas and liver issues
• Feeling like harming oneself
• Exhibiting self-harming behavior
• Having suicidal ideations 

As one can see these are significant signs and symptoms. This is why if any, many, or all of these symptoms are present, it is important to seek professional help as soon as possible. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. Recognizing these signs and symptoms is also the best way to start the process of getting a loved one into the medically supervised alcohol addiction detox that they need.

The Importance of a Medically Supervised Alcohol Addiction Detox

There are many reasons for choosing a medically supervised detox. The primary one is that trying to detox off of alcohol on one’s own can be deadly. It causes something called alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS).

According to the peer-reviewed journal Alcohol Health and Research World, “Abrupt reduction or total cessation of long-term alcohol consumption produces a well-defined cluster of symptoms called acute alcohol withdrawal (AW). Although some patients experience relatively mild withdrawal symptoms, disease processes or events that accompany AW can cause significant illness and death.” A medically supervised detox can monitor these symptoms to ensure that they don’t become fatal. A medically supervised detox also ensures that an individual gets the appropriate nutrients and hydration that they need.

Replenishing Nutrients in a Medically Supervised Detox

Many people don’t realize just how depleted of nutrients an individual struggling with AUD can be. This is why we here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab always focus on replenishing nutrients with pharmaceutical-grade supplements. We also offer infusion therapy for those who need extra help getting their nutrition levels up appropriately.

It’s also true that nutrition from food is just as important as nutrition from supplements. That is why we here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab have nutritionists and licensed dieticians on staff, as well as a certified naturopath doctor.

We also offer nutritious meals that focus on health, balance, and wellness. This food is always local and organic as well. We also don’t just focus on nutrition either, we care about satiation and taste. That is why all of our meals are prepared by world-class chefs and take individual needs and wants into account. Of course, this stage of meal preparation comes after the initial detox process takes place.

The Next Steps After a Medically Supervised Detox

A proper medically supervised detox should also be aligned with the next steps of recovery. This means connecting an individual with multiple modalities of recovery as soon as the detox process concludes.

These modalities should come from all avenues of recovery. This includes psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), experiential therapies like nature immersion therapy and surf therapy, and holistic healing methods like yoga therapy and mindfulness meditation. Generally, these modalities are offered in residential addiction care after a medically supervised detox. This is because having round-the-clock attention is an ideal way to ensure that a relapse doesn’t occur.

A Focus on Residential Treatment

Residential addiction treatment is a great way for individuals to connect to recovery professionals and recovery peers. These are professionals who are going to start to focus on a long-term recovery plan and peers who are going to help one recover by sharing their own personal experiences.

Residential treatment also offers an opportunity to unplug from day-to-day life and any triggers that may arise. There is a saying in 12-Step recovery that goes “careful of people, places, and things.” This simply means that one must be careful of various uncomfortable circumstances and dynamics that could lead them to relapse and drink again. Focusing on a plan that has a foundation of psychotherapy is also a great way to avoid a relapse.

The Benefits of Psychotherapies

Psychotherapies are an ideal way to recover from AUD. This is because psychotherapies focus on getting to the underlying issues that were previously mentioned. These underlying issues often have to do with some type of trauma or discomfort that the individual may not even be aware that they are repressing.

CBT and DBT can be particularly effective because they make the individual an active participant in their own recovery. They help individuals start to see the negative way in which they view themselves and the world around them. When these negative views are addressed then the negative cognitions (thoughts) and emotions (feelings) can follow. From there one can focus on making adjustments to their negative behaviors that harm both themself and others.

The Benefits of Experiential Therapies

A great way to begin to recover is to connect to nature. According to the United States National Park Service, “5 minutes walking in nature improves mood, self-esteem, and relaxation. Frequent exposure to nature reduces anxiety and depression while promoting a sense of wellbeing and fulfillment.” Also, “Physical activity in a green space can reduce stress and lower cortisol levels by 15%.”

Connecting with nature is also a great way for one to connect to oneself, and there is perhaps no better place to make this connection than on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. On the Big Island, individuals can take in some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. They can also go on amazing hikes to majestic outlooks and sandy beaches. There is even a live volcano where one can see how incredible nature can be.

Nature immersion is not just about being on land either, especially on Hawaii’s Big Island. The beautiful blue Pacific Ocean offers an opportunity to engage in surf therapy. Surf therapy is an ideal way to recover from AUD because it offers physical, cognitive, and spiritual opportunities for healing. The good news is there is one of the best surf breaks a mere 15-minute journey from our luxury 30-acre property. 

Another important experiential therapy to consider is art therapy. Art therapy offers an opportunity for creative expression that can truly tell an individual a lot about themselves. This information can be just as important as the information that is taken in from talk therapy (sometimes more). Holistic healing methods like yoga therapy, acupuncture, and mindfulness meditation can also be a critical part of healing at the cellular level.

The Benefits of Holistic Healing Methods

“Holsim” simply means to heal every part of oneself. This is what is offered when one engages in yoga. Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years. Originally it was utilized as a religious practice, but it has since moved into the realm of recovery.

Yoga offers many benefits. These benefits include physical strength, emotional stability, better respiration, and mental clarity (just to name a few). Similar benefits can be garnered from practicing mindfulness meditation.

Meditation helps an individual in recovery find essential serenity and mindful balance. The beauty of meditation and yoga is also that they can be taken virtually anywhere. In many instances, all one needs is a yoga mat (and some may argue not even that). Of course on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island, yoga and meditation can take place in some of the most majestic places on earth.

One can meditate under the palm trees in the garden where fruits and vegetables abound around them. One may practice yoga on one of the amazing beaches that are located just beyond our amazing property.

Other holistic healing options include music therapy, massage, and acupuncture. These processes can truly help an individual start to connect with their recovery in an emotional and spiritual way. Ultimately, they offer ideal supplemental recovery to a plan that has an evidence-based foundation of psychotherapy. The key is to find the right combination of modalities (the multi-angled approach) that works best for the individual. This is especially true for someone who is coming right out of a medically supervised alcohol addiction detox.

Healing at the Cellular Level With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab

Alan Watts also famously said, “To have faith is to trust yourself to the water. When you swim you don’t grab hold of the water, because if you do you will sink and drown. Instead, you relax and float.” This is what healing at the cellular level is all about. It is about ensuring that everything is aligned to ensure that all parts of the Self can experience the same levels of recovery.

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” This is why we always focus on individualized and comprehensive recovery plans that put a primary focus on the future.

The future is friendly. Recovery is possible. The key is to go out there are get it. At Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we’ll be here every step of the way.

Many people don’t understand the importance of engaging in a medically supervised detox rather than trying to do it on one’s own. This is for safety purposes but also to ensure that the next steps of recovery are taken. It also helps to ensure that one heals at the cellular level. If you feel like you or a loved one may require a medically supervised detox or are struggling with any type of addiction, we can get you on the right road to recovery, right away. You don’t have to do this alone. For more information about the benefits of a medically supervised detox, please reach out to Exclusive Hawaii Rehab today at (808) 775-0200.