How Alcohol Detox for Gay People Works and What to Know About It

It can be hard enough to convince a gay person struggling with alcohol addiction to give up the bottle, but when the alcohol withdrawal symptoms start to rear their ugly heads, it can be almost impossible to keep them in an alcohol detox program. In today’s society, nearly a day passes when one gay person or another isn’t entering rehab for alcohol addiction. It is as if not needing to detox has become unfashionable. But what happens when the gay person gets into rehab and starts the detox process? Keep on reading to find out.

Understanding Alcohol Detox for a Gay Person

Alcohol detox is the first step to quitting drinking and living a life in recovery for a gay person. Although the prospect of undertaking this path may seem discouraging to the gay individual, there are thousands like them who have successfully navigated this road with help and found freedom from alcohol addiction.

Knowing what to expect as a gay person during this process of alcohol detox or alcohol withdrawal can be helpful in successfully navigating it. Just as each gay person has a different biological makeup and their drinking history varies, so does the exact withdrawal process. However, there are some characteristics to be expected.

The heavier and longer the alcohol use has been, the more severe the withdrawal symptoms are. When a gay person’s body has become addicted to alcohol or another substance and this substance is suddenly absent from the body, the brain, body, and blood can go into shock.

Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal for a Gay Person

Again, depending on each gay individual and their specific circumstances surrounding alcohol consumption, the symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal will vary. The following are the most common symptoms they may experience:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Agitation or irritability
• Excessive sweating
• Mood swings and emotional outbursts
• Extreme dehydration
• Rapid heart rate
• Tremors
• Delirium Tremens (DTs)
• Seizures

Generally, there are three stages of alcohol withdrawal for a gay person. Each of these stages is characterized by different alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Stage One:

This first phase of withdrawal for a gay person is characterized by acute symptoms. Usually occurring about a few hours after the last drink was consumed (but sometimes later), this is when the first symptoms from not having alcohol in the body of the gay individual begin. Insomnia, anxiety, irritability, moodiness, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty focusing all can happen during this stage. It can last for the first few days.

Stage Two:

Generally, this phase is characterized by more serious medical concerns. From increased blood pressure and heart rate to more extreme moodiness, this is the stage of withdrawal where the body of the gay person can begin to go into shock from not having alcohol.

Stage Three:

This last phase of alcohol detox for a gay person is where the most severe and life threatening symptoms manifest.

• Hallucinations
• Seizures
• Tremors
• High levels of irritability

This stage usually occurs in the gay individual about three days to a week after the last drink and can last several weeks. If not treated with the proper alcohol detox treatment, some of the psychological issues of this stage can potentially be permanent. That’s just one reason why seeking out help at a reputable alcohol detox facility for a gay person is important.

Finding the Right Alcohol Detox Center for a Gay Person

If a gay person is struggling with alcohol addiction, it is right to act as fast as possible. Delaying this process will only prolong the addiction and potentially lead to more serious health conditions. Despite their current situation and how desperate and hopeless they may feel, there is hope and help.

There are several things they should consider when looking at selecting an alcohol detox program. Medically supervised detox is essential to a safe alcohol addiction recovery. While there are no guarantees, having a medical professional oversee their detox process, whether inpatient or outpatient, can help to watch and treat any potential conditions that may arise, such as DTs, hallucinations, extreme anxiety, or heart issues.

Four Must-Ask Questions to Find a Detox Program for Alcohol Addiction as a Gay Person

When choosing a medical detox program for alcohol addiction as a gay person, consider the following four questions:

1. Is there another substance being abused?

Many times there are multiple substances in addition to alcohol being used by the gay person. Hence, they’ll want to select a drug and alcohol detox center if this is the case.

2. Is there a co-occurring mental health issue?

It is extremely common for a gay individual  with an alcohol use disorder to have a co-occurring mental health condition. If you have any suspicion this is true for you or your loved one, be sure to go somewhere that mental health can be addressed as well.

3. Is there a need for inpatient or outpatient treatment?

While most gay people may initially be reluctant to go to inpatient treatment, unless there are extenuating circumstances, inpatient treatment is highly recommended.

4. Is there insurance coverage for the treatment?

Let’s face it, the costs for alcohol addiction treatment can be high for a gay person. While not all treatment centers accept all insurance plans, it’s a good idea to find out what particular insurance plan is accepted by a gay detox program, so as to know if the program will accept your insurance plan.

Recover from Alcohol Addiction at Pride Detox

While alcohol use for the gay person can have severe mental and physical consequences, many gay individuals are unable to quit due to the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. At Pride Detox, our staff understands every phase of alcohol addiction recovery and provides gay clients with empathy, experience, and non-judgemental treatment designed to strengthen the gay community. With medically assisted detox and inpatient programs, we can help you and your gay loved one overcome alcohol addiction. Begin alcohol detox and recovery at Pride Detox today, or call us now at 1-562-525-5501 to learn how we can support you during alcohol detox and recovery.