Detox programs focus on helping someone make it through the physical aspects of ending addiction. Using drugs or alcohol for prolonged periods of time exposes your body to chemicals that it starts to think it needs to function normally.
Your brain especially responds to certain drugs by altering the production of hormones, such as dopamine, that regulate your emotions and behaviors. The answer to do you need a detox program varies from one person to another. The types and amounts of substances you use along with how long you’ve been struggling with addiction all impact how your body might respond to suddenly stopping using them.
Figuring out whether or not you need a detox program is best left up to the professionals, since experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms can leave you facing serious risks for your health.
Many people recover from their addiction every day without experiencing severe negative effects, but you’ll want someone nearby to help if you happen to be one of the rare few who do struggle in early recovery. Severe withdrawal symptoms aside, you might also need detox just to help you manage milder symptoms that still impact your daily comfort such as nausea or insomnia. Understanding what detox programs do and how they differ from general addiction treatment helps you to plan for each phase of your recovery.
What Happens In a Detox Program?
In a detox program, the primary concern is addressing your physical and emotional health as you go through your first hours to days of quitting drinking or using drugs.
During this time, people are prone to experiencing symptoms that can include the following:
- anxiety
- insomnia
- agitation
- lethargy
- nausea
- tremors
- seizures
- respiratory distress
These withdrawal symptoms might seem intimidating, and they can even cause some people to delay or stop the detox process when they try to go through it alone. When you go to a detox program, you’ll be surrounded by professionals who can offer you various forms of support.
Some people need medication to balance out their bodies, which is common when you have other underlying mental health conditions. Other people might just need monitoring and frequent pep talks that include offering solutions for easing the symptoms. It’s amazing how well strategies that include deep breathing and gentle exercise can serve as distractions from uncomfortable symptoms.
What Are Signs That You Need Help With Detox?
If you’ve never been through detox before, then there’s no real way to know for sure how your body will respond to quitting drugs. As a general rule, people who are relapsing or who have struggle with a difficult in the past can benefit from this type of program. As a newcomer to sobriety, you’ll need to consider other factors. People who use certain drugs are known for having a high risk of having severe withdrawal symptoms. Drugs from the opioid family are especially known for being harder to detox from compared to something like marijuana. Heavy drinking can also lead to symptoms such as seizures that are better off being monitored by a professional.
Since there’s no real way for you to know how your detox process will go, it is best to ask a professional. Addiction care teams have years of experience helping people go through this process, and they’ll use their education to help assess your situation and come up with a safe and appropriate treatment plan.
What Happens After You Go Through Detox?
Detox programs are often linked to other forms of addiction treatment. While you may start your therapy while you are in detox, the majority of your time in this phase will be focused on making it through each new minute or day. After you come through the detox process, your mind will begin to clear to the point that you can focus better on how you will stay sober. After detox, the majority of people need to go through additional treatment that could include an inpatient or outpatient stay in rehab.
Ongoing care helps you to get stronger so that you can avoid having a relapse when you begin your new independent lifestyle. Are you concerned about going through the detox process? We can help you identify your needs for starting sobriety. Contact us now at 844-639-8371.