Independence is an admirable quality. People who take the initiative to solve their own problems often find that they are successful. While you might have handled stressful situations in the past with ease, it is sometimes important to take a step back and realize that there are times when it helps to rely on other people’s support.
At the point that you begin asking what’s wrong with thinking that I can detox myself, you are likely trying to avoid having to lean on other people. You might even feel like it is a sign of weakness to reach out for help or go to a rehab center. If so, then it helps to know that detoxing alone has serious consequences that can hold you back from sobriety. Taking a good look at what you can expect during detox and why you might run into problems can help you see if you need to revise your plan for quitting drugs or alcohol.
Before we dive into what detox is like, it is important to take a moment to think about why you prefer to do this alone. Are you afraid of other people finding out that you have an addiction? If so, then it might help to know that treatment centers are required by law to protect your privacy. You can also find detox programs that work with your schedule if you can’t take months off of work, and no one will think that you are weak for seeking help. In fact, you might just realize that your family and friends are eager to help you seek professional treatment. With that out of the way, make sure to read through the reasons for why getting assistance with detox can make a big difference in your overall safety and ability to stay sober.
Be Aware of the Possibility of Serious Withdrawal Symptoms
If you’ve been doing drugs or drinking, then an overdose or alcohol poisoning might have been your biggest concern up to this point. Getting sober will help you to set those fears aside, but you have one last big worry before you can start enjoying your newfound freedom. With true addictions, the body develops a dependency upon the substances that you use. The symptoms that you can experience during detox are unpredictable, and they can include any or all of the following:
•nausea and vomiting
•severe muscle aches or abdominal pain
•dangerous changes in your heart rate
•seizures
•hallucinations
•coma
Listing these symptoms isn’t meant to scare you away from getting sober. It is completely possible that you might not have a tough time during the detox process. However, you do need to prepare for the possibility that these health issues can happen. Going to an addiction treatment center helps you to have access to support from people who are trained to stabilize your health if you suddenly develop severe withdrawal symptoms.
Understand Why Sheer Willpower Is Rarely Enough
You might be a fairly tough person, and you’ve undoubtedly made it through challenges before. Unfortunately, quitting drugs or alcohol is not the same as figuring out how to resolve a work conflict or push through a fitness goal. The “mind over matter” concept simply doesn’t work when your body is dependent upon substances to keep going.
During the detox process, you can experience physical and emotional symptoms that override your common sense. While you may know on some level that you’ll get past the nausea, you body’s survival instincts will eventually kick in and cause intense cravings for drugs or alcohol. Having someone on your side makes it easier to get through those dark and difficult moments.
Give Yourself a Strong Start Towards Long-Term Sobriety
So, you might actually make it through a day or two without using drugs or alcohol. Yet, being able to tough it out doesn’t mean that you’ve recovered. Addiction recovery takes many months to years before someone can say that they feel stable in their sobriety.
Detoxing yourself shortchanges you from receiving the additional services that you need for a lifetime of sobriety. The truth is that detox is only part of the equation of ending your addiction. Going to a rehab center lets you learn how to cope with life’s challenges using research-based techniques that work when you experience the temptation to use drugs or alcohol again. If you’re going to go through the trouble of detoxing, it’s worth investing time and effort into making sure that you don’t have to do it again.
Are you starting to reconsider the idea of detoxing by yourself? If so, we can help you find a supportive environment where you can get help meeting your goal of getting sober. Call us today at 844-639-8371.