What Does Detox Entail?

Breaking free from substance use and addiction usually means completing detox. Unfortunately, the fear of detox is enough to prevent people from getting the help they need through rehab. Many people are afraid that detox is going to be painful. They worry that they will lack the mental and physical strength needed to complete detox to the end. However, detox does not need to be terrifying with the right program and a solid network of support. It is an essential and beneficial part of starting down the road to recovery. Here is a basic overview of what detox involves.

What to Know before Beginning Detox

Substance abuse leads to addiction. Abusing drugs and alcohol is dangerous. It leads to several mental, physical, and social problems. Once a person has developed the disease of addiction, they no longer have any control over their substance use. When a person is addicted to drugs and alcohol, they have a physiological and psychological need for the substance.

Their body craves it whenever its effect wears off. The cravings can be compared, albeit more intensely, to a person’s desire for food and water when they are hungry or thirsty. As dangerous as substance abuse is, once addiction forms, it is equally dangerous to try to stop cold turkey. You will need professional help. You must learn what type of detox program you might need. Learn about inpatient and outpatient detox programs. You should also know that detox is not the same as rehab.

Detox is the first step that allows you to enter rehab treatment. Its only purpose is to address the physical side of addiction. It does nothing to address the underlying issues connected to addiction. It is just the first step of many that you will take.

What Is Detox?

Understandably, you want to know what alcohol and drug detox involve. Before discussing what happens during detox, it is good for you to understand why the process happens. Detoxification happens to your body when you no longer take chemical substances, like alcohol or drugs. Your body has already adjusted to functioning with alcohol or drugs in your system.

It has altered the way it works so that now it needs drugs and alcohol to function correctly. When you cut off that supply, your body needs to change to operate without the substance present. As you go through the withdrawal process, you will feel worse before you feel better. This adjusting and the subsequent symptoms of adjusting are called withdrawal. The number and severity of withdrawal symptoms you have will vary. You may have just one or two mild symptoms, or you could be faced with several intense symptoms. Once the main symptoms have subsided, your physical health will likely be better than ever since you started abusing drugs and alcohol.

What Is It like to Be in Detox?

Alcohol is a depressant drug. Other drugs are designed to stimulate your body. When you suddenly start taking drugs, your body goes through different changes as it tries to respond. You may feel feverish, have a rapid heartbeat, feel shaky, be nauseous, start to vomit, and experience pain. Emotional symptoms during detox include:

  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Agitation
  • Anger
  • Frustration

The great news is that the symptoms will disappear in just a few days. The new challenge you may experience is hallucinations and other symptoms. Hallucinations are not dangerous on their own. However, they could make you feel nervous or scared. This is why it is essential not to go through the detox process on your own. It would help if you had the care and support of trained professionals to guide you. Extreme withdrawal symptoms include delirium tremens, seizures, and strokes.

However, these severe symptoms are rare and can be minimized with the proper attention as you go through the detox process. Detox is just the start. Once you have purged your body of the offending substances, you have to start working on your mind and emotions. This is where rehab comes into play. Are you ready to get your life back on track? We can help you travel down the road to sobriety. Call us today at 302-842-2390.

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Essentials mission is to renew lives impacted by addiction through personalized and complete behavioral healthcare. Our main purpose is to provide services and education to the client and family that will support long lasting recovery of mind, body, and spirit.