Detoxing from drugs and alcohol has to happen for the first stage of recovery to take place. Many people who hear the word “detox” automatically fear the process of withdrawal, so they try to avoid getting sober all together to prevent their skewed vision of what will take place. The belief is that an individual who can no longer ingest drugs and alcohol will be shaking and baking in pain without seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
Rather than misunderstand what detoxing will entail, let us answer some of your questions regarding the detoxification process that might help you accept that you need help to get sober. A safe and monitored approach to detox will differ for everyone depending on what was consumed, the amount consumed, and the length of time of consumption.
How Long Does Detox Last?
The average time that detox takes is five days, but it can last anywhere from three to 10 days overall. Some factors can determine the number of days that it will take for each person to get through the detoxification process. Factors include the type or types of substances being used, the length, the frequency, quantity of the use, their age, and their gender.
Other important aspects that will need to be considered are the presence of underlying co-occurring mental health conditions and any medical conditions. Looking at all of these circumstances combined will give someone a better chance to get through the detox and move onto their recovery.
Will I Have Any Energy?
Depending on the person and their circumstances, they may find that they lack less energy than usual. Remember that drugs and alcohol poison the body, and the point of detoxing is to get those substances out of the system so that the individual can live life to the fullest.
If a person detoxing finds that they are lethargic, trust the process, and follow treatment guidelines. Letting the body start safely recovering from the insidiousness of their addiction is the best choice to make to gain the energy they need to stay sober.
What Are the Withdrawal Symptoms?
A person who comes into treatment will definitely want to see what they are in for as far as having to deal with withdrawing. Symptoms such as nausea, tremors, headache, sweating, and muscle aches are all possibilities that the treatment center will be prepared for.
Deciding not to go to rehab because someone is afraid of withdrawal could lead them to other medical conditions caused by their addiction that could be more difficult to endure later, or worse, cause them to die. A person will probably have some uncomfortableness during their withdrawal, but they should know that this too will pass.
Will It Hurt?
One of the best ways to look at detoxing is that without pain, there is no gain. Again, everyone is different when they are detoxing, so they should try before they decide altogether that this is not for them. There is a probability that you will experience some physical and mental suffering due to the withdrawal of drugs and alcohol, but this is why attending a detox program could be beneficial.
Someone in a treatment facility will have the clinical and psychological support they need to get through this process. Healthcare professionals will walk their clients through everything they will require to come out on the other side feeling healthier and better than ever.
How Do I Know If I Am in the Right Place?
All detox facilities are not the same, but they are all after the same end product, which is to get someone to detox off drugs and alcohol safely. Whether a loved one or someone who is addicted to drugs and alcohol is inquiring about detox, the best thing to do is research the best option for that specific case. Look online for detox centers and then start calling or setting up appointments to locate the appropriate place. There will be a sense of relief when you know you are in the right place.
What Happens After?
Although an individual may take the leap of faith into detox and get sober, the real work must happen after the detox. Addiction is cunning, baffling, and powerful and can trick a person right back into using and drinking again. The next step after detoxing is to formulate a treatment plan, either inpatient or outpatient, that can assist someone to maintain their sobriety.
Do not think of detoxing as a terrible experience. Instead, think of your assisted detox as the next step into the rest of your life in recovery, one day at a time, of course. You will feel better mentally, physically, and spiritually from the cessation of drugs and alcohol. Your potential will be through the roof when you kick drugs and alcohol because you will have more ambition, more energy, and more clarity.
Going to detox will be the opportunity of a lifetime because receiving help with the insidiousness of addiction will give you a better chance to live life to the fullest with sobriety. You will never understand how alive you can be until you completely detox from drugs and alcohol and give recovery a try.
Offering a full range of recovery and mental health services, The Detox Center of Colorado offers “Expanded Recovery” to enrich our clients’ lives in mind, body, and spirit. Through evidence-based therapy options and the endless adventure of Colorado, The Detox Center of Colorado fosters connection, encouraging clients to get connected to themselves, their peers, their families, and their higher power. With the power of recovery, clients are restored to full health and experience life-changing healing. Call us today for more information at (303) 536-5463
