If you’re trying to regain control after struggling with a substance misuse disorder, you already know you are at the beginning of a recovery process that will last the rest of your life. Deciding to seek professional addiction treatment can save your life and put a promising future within your reach, but it will require significant commitment on your part.
An effective way to lay the groundwork for success in sobriety is to begin by entering a qualified detox facility, where medical professionals can help manage the uncomfortable symptoms and provide you with the support you need to make it past the challenging process of getting the toxic substances out of your system.
How Detox Works
Detoxification is the first step in breaking an addictive substance’s hold on your brain and body. During detox, your system will adjust to functioning without the presence of drugs and alcohol. Prolonged drug use changes the way your brain sends chemical signals, and through detox, you will take the first steps toward restoring your brain chemistry to a normal, healthy state.
However, while the concept of what happens during detox is straightforward to explain, the process itself is not easy to undergo. Once a chronic substance abuser suddenly stops using or cuts back on how much they consume, they will experience a range of unpleasant symptoms that can vary in intensity, depending on factors such as their age and how long they abused the drug.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms differ from person to person, and not everyone has the same experiences. However, during detox, you can expect some of the following to occur.
- Anxiety and depression: Mood changes often accompany withdrawal, especially among people with co-occurring mental health challenges that they chose alcohol and drug use to escape from. Heart palpitations, sweating and dizziness can occur alongside these mood swings.
- Problems with sleep hygiene: Withdrawal insomnia and other sleep disturbances such as night terrors are among the most common complaints of those undergoing detox.
- Flu-like symptoms: Body aches are another frequent problem during detox. The withdrawal process can also cause chills and sweating, akin to having a high fever.
Learn More About Medical Detox
Because withdrawal symptoms can be painful and even life-threatening, it is not safe to try to detox on your own. Detoxing in a qualified facility, surrounded by caring medical professionals who know how to help manage these issues, is the way to ensure a safe detoxification. Your treatment team will monitor your condition 24/7 and can provide ways to ease your discomfort if it becomes unbearable.
Detox alone isn’t usually enough to create lifelong sobriety — you will need to have a robust treatment plan that addresses the root cause of your addiction, including subsequent levels of care. At Inland Detox, we can help you determine the next steps on your recovery continuum after you complete your detox in safety and comfort. Get in touch with our Southern California team to get the help you need.