If you have attempted to get sober on your own, you know that discontinuing your drug or alcohol abuse is harder than some might think. It may not make sense to you why you can’t “just quit,” but you can easily feel overwhelming emotional and physical reactions to your withdraw that make it very difficult. Depending on a variety of factors, including your own biology, the types of drug abused, length of time, and doses, your withdrawal symptoms may be more severe, and can often be really uncomfortable and sometimes even dangerous. This is when a detoxification program can be extremely useful. Checking into a rehab center can allow you to be medically supervised, and made safe and as comfortable as possible throughout the detox process.
What happens in a Drug detox Center
Detox should be the first step in a comprehensive program to become equipped for sobriety. Before you can begin to engage in individual and group talk therapy, you need to get to a place where evidence of your substance abuse has been totally flushed out of your system. After you have been engaging in substance abuse or heavy drinking for a long period, your body starts to build up tolerance, adjusting to the toxins so that you may be unable to function without them.
The first stage of drug or alcohol detox is stabilization, and then extending focusing on monitoring and relieving symptoms of withdrawal. This may be a stressful period, and medical and psychiatric staff will attend to you providing whatever support you need. People who go “cold turkey,” or try to work through detox on their own, might find the unpleasant symptoms so strong they end up relapsing just to make things stop. Withdrawal effects will vary based on the substances from which you are detoxing, but most often fall into the following categories:
- Mood disorders
- Sleep disturbances, such as feeling deeply fatigued but also having difficulty sleeping
- Physical issues, such as flu-like symptoms, tremors, headaches, and nausea.
- Powerful cravings to take the substance again.
There are a number of factors that can influence how long the detoxing and withdrawal process will last. Some may be over in a few hours, but some detoxing may last as long as week. However, once it is over, you have achieved the beginning of sobriety, and are ready to start the work of recovery.
Do I Need an Alcohol Detox?
For alcohol abusers, the effects of withdrawal may vary considerably. Short-burst binge drinkers who commonly go a day without drinking may be able to start recovery without an intensive medical detox. However, people who regularly drink 3 or more drinks every day may experience one of the most intense and unpleasant withdrawal experiences of any substance abuse treatment. Some of the common effects of alcohol detox include:
- Nausea
- Headache
- Anxiety
- Shaking
- Loss of appetite
- Rapid mood swings
- Elevated blood pressure
Generally, the most intense symptoms will appear 48-72 hours after your last drink, with the detox complete in 3-7 days. The possibility of dangerous effects is possible for anyone considering getting sober from an alcohol addiction. So, even if you do plan to stop drinking at home, rather than a medical detox, you should consult with your doctor.
Inpatient Detox Center in Pasadena
The Gooden Center has a highly trained, compassionate, and dedicated staff committed to helping you through the detox process. With a low staff to patient ratio, you should always have access to the care you need. Furthermore, once the detox is complete, you will have the opportunity to get started with mental, emotional, physical, and social training that can help you truly become free of your addiction.