Drug or alcohol dependency can creep up on someone and grab hold before the person even knows it’s happening. One “innocent shot” can lead to multiple drinks per hour for hours on end. One of the toughest things to do is to admit the problem because of the shame and stigma the disease of alcoholism carries in both the media and society. Thankfully, there are many people working to overcome the stigma of addiction, and by getting help, you are working to do the same. Detoxification and rehabilitation are proven methods for helping people try to beat the disease of alcoholism and any other addiction.
Finding Licensed Alcohol Detox Arizona
Once someone has taken the decisive step of seeking help and admitting the problem, that person must begin somewhere, and that is a detoxification program similar to that at Desert Mountain Detox in Arizona.
Detoxification is a controlled process whereby medical professionals cleanse a person’s system of intoxicating agents. It must be done in a controlled environment because of the reactions of the body to withdrawal. It must be borne in mind that detoxing by oneself is extremely dangerous. Not only are the results of withdrawal unpredictable and scary, but they can also be deadly if handled incorrectly. Even if one has medical training, it is imperative to go through detox in a controlled, supervised environment since many symptoms of withdrawal may leave a person in a delicate state.
The Body and Mind During Addiction
The use of alcohol over time damages not only the body’s physical makeup but also its mental makeup. Many people know that excessive alcohol abuse can cause cirrhosis of the liver or alcoholic hepatitis, but not many people know that it can also cause depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, particularly regarding the alcohol itself. The person drinking loses the ability to make rational decisions about the addiction. Fear of painful withdrawal, the cost of rehab programs, or the loss of lifestyle all contribute to people not getting help. At its worst, addiction drives people to sacrifice familial and friendship relationships, jobs, savings, and even homes to feed the addiction.
The Body During Detox
Once the process begins, the body reacts, sometimes violently, to the absence of a substance it has grown to depend upon for its function. These withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Cold sweats
- Agitation
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Intense pain
- Uncontrollable shaking and hallucinations, often called delirium tremens
- Heart palpitations
- Breathing difficulties
The final three can be life-threatening if not dealt with immediately. The others can also contribute to the more dangerous symptoms. Delirium tremens, or the DTs, can also cause unsafe spikes in body temperature that can lead to stroke or brain damage.
Detox as the First Step of Addiction Treatment
Generally, it is impossible to treat an addict effectively if that person has not gone through detox. The symptoms of withdrawal will keep the person from concentrating on the task at hand or being physically able to begin treatment. If those symptoms are severe enough, the person will require hospitalization for completion of the detox anyway, so it’s better to detox a patient fully before beginning any program of rehabilitation.
Patients who successfully complete alcohol detox also achieve a substantial milestone, and perceptive treatment programs, such as that at Desert Mountain Detox, reinforce this feeling of accomplishment as one of life’s great goals that has been conquered. Such positive reinforcement is a linchpin of successful rehab. Patients can also come to realize that they not only can prove to themselves that they can “beat the pink elephants” but also gain the necessary coping skills to avoid relapse.
The Importance of Support During Alcohol Detox
Both successful detox and rehab must address other concerns in your life than the addiction. Having mental healthcare follow-up, the support of aftercare workers, or both can be the difference between lifelong recovery and relapse. This is especially true if the detox process has lingering effects, which is possible even if it is not likely.
If you have reached the point that you are ready to tackle your addiction head-on, you can contact Desert Mountain Detox for help with alcohol detox Arizona. It will be your first step on the path of reclaiming your life.
