If you have realized that you have an addiction to drugs or alcohol and are ready to reclaim your life, admitting that you have a problem is a crucial first step on the road toward recovery. As excited as you may be to move forward, you may be thinking about quitting the drugs or alcohol that you have been using “cold turkey.” If you are serious about achieving long-term recovery and about protecting your health, however, you should rethink that and consider medically supervised detox instead. By undergoing this process at a qualified detox AZ facility like Desert Mountain Detox, you can lay the foundation for what is more likely to become a strong, effective recovery strategy.
Why Detoxing Alone is Bad News
Our culture tends to lavish praise upon people who are able to quit using substances without any help. Known as quitting “cold turkey,” this is often seen as a sign of serious resolve. Addiction recovery experts know otherwise, however. For one thing, quitting without help drastically increases the risk of relapse. When a person is withdrawing from drugs or alcohol, the resulting symptoms are typically quite uncomfortable, so it’s very tempting to go straight back to using.
Relapse is a serious concern, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the dangers of withdrawing from drugs or alcohol alone. During active addiction, your body becomes physically dependent upon the substances that you have been using. This physical dependency can produce withdrawal symptoms that vary from being slightly uncomfortable to life-threatening in nature. Depending on the substances that you have been using and other factors, these symptoms may include the following:
- nausea and vomiting
- increased blood pressure
- headache
- mood swings
- confusion and hallucinations
- diarrhea
- insomnia
- anxiety and depression
- fever
- seizure
- cardiovascular collapse
Medically Supervised Detox: The First Step in Successful Recovery
Given all that can go wrong during the withdrawal period, it makes all kinds of sense to undergo medically supervised detox at our detox AZ facility. Addiction treatment facilities are increasingly adding detox services to their comprehensive addiction recovery programs because medically supervised detox is increasingly being recognized as the important first step that it is. During your detox, you will be monitored and cared for by compassionate nurses, doctors and therapists. This support will help to break down the walls that have developed during your active addiction period, allowing you to form bonds with those who are helping you. These bonds will serve you well as you progress into drug or alcohol rehab, which should ideally be done at an inpatient facility.
What to Expect During Detox
Fear of the unknown often keeps people from seeking the help that they so desperately need. Therefore, it pays to familiarize yourself with what medically supervised detox looks like. The process involves three stages: evaluation, stabilization and transition to rehab. When you initially arrive, then, you will undergo a physical and mental health evaluation. Your care team will note the nature of your chemical dependency to develop the best strategy for getting you safely through withdrawal.
During the stabilization period, various steps will be taken to help you to cope with and manage any withdrawal symptoms that you may experience. Medication therapy is sometimes used to achieve this, so you may be prescribed medications like antipsychotics, antidepressants and anticonvulsants. For opioid addictions, medications like Suboxone and methadone are sometimes recommended. In addition to medications, things like nutrition and light exercise will be used to help you to get through this period as comfortably and safely as possible.
Finally, after you are safely through the detox phase, you will undergo a transition period during which you are armed with the tools for long-term recovery. Ideally, you will be able to transition seamlessly into alcohol or drug rehab; all of these services are offered through our detox AZ facility, so you can complete the entire process without having to go elsewhere.
Take the First Step in Recovery Today
Regardless of the nature of your addiction or other factors, the first step in reclaiming your life is clearing your system of whatever substances you have been using. Until then, the real work of long-term recovery cannot begin. Medically supervised detox can take anywhere from a few days to a week or two, so it is a brief but crucial step. With help from qualified, compassionate professionals, you can safely get through this frightening and stressful period and emerge better prepared to face the reality of your situation. As scary as all of this might sound, it is all part of reclaiming your life and something that you can absolutely do. For help getting there, contact Desert Mountain Detox today.
