If you struggle with substance abuse and want to overcome your drug or alcohol addiction, you need to go through the drug detoxification process. Detoxification is the first step towards recovery and possibly one of the most challenging steps of your recovery journey. Medical Detox is essential as it helps you recover your physical health, without which you cannot start with the mental recovery process.
Here is everything you need to know about drug detoxification.
What is drug detox and how does it work?
Detoxification essentially removes any trace of the drug or alcohol substance you take from your body for days. When you stop taking addictive substances, your brain adversely reacts to the chemical changes due to the lack of the chemicals. These effects present themselves as withdrawal symptoms, which can be pretty severe sometimes.
Where should you detox?
The detoxification effects vary from one individual to another. Still, there is always a particular physical and mental effect, so it is advisable not to detox yourself at home and to choose a medically supervised detox. However, some people do it.
Detox at home: If you are in the initial stage of addiction and are otherwise healthy, you can try detoxing at home. It will still be challenging, as you won’t receive any medication or guidance to ease the drug detox process.
Detox at the hospital: There is more than one way to detox yourself at a hospital. They include:
In-patient detox: During in-patient detox, you stay at the medical facility for the entire duration of your detox and sometimes for the whole recovery period.
Out-patient detox: During outpatient detox, you can stay at home but visit the facility to receive medications.
What are the common withdrawal symptoms?
The extent of withdrawal symptoms depends on your addiction levels and the present state of your body. Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Excessive sweating
- High temperature or chills
- Runny nose
- Shaking and shivering
- Increased blood pressure and heart rate
- Muscle and bone pain
- Anxiety and depression
- Paranoia
- Insomnia
- Extreme mood swings
- Intense cravings for the substance you are addicted to
- Hallucinations and delirium
- Seizures
You may not experience all of these symptoms—the symptoms change as per the substance you were using and your health conditions.
How long does detoxification take?
Typically, detox programs take about 3 to 10 days. However, it varies for each person depending on how addicted you are, what substance you are using, and your physical and mental health. The first few days of the detox are the hardest, and slowly the symptoms wane, and by the end of the detox period, symptoms become non-existent.
About Magnolia Ranch Recovery Addiction Treatment Center
Treating substance abuse is essential to save yourself from the damaging effects of drugs and alcohol addiction. At Magnolia Ranch Recovery, we offer premium addiction treatment services to our clients and assist them with drug rehabilitation and treatment for co-occurring disorders. Our team of trained therapists aims to provide supportive and compassionate care to those suffering from drug abuse. Our clients choose us for our personalized inpatient programs, residential treatment, and individually designed treatment options. For more information about us, contact 888-992-7955 or write to info@magnoliaranchrecovery.com. You can also fill out our contact form to get a call back from us.
