The decision to undergo detox takes bravery and determination. Whether you are sent to detox per a court order or choose to enter yourself, the work of shedding the toxins of addiction will have a large impact on your brain and may also impact the health of your body. How long does detox take?
Depending on the drugs that are in your system and the length of your addiction, detox can take up to 10 days. During this time, you may suffer from severe physical symptoms that make it hard to eat or stay hydrated. You may also suffer serious physical discomfort, from muscle cramps and spasms to vomiting. Finally, detox from some substances can lead to hallucinations.
Never Detox Alone
One of the great challenges of addiction is that it changes how your brain functions. In fact, there are some addictive substances that can change how you rank survival necessities. If you have been using for a long time, you may have already made choices in your personal life, such as financial decisions and relationship choices, that indicate that cravings have changed how your brain has functioned for years.
Taking the addictive substance out of your system will change both how your body feels and how your brain works. Even in the company of a loved one, you may behave in ways that are dangerous or at least hurtful for that person. It is critical that you be monitored and cared for during detox. To protect your personal relationships, it is also quite important that you do not detox in the company of a loved one who is not trained.
Seek Professional Help
Detox caregivers are fully prepared to help you as you detox. This care may include
- putting in an IV to provide you with necessary fluids
- treating you for cramps and nausea
- helping you with personal cares
During detox, the cleansing organs of the body will be working very hard. Depending on the length of time you’ve been using and what toxins are in your system, your liver, kidneys and gut may be limited in function.
Do be aware that some cares during detox may seem quite intrusive. However, if your kidney function is questionable, you may need to have your fluid intake and urine output measured. Your caregivers may be able to provide you with medications to lessen the severity of your symptoms, but to do that effectively, your physical condition will require detailed monitoring.
Detox Vs. Rehab
After detox, it’s very likely that you will feel quite fragile, both emotionally and physically. While you may well be ready to answer rehab, you will not be ready to re-enter the outside world. Just because you’ve gotten the products out of your system, your brain will still need a great deal of care to re-establish healthy connections.
For example, detox can lessen the physical need for the drugs you used to use, but the cravings that live in your brain will still try to take control. The dopamine receptors in your brain may be off-line, particularly if you have a history of opiate use. You will need time for your brain to heal and for these receptors to come back online.
It is also possible that undiagnosed mental health issues or chronic physical pain challenges may crop up as the drugs leave your system. Because these challenges may have contributed to your habit early on, addressing them effectively as they re-emerge after detox is critical to your entering an effective rehab.
It is critical that you stay patient with this process. While it is true that you may have done some self-medicating early in the process of your addiction, you will need to rely on your caregivers to help you find a safe and effective way to treat these health challenges as you head into rehab.
The process of detox is not easy. Your body and brain will be quite unhappy at the loss of the drugs and alcohol. You may suffer from feelings of paranoia or persecution as your caregivers quiz you for information on how you are feeling. Once you have started, it is critical that you keep going. Ready to get started? Call us today at 833.970.2054.
