Addiction is a disease no one should have to face alone. And one of the biggest steps someone battling addiction can take is choosing to get clean. Detoxing is the process of giving the body time to remove the alcohol or drugs in it. While not all detoxing experiences are the same, it’s important for those considering seeking help and detoxing to fully understand the possible symptoms and side effects.
Common symptoms of detoxing
Detoxing is not easy. While some people may find it easier than others, almost all detoxing processes come with some side effects. One of the main symptoms of a detox is nausea. The body becomes used to having a substance regularly, and when it doesn’t get it anymore, people might feel physically sick. Also, physical discomfort or pain may be side effects as the body adjusts to the substance leaving the system. Trouble sleeping is also a common symptom, especially if the substance a person was using was one that makes people tired.
Along with physical symptoms, people may face emotional side effects of detoxing. Those in the detoxing process may feel anxious or moody. It’s normal to not feel control over emotions during a detox. It’s important to remember that drugs and alcohol affect the brain, too.
How long do these symptoms last?
Unfortunately, there is no specific timeframe for how long detox symptoms will last. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few months for drugs or alcohol to completely leave the body. The length of a detox can depend on a variety of factors. First, the type of substance someone is using can affect how long detox symptoms last. Alcohol tends to leave the body within a few days whereas most drugs will take much longer. Second, the length of time someone has been using a substance can affect a detox as well. Third, the genetic makeup, including a family history, can affect detoxing. Those with a family history of addiction may have a longer detox process than others. And last, someone who ingests a lot of a substance at once will have a longer detox process than someone who takes a little at a time.
Benefits of choosing to go to a rehab center
Detoxing is not something that should be done at home, alone. While many people may think they can simply stop using the substance they’re addicted to and be completely fine, it’s not that simple. This is why so many people with an addiction choose to seek help at a rehab center.
Visiting a detox centre in Toronto can be the difference between detoxing safely to overcome an addiction and failing at detoxing. Rehab and addiction centers give those struggling with an addiction the opportunity to work with medical professionals. Patients will receive an evaluation to determine exactly how much of a substance is still in their system. From there, doctors and psychologists will work together to come up with a treatment plan.
One of the biggest benefits centers can offer patients is medications to take during detox. While it may seem counterproductive to give someone who abuses substances more medication, these specific medications designed to help lessen the harsh symptoms of detoxing, which can make it easier to complete the process. Medication along with therapy, whether it’s one-on-one or group, can help keep patients stable and supported as they detox.
It takes courage and commitment to decide to detox. Those who abuse substances regularly and have done so for a long time will have a more difficult time detoxing, but it can be done. With the right help, anyone struggling with an addiction can overcome it.
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