Are you or a loved one suffering from a substance addiction? If so, and if you’re looking to kick your addiction, you’re probably going to have to undergo a detox.
When detoxing, you have two options. The first option is to detox at home by yourself. The other option is to detox in a rehab facility under the supervision of a medical professional.
While both methods of detox have worked for different individuals, most individuals are better off undergoing a supervised medical detox. Here is why a supervised detox is important.
What Happens During Detox?
To illustrate the importance of supervised drug detox, we must first discuss what happens during detox. During this process, the addicted individual will experience a range of physical and mental symptoms. These symptoms are a normal part of withdrawal and can vary from person to person.
For some individuals, symptoms will persist for a few hours. For other individuals, symptoms will persist for several days. The exact duration of withdrawal is dependent on the drug being abused as well as the severity of the addiction.
Physical Withdrawal Symptoms
The physical withdrawal symptoms of quitting drugs are many. The most common of these symptoms include nausea, headache, tremors, lightheadedness, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
However, in more severe cases, individuals can experience heart palpitations and seizures. In rare cases, drug withdrawal can even lead to death. For this reason, it needs to be monitored closely.
Mental Withdrawal Symptoms
The mental withdrawal symptoms of quitting drugs are as numerous as the physical symptoms. Affected individuals can experience everything from depression to anxiety to insomnia to night terrors and more. In many cases, there will be a strong desire to use drugs again.
These symptoms come in a number of severities. For some, they are bearable. For others, they are nothing short of anguish.
This is why it’s a good idea to have medical professionals present. They can help reign in the mental withdrawal symptoms, ensuring that the affected individual doesn’t hurt himself or others.
Benefits of a Supervised Detox
As was noted above, drug withdrawal can be a trying process. Though some can get through it without much trouble, others have a very hard time getting through it, both mentally and physically. Unfortunately, there’s no way to know how you’ll handle withdrawal until you experience it.
This is why it’s a good idea to utilize supervised detox services. Regardless of how your withdrawal goes, you’ll have withdrawal experts at your side to help you through it.
The benefits of supervised detox are numerous. They include the following.
Medications Available
One of the great things about supervised detox is that it includes licensed doctors and medical professionals. Because these medical professionals are present, they are able to prescribe necessary medications to patients to help them fight through physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.
For instance, if you develop a severe case of anxiety during the withdrawal process, a doctor at your detox center will be able to provide you with anti-anxiety medications. If you develop severe nausea, your supervised detox medical provider will be able to supply you with detox pills.
This is not something that you’ll be privy to during a non-supervised detox. If you develop a serious physical or psychological problem, you will be left to your own devices.
Therapy Available
Not only are supervised detox centers staffed with medical doctors, but psychiatric therapists as well. These therapists can be hugely beneficial in the event that you suffer psychological withdrawal symptoms.
Having a therapist nearby will allow you to discuss what you’re going through with a trained expert, an expert who is equipped to help you fight through various forms of mental pain.
While you might already have a therapist of your own, it’s highly unlikely that he or she will be able to provide you with 24/7 support. At a detox center, you will have a therapist at your disposal around the clock. You’ll be able to nip problems in the bud before they turn into bigger problems.
Healthy Environment
Another benefit of supervised detox is that it occurs in an environment which is healthy for addicts. There will be no temptations that redirect you back into drug use. In fact, you’ll be barred from those temptations entirely.
Detox centers are clean, well-lit, and equipped to create as pleasant an atmosphere as possible. You won’t have to deal with unsupportive or uncaring individuals. The focus will be on you, and you’ll be able to focus on the end goal in peace.
Not only will you have thoughtful and caring health professionals to help you through, but you’ll also have access to gyms, entertainment, and a variety of other positive accommodations.
Expert Support
There is a great deal involved in detoxing and staying off drugs for good. It not only involves weaning yourself off of the drug, but it also involves building healthy habits to take its place.
While you could conceivably build these healthy habits on your own, most individuals find it to be a daunting prospect. You’ll essentially be doing a 180 with your life. It requires tremendous willpower to accomplish.
This is why supervised detox is so beneficial. Those who undergo a supervised medical detox have 24/7 expert support to help them establish healthy lifestyle habits.
You’ll have help solidifying everything from healthy eating habits to healthy coping habits to a healthy sleep schedule and more. In essence, you’ll be set up for life after the detox has ended. This is key to ensuring that you don’t get back into the drug that has you detoxing in the first place.
Looking to Undergo a Supervised Medical Detox?
Are you interested in undergoing a supervised medical detox? Looking for a reputable rehab center in the state of Arizona? If so, Addiction Recovery Centers has you covered.
Located in the city of Tucson, we offer a full suite of drug rehab services. Specialized in a variety of drug addictions, we welcome anyone who’s suffering from a substance abuse problem.
Contact us today to discuss your needs!