Is Drug & Alcohol Detox Good For You? (Yes!)

If you have struggled with substance use disorder (SUD) for a long time, you may find that it has negatively impacted your life. You might have suffered social or legal consequences because of your illness. It is time that you consider seeking out sobriety. You deserve to live a happy, substance-free life. 

Drug & alcohol detox is the first step toward healing. You might wonder if you can just skip straight to a drug rehab program. The answer is most often no. Most drug rehab programs require detox first. It is not simply a technicality, though. Detox offers many benefits when you are struggling with addiction.

Drug detox isn't easy, but it's good for you. It's the first step to freedom from addiction.

Physical Safety

When going through drug detox, you experience a strong risk of relapse. Your body craves substances as toxins leave your system. With every second that passes, your tolerance drops. If you are unaware of this and relapse, you are likely to use the same quantity as before you started the detox. This creates the possible danger of a fatal overdose. If you detox in a detox facility, they restrict your access to drugs or alcohol. This ensures that you’ll complete detox and stay alive.

Additionally, some substances can cause lethal symptoms such as delirium, suicidal ideation, seizures, cardiac arrest related to blood pressure, and aspiration of vomit. Symptoms can change for the worse at any time. Because you are monitored 24/7 in medical detox facilities, doctors will notice any symptom changes in enough time to get you the medical care you need.

Detox facilities can provide you with medications to manage the withdrawal symptoms. In addition to making detox more tolerable, it can also save lives.

Support System

While in a detox facility, you receive support in many forms. You interact with your medical team at least once a day. You receive individual counseling, which provides an outlet for your thoughts and emotions. You also attend group therapy. You will have the opportunity to bond with other patients going through withdrawal. There is kinship in shared experiences. You might start programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or SMART Recovery. People in your shoes fill these groups.

Additionally, the facility may provide the option to start a relationship with a sponsor.

The detox support system accepts you, mental illness and all. The staff understands the difficulty of treatment. They see your bravery and strength. They will cheer you on in your weakest moments. They will hold you accountable when needed. They will do everything in their power to ensure you get through withdrawal.

Holistic Therapies

Many detox programs recognize the different treatment needs of their patients. In addition to the traditional therapeutic modalities used in detox, many detox centers offer holistic modalities. Traditional therapy, while effective, can feel extremely clinical. You might struggle to engage fully with something that can appear inauthentic. 

Holistic therapies work to treat the whole person. These therapies recognize the connection between the brain and the body. They also emphasize practices like mindfulness, self-care, and self-expression. The combination of these types of therapies will offer you a comprehensive treatment plan.

Examples of holistic therapies commonly found in treatment facilities include yoga, art therapy, music therapy, and meditation. Holistic therapies will empower you as a person with complex emotions and thoughts. They help you manage stress and anxiety during your stay. Your cognitive ability will also improve, allowing you better advocacy for your health. 

Change of Environment

If you are going to detox, you should not stay around objects, people, or places that remind you of using and drinking. This only worsens the severe cravings you will experience as a symptom of acute withdrawal. Detox centers allow you to remove yourself from substance-related environments. This degree of separation can help you realize how bad your situation was. You can achieve mental clarity about the severity of your addiction.

You can also use detox as a way to remove yourself from the dangerous situations that can arise from drug use, including associating with criminals involved in dealing drugs or being in an abusive relationship.  You can offer yourself compassion for your past while pursuing a new life.

Proof of Treatment

If drugs or alcohol negatively disrupted your life, treatment might function as a lifeline. An employer, educational institution, or legal system may have agreed not to penalize you so long as you seek out substance abuse treatment. Your family or significant other may have given you an ultimatum.

If you are in this position, detox can demonstrate that you are serious about getting better. It shows that you are willing to work through the steps. You are not just going cold turkey on your own and saying you are “quitting” substances. Instead, you are entering a facility and opening yourself up to help from medical professionals. This shows bravery and humbleness. Those traits can take you a long way towards a better future.

Be Good To You: DetoxNearMe.com Helps You Find a Detox Center

If you want to get free of addiction, you need to go through detox. Most rehab programs mandate it as a prerequisite. Even if detox isn’t required, it's still extremely beneficial for you. Detox ensures you aren't alone in the healing process. It offers safety, a support system, holistic therapies, a change of environment, and proof of treatment. It starts you down the path toward healthy, long-term change.

If you’re looking for a place to detox near you, DetoxNearMe.com is your best tool. We’ve got thousands of listings on our site – finding a detox center for your needs and budget has never been easier. Just sign up and go.

Detox can be the best gift you’ve ever received. Start today with DetoxNearMe.com today!