What Can I Do To Make Drug & Alcohol Detox Easier?

Detoxification, commonly called drug & alcohol detox, is the process by which your body expels drugs or alcohol from your system. Despite popular belief, this does not occur quickly. It can take days or weeks for substances to completely work themselves out of your body.

You will most likely experience painful physical and mental withdrawal symptoms. Although somewhat unpleasant, these are much easier to endure with professional detox.

During the detox period, you might question your decision to get sober, but remember that this is the most difficult part of the process and things will get better from here. If you plan to start drug & alcohol detox, you can take steps to make your stay easier.

Detox can be harder, but with professional detox, it's much easier.

Consider Medication-Assisted Detox

Not every detox facility is the same, though they may have the same outcome goals. Not all detox centers offer medical assistance. Programs that do not use medications are called social detox. These programs, though well-intentioned, are risky for people with moderate to severe substance use disorder (SUD). They function under the belief that interpersonal support, counseling, and a place to detox are enough to get you through withdrawal.

This is generally only effective for mild SUD and poses health risks. You need monitoring 24/7 during detox, and staff needs to be able to get you to a hospital at any time if dangerous symptoms appear.

In a medical detox facility, you have doctors monitoring you constantly. They administer medications during the detox process to prevent life-threatening issues like seizures and suicidal ideation. Medications also make withdrawal symptoms like insomnia, fatigue, and cravings easier to handle. Decent sleep immensely assists the detox process.

You may receive medications to ease the mental health symptoms of withdrawal like depression, anxiety, and hallucinations. There is no need to tough it through the hard parts without help, so look into medication-assisted detox.

Distance Yourself from Triggers

Throughout the drug and alcohol detox process, you may experience intense cravings for the substances on which you developed a dependence. These can feel unbearable, and they can occur more frequently if you engage with your triggers. While the drug detox center will not allow substances or paraphernalia, you may still have access to objects or people you associate with substance abuse.

To avoid triggering situations, do not take calls from people in your life who use or drink and put them on the list of people who cannot visit. Similarly, do not bring anything with you that you may associate with substance abuse, as the connection may be triggering.

While avoiding triggers as best as possible will ensure an easier detox, you should not engage in thought-stopping techniques. Thought stopping works in two ways:

• Demanding an unwanted thought leave your mind
• Introducing a negative stimulus like pinching yourself every time an unwanted thought enters your mind

Though the psychology world once believed thought-stopping worked well for intrusive thoughts, most psychologists now decry the practice. At best, it is largely ineffective. At worst, it can make the thoughts more persistent and lead to compulsions. It is much safer to acknowledge unpleasant thoughts about cravings and substances and learn to release them rather than try to banish them.

Engage With Therapists

Due to the nature of addiction, when you start detox, you may have your guard up. You may still feel an impulse toward secrecy. It is important to accept the mental health assistance provided by your detox facility. Withdrawal symptoms can worsen underlying mental illnesses. They can also induce mental health concerns that were not present before. Additionally, there is natural stress involved in detoxing.

Mental health professionals can help you develop positive coping mechanisms for all these possible issues. They can start you on the path to healthier long-term patterns that rehab will later reinforce. Therapists assist you in processing emotions that come up in the process. They can walk you through calming techniques and breathing exercises. They will help you combat any irrational thoughts. More than anything, these individuals offer you a compassionate person to speak with. You do not have to go through detox alone.

Wear Cozy Clothing

Withdrawal can be difficult and painful. You will likely experience aches, soreness, and discomfort. When you are packing for your detox stay, take this into account. Include loose-fitting clothes with soft fabrics, like sweatpants or pajama bottoms, and shirts with loose, breathable material. Withdrawal can cause excess sweating, and you do not want to feel damp constantly.

If you usually wear a bra, consider options like bralettes or sports bras. Underwiring can feel bad against your sensitive body. If you are LGBTQIA+ and usually wear a binder, consider whether your dysphoria will be more manageable than your pain. You can always choose to bring it with you, then decide each day whether to put it on.

Ultimately, the point is to make you feel as comfortable as possible during detox.

DetoxNearMe.com Will Help You Find a Detox Center for Your Needs

If you're entering into detox, you need an open mind. Medications can help you manage uncomfortable, painful, and even lethal symptoms. Therapists can help you cope with the mental distress that can occur in withdrawal.

You can start developing healthy habits that promote long-term recovery. Bring comfy clothes for your detox stay. Each of these strategies can help ease withdrawal symptoms and make you as comfortable as possible as you get through detox.

DetoxNearMe.com is the ideal first step for finding a detox center. With thousands of detox listings at your fingertips, finding a safe, reputable detox center is as easy as logging on. Don’t let a difficult search keep you from lifesaving detox care – start searching with DetoxNearMe.com today!