When overcoming an addiction to drugs or alcohol, the first step of many addiction treatment programs is the detoxification stage. This crucial step in getting over an addiction involves removing the drug or alcohol completely from your body and is often accompanied by withdrawal symptoms. While the length of the detox varies depending on the program and the drug, it usually lasts about a week.
If you are worried about the detox portion of your treatment or are unsure of what to expect, the following are a few things you can expect during the detox phase:
1) Medical supervision. When drugs are involved, the detox phase is almost always done in an inpatient facility or hospital so you can be closely monitored by doctors. The doctor will monitor your vital signs like breathing and blood pressure, and will also give any medications he or she deems necessary. These can help you with your symptoms as well.
2) Withdrawal symptoms. As the drugs or alcohol are leaving your body, you will experience withdrawal symptoms because your body has come to rely heavily on drugs or alcohol, and responds adversely when they are no longer there. Some of the most common side effects of detox include sweating and/or chills, strong drug cravings, vomiting and nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhea, and insomnia.
3) Emotional side effects. The detox period is emotionally draining as well as physically draining. You will most likely experience some emotional side effects, such as depression, irritability, or anxiety. Everyone responds differently to detox, but there will be trained counselors and support staff to help you through the emotional side effects.
Detox may not be a pleasant experience or one anyone looks forward to, the symptoms and side effects are only temporary. It is a vital step in progressing towards the life you want.