Why Drug Detox Is Hard
A person who has never experienced substance abuse may wonder why going through the drug detox process is challenging. The reality is that any type of addictive substance has a psychological impact on a person and a physical one as well. Once addiction takes over, it’s always strongly recommended that you reach out for help from a team of trained addiction experts who will care for you during this potentially dangerous time in your recovery.
What Is Drug Withdrawal and Why Does it Happen?
Substances such as alcohol, cocaine, or other types of drugs directly impact the central nervous system of any person. Therefore, as you continue to abuse these substances, your body will begin to get used to consuming these types of substances regularly. When you decide to become sober, your central nervous system will go into somewhat of a tailspin and result in you experiencing a variety of drug withdrawal symptoms. The worst of your withdrawal symptoms typically last for a week. However, you could experience variations of them at any point in your recovery journey. Still, you will not experience them to the extent you did during your initial drug detox.
Common Drug Withdrawal Symptoms
It’s important to note that withdrawal symptoms can come in many different shapes and forms. Like substance abuse, withdrawal symptoms can impact each person differently, making the detox process more challenging. Here are some examples of withdrawal symptoms that you may experience during your time in detox:
- Shakiness
- Cravings
- Nausea
- General discomfort
- Fatigue
- Suicidal thoughts
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Seizures
In extreme cases, there is always the possibility that a combination of withdrawal symptoms could result in death, so you never want to try to go through the withdrawal process on your own. On average, you can expect to spend at least a week in a drug or alcohol detox program, with the worst of your withdrawal symptoms manifesting during the first 72 hours of your time in addiction treatment. However, toward the end of your time in detox, you will begin to feel much more like yourself and be able to focus on the steps you need to take to overcome your addiction once and for all.
The Worst Drugs to Detox From
Although every type of substance presents particular challenges in the withdrawal phase, some drugs can be more challenging to detox from than others. Here are some examples of the worst drugs to detox from:
Alcohol
Many people don’t put alcohol in the same category as other drugs. However, since alcohol impacts the central nervous system, it is considered a drug that can negatively impact every aspect of your life. The craving for the drug of alcohol can be all but impossible to ignore, which is why you must reach out for help when you’re ready to go through the detox and recovery process.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are often prescribed to someone suffering from some form of mental health issue such as anxiety. However, benzos are not meant to be taken for an extended period. Once you fall into the trap of addiction, benzodiazepine withdrawal can be particularly challenging, so you should always commit to going through a benzodiazepine detox program. In many cases, your treatment team will start to wean you off of this substance slowly, so the benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms that you experience are not debilitating.
Learn about the withdrawal timeline for Benzos here:
https://musetreatment.com/blog/benzodiazepine-withdrawal-timeline/
Heroin
Heroin is a mind-altering substance that comes with a sense of calmness and relaxation. This is a drug that is highly addictive, and a person could become addicted to it after just a few uses of this substance. A person struggling with heroin addiction is also likely to experience issues breathing when they are under the influence of this substance.
Prescription Opioids
Prescription opioids are something that a doctor prescribes to a patient suffering from chronic pain or pain due to an injury or surgery. Although there are great benefits associated with prescription opioids for many people, they are another example of a drug not meant to be taken for an extended period. When they are, a person will begin to experience cravings and a myriad of other withdrawal symptoms, making it all but impossible for a person to care for themselves during this period.
Meth
Meth is an example of a drug that can come with several different types of withdrawal symptoms. Meth is an illegal substance that can cause several physical and psychological issues in a person’s life. To take full advantage of meth detox, it’s imperative that you fully disclose the extent of your meth addiction to your intake team so that they can accurately prepare for your time in meth detox.
Cocaine/Crack
Cocaine addiction is an addiction that is particularly challenging to work through. Cocaine addiction is something that can happen for many reasons. There are many people, for example, who begin to consume cocaine as a result of peer pressure. Many other people develop a cocaine addiction due to alcohol addiction. When a person who has been drinking consumes cocaine, it can lessen the effects that they have felt from the alcohol, which leads them to drink more. Regardless of the genesis of your cocaine addiction, you will undoubtedly experience cocaine withdrawal symptoms which will make it all but impossible for you to care for yourself during this time.
Safe Drug Detox at Muse Treatment Center
Whether you need to begin your addiction treatment in alcohol or drug detox, or you’re ready to commit to a rehab program, you can rest assured that the addiction specialists at Muse Treatment Center are here to provide you with the care and support you need to work through your issues with these addictive substances. As one of the top rehab facilities for abuse and addiction, we offer medical detox and personalized rehab programs for drugs and alcohol, which will help you establish and maintain your sobriety.
One of the most important decisions you will need to make regarding your treatment programs for drugs and alcohol revolves around whether you will commit to an inpatient treatment program or an outpatient treatment program. Suppose you need to commit to cocaine detox or detox for another type of substance. In that case, you may find it easier to transition into an inpatient treatment program because this type of program provides you with the around-the-clock care you need during this stage of your life. During inpatient treatment or residential treatment, you will have the opportunity to live on the campus of the treatment facility that you select and interact with other people working through their addiction treatment journey. The residential treatment allows you to remove the negative influences around you so you can exclusively focus on yourself during this stretch of your addiction treatment.
However, many people cannot commit to residential addiction treatment due to work or school responsibilities, but this doesn’t mean that they cannot commit to a recovery program. In cases like this, it’s strongly recommended that you commit to an outpatient treatment program. There are different variations of an outpatient treatment program. An intensive outpatient program or a general outpatient treatment program will allow you to maintain the responsibilities you have to work or school. However, you will still be able to receive the addiction treatment that you need at this stage of your life. Your treatment team will work closely with you to ensure you have all the tools and resources you need to overcome your drug or alcohol addiction.
Regardless of the treatment program you select, you will need to participate in different forms of addiction therapy to determine the root cause of your addiction. While it’s true that this may feel awkward or uncomfortable at times, it’s essential so you can come to peace with these events in your life that may have contributed to your addiction.
Whether you need to commit to prescription drug detox or you’re ready to work through a benzodiazepine detox, you can rest assured that the Muse Treatment Center team will help you navigate the detox symptoms or the physical and psychological challenges you may face during this stage of your recovery. To learn more about what you can expect during drug detox or when you come to Muse Treatment Center, we encourage you to get in touch with us at (800) 426-1818.
