The Benefits Of Medical Detox

The Benefits Of Detoxing At A Treatment Facility

It’s common for people with substance use disorders (SUDs) to be anxious about detoxing because they don’t know what withdrawal symptoms they’ll experience and what their severity will be. They may also dread the psychological symptoms of withdrawal, like anxiety and depression, since those are often conditions that cause many to start taking substances in the first place. While these concerns are valid, it’s essential to remember that the long-term emotional and physical toll of substance abuse will far outweigh the short-lived discomfort of detox.

Still, uncomfortable physical withdrawal symptoms, like dehydration and insomnia, can occur when detoxing from many substances, though some have more acute and dangerous withdrawal than others. For example, detoxing from alcohol and benzodiazepines comes with additional risks that can be life-threatening. These acute withdrawals often require a medical detox to reduce the risk of developing any life-threatening symptoms, such as seizures and overdose, as one goes through the detoxification process.

Choosing to detox at a facility rather than at home provides a multitude of benefits surrounding your safety and comfort as you go through withdrawal.

Comfort

A main benefit of detoxing at a facility is the emphasis placed on your physical and emotional comfort during this taxing time.

At a facility, you unburden yourself from the responsibilities and stressors of home and allow your well-being to be the focus. Worries regarding work and family are momentarily placed in the background as your recovery takes the forefront and the resulting emotional relief aids in your recovery.

Additionally, staff at these facilities are trained and prepared to watch over you and make sure that your needs are met. For instance, if you get physically ill, they will ensure you and your environment are kept clean. They will check to see if you are too warm or cool and provide a blanket or AC to adjust appropriately. You will have a private or semi-private room with a comfortable bed, clean linens, dimmable lights, and a TV, so that you can adapt the space to your preferences while you detox.

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Hydration And Nutrition

Since gastrointestinal issues, like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, are common withdrawal symptoms, it’s vital to stay hydrated and well-nourished during detox.

It’s easy to become dehydrated, as you may not feel like or think about drinking water during this time. However, staying hydrated is vital in aiding your body as it rids itself of toxic substances. A facility will help you take care of this need. In a medical detox, you will likely be given an IV to keep you hydrated. You will also have clean water and other hydrating drinks, like Gatorade, within reach. You don’t have to worry about becoming dehydrated or getting up to get water, as someone will always be monitoring this.

While each body is different and has varying needs during detox, it’s also important to stay well-fed and eat foods that will help aid your body’s recovery. This may be easier to do at a treatment facility, as the staff will provide food when you’re hungry and ensure you get the nutrients you need to heal.

Medication

Perhaps the most significant benefit of a medical detox is the ability to receive medication to help control and alleviate uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, such as:

Medications can also be prescribed to help alleviate substance-specific withdrawal symptoms. For example, drugs like Librium and benzodiazepines can help offset the impact of alcohol cravings and reduce the risk of withdrawal-related seizures. For opioid withdrawal, medications like buprenorphine and methadone help block the euphoric effects of the drug, reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Since these medications should be taken in the care of professionals who can monitor how they affect the patient, detoxing at a facility will let you benefit from these medications in a safe, controlled manner.

Emotional Support During Detox

Emotional support in times of distress and uncertainty can provide the motivation and encouragement needed to commit to a detox plan. Enduring withdrawal symptoms can be difficult; as a result, some can relapse or experience depression, anxiety, and isolation. Medical detox includes staff who are available to guide patients and comfort them during the intensity of withdrawal.

This allows patients to be in positive environments with staff who can provide validation and reassurance during difficult times.

It’s important, however, to note the distinction between the emotional support provided during medical detox and talk therapy. You will not be expected to partake in talk therapy or other therapeutic methods before you have completed detox and are ready to mentally and physically commit to recovery with the substance out of your system. Any discussion before that is voluntary and is not a requirement of medical detox.

Safety

Ultimately, a medical detox is the safest method of detoxification since you’ll be under the supervision of trained professionals during the whole process. Not only will your physical needs be met, but if any complications were to arise, they’d be treated safely and promptly.

What Is Medical Detox?

Medical detox aims to keep an individual as safe and as comfortable as possible while the toxic substance is removed from the body. Medical detox involves detoxing under the oversight of medical professionals who will monitor the individual and administer medication to treat acute withdrawal symptoms.

Medical detoxification most often takes place in a hospital setting or at an inpatient treatment center, where an individual can be under 24-hour observation to reduce the risk of major complications. However, depending on the substance, it is possible to complete an outpatient detoxification program.

The result of undergoing detox can be a smoother transition into recovery and a more comfortable journey while feeling any withdrawal symptoms. The intensity and discomfort of withdrawal can be decreased, and the individual’s specific challenges can be met with care.

The Benefits Of Medical Detox For Alcohol Withdrawal

Those who suffer from alcohol use disorders can undergo changes in the brain chemistry, which makes withdrawal symptoms more intense. Symptoms of withdrawal can happen within 6 – 24 hours and last for up to 10 days. In some cases, withdrawal effects of alcohol can be fatal, which is why detox and medication are vital.

Medical detox can help someone feel both safe and comfortable undergoing alcohol withdrawal by giving them care to ensure the individual is as healthy as possible. For example, individuals get support for seizures and hallucinations that, if experienced in an unsupervised setting, could be extremely scary and potentially fatal. Getting medically supervised detox can provide relief by introducing medication to offset alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• High blood pressure
• Cravings
• Dehydration
• Trembling/shaking
• Delirium Tremens
• Hallucinations

Medically supervised detox makes withdrawal more comfortable as patients can feel a sense of safety knowing they are monitored and assisted through their recovery process.

Get The Help You Deserve

The idea of detox may seem intimidating and daunting. Fortunately, there are many ways to get the comfort you seek when deciding to get sober. If you are ready to start your recovery journey, contact a treatment provider to get answers to treatment-related questions. Make the life-changing decision to get clean and get the help and support you need.