Will I Need Help to Get Through the Detox Process?
This article was written by Lisa Sitwell and published by Home of Grace
Going through a drug or alcohol detox can be extremely hard on your body and brain. It can also put you on an emotional roller coaster that you may not want to share. When you’re going through detox, however, you should definitely have someone available to monitor you and call for help if you are in danger.
Environment
Detoxing from any drug can leave you feeling nauseous and may lead to severe mood swings, violent outbursts or even death. Some drugs require a week to 10 days for effective detox to be complete, and your water intake and nutrition must be top-notch to prevent dangerous withdrawal symptoms. You may feel the need for multiple daily showers due to perspiration, and your sleep will be disrupted. You’ll find that a room with dark blinds will help you rest. It’s also important that you detox in the company of an accepting friend or loved one. If you feel rejected or judged by the person attempting to help you detox, your suffering will be increased.
Detox Severity
The type of drugs in your system and the length of their use will impact the severity of your detox. Some drugs will require you to scale back slowly on the dosage because a cold turkey approach could actually be fatal. You can suffer from dehydration, cardiac problems and poor nourishment brought on by severe nausea. It’s advised that the intensity of withdrawal symptoms can vary. Be sure to seek help before you cut back the drug use.
Emotional Upheaval
If you choose to detox in the presence of someone with whom you have a difficult history, make room for time-outs, and do your best to get away regularly from your caregiver. This may simply be by shutting the door or taking a nap. No matter how hard you try to avoid them, there could be unpleasant episodes. The brain is altered by addictive substances, and you’ll have to fight to bring it back to normal. Your emotions may be all over the place. You’ll need to focus on healing your brain and body. If your family member or loved one is focused on repairing the relationship during this time, you will likely both be disappointed.
The road to recovery is never a straight line. You may struggle to put old relationships back together and need to mourn relationships that are lost. Your future is worth the effort, and God is on your side. As it says in 1 Peter 5:10, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” Find a friend or family member to help you too. Detox in the presence of a supportive loved one so there’s someone there to call for medical help if you need it. With the help of your loved ones and God, you will be able to succeed.