Nobody intentionally tries to become addicted to drugs or alcohol. Often, it just happens, little by little. It takes enormous courage to be able to know when to ask for help. Recovery is hard, but you can do it. And it usually starts with medical detox.
Medical detox is a period where you gradually step down from your use of drugs or alcohol. You do this under the careful eye of your doctors, who make sure that your withdrawal symptoms do not get out of control.
While medical detox can be intense, it will prepare you for challenges yet to come on the road to recovery. Contact Georgia Addiction Treatment Center to learn more about the recovery process.
The Importance of Detox
Substance abuse impacts your judgment and behavior. You might be wondering why detox is so important to recovery from substance abuse. The answer lies in the makeup of your brain. Drugs and alcohol are chemicals that act on your brain in a powerful way. When these substances are abused, the brain starts to depend on those chemicals to feel normal. And if you were to simply stop drinking or using drugs, your brain would have something to say about it. It triggers physical reactions known as physical withdrawal.
Many of these withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable. But they can also be dangerous. During detox, doctors provide you the support you need to make sure you don’t reach that point. It is a proven way of coping with withdrawal symptoms safely and securely.
Knowing When it’s Time to Detox
No two people experience drug and alcohol abuse the same. That said, you won’t get an alarm bell when it’s officially time to get help. However, there are certain key signals that should push you toward rehab. These include:
- Withdrawal symptoms of increasing severity – When recovery puts you down for the count, it’s time to consider getting professional help
- Lack of control – You say you want to quit or even to reduce your consumption, but it’s impossible to do
- Increasing isolation – You leave friend groups that once meant everything and/or walk away from hobbies and interests that once were your passion
- Growing friction with relationships – You have increasing arguments and difficulties in getting along with family and friends
- You develop tolerance – You need more and more of the same substances to produce the effect.
Act today if these symptoms have entered your life and consider whether medical detox is your solution.
What’s Next After Medical Detox?
Stepping down from addiction isn’t a solution unto itself. You have much more ground to cover to heal yourself and your relationships. After detox, addiction treatment programs move into the counseling phase.
In counseling, you will work closely with a therapist experienced in addiction medicine to understand your life’s dynamics to this point and develop new coping skills. The future depends on your ability to stay away from drugs and alcohol.
Most of your time will be spent in one-on-one counseling. However, you will also be exposed to group counseling and even alternative forms of therapy such as yoga or creative arts therapy.
Once you have completed counseling, you move into the aftercare stage, which aims to reduce the risk of relapse.
Step Down with Georgia Addiction Treatment Center
Medical detox is the best choice to make as the beginning of a successful, long-term recovery. You will work closely with a team of healthcare professionals to reduce your use of drugs and alcohol while doctors treat withdrawal symptoms. Medical detox doesn’t always require a lengthy stay in a residential treatment center. At Georgia Addiction Treatment Center, we can address detox during outpatient, partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, or other forms. We are an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment center. Our team of doctors and counselors focus on you and your needs in building an individual treatment plan that works. Take steps to secure your future today. Contact Georgia Addiction Treatment Center at [Direct] to schedule an initial appointment.
