When making the brave decision to get sober, some people may wonder why they have to check into a drug detox center. It’s common to think “if I stop buying drugs and using them, I can wait it out at home then go to rehab”. It’s also common to try to look up on the internet what to do when wanting to quit drugs or alcohol. While it is a good idea to research addiction and recovery options online, it’s not a good idea to detox at home.
Detoxification isn’t a straightforward process. Health complications can arise when detoxing, and you probably aren’t equipped to handle them at home.
If you are contemplating if you should detox at home alone as opposed to going to a drug detox center, keep on reading to find out why you shouldn’t.
Today, we’ll be discussing why it is imperative to check into detox facilities when wanting to get sober.
The Dangers of Detoxing Alone
For many addicts, detoxing is the most important stage in their recovery journey. It determines how successful their journey to sobriety would be, and also ensures a safe start to recovery.
You may or may not have read about self-detoxing success stories or stories about someone quitting drugs cold turkey, but this is definitely not safe. It is always a better idea to seek professional help, and here’s why:
Some withdrawal symptoms can be fatal
Withdrawal symptoms are a common part of detoxing, and for the most part, they fall within a normal range for most addictions to most substances.
However, withdrawal symptoms from certain substances can be fatal. Withdrawal is different for everyone, and can be different in many cases of addiction.
Thankfully, there are numerous drug detox centers available to help mitigate withdrawal symptoms. Qualified personnel at these facilities know exactly what to do to stay on top of the situation should any emergency occur.
Emotional reinforcement
Detoxing is more than just ridding your body of toxins and going through the wringer. Detox also affects emotions, mainly if the person has been abusing substances to deal with psychological trauma.
During detox, such persons might be unable to cope with their trauma and will need emotional counseling.
Also, detox can cause strong emotional reactions like anger and sadness. Counseling also helps the patient deal with it.
Benefits of Going to a Drug Detox Center
Now you know why it is dangerous to detox alone, but what benefits can you expect if you go to a drug detox center?
Accountability
It is a tough decision to quit an addiction. A lot of people have tried to quit and failed. Some make it past the detox stage successfully while others relapse. People who use detox centers have a better chance of recovering because the staff and fellow patients encourage and hold them accountable to their goals.
Medical assistance
There is access to medical assistance for people who experience painful and potentially fatal symptoms.
Fewer stressors
It goes without saying that in a detox facility, people will be exposed to fewer stressors. This means that patients will have a smooth detox process without any hitches due to relapses or external stressors.
Why You Should Detox at Enlight Treatment Center
At Enlight, we offer all the benefits of a professional detox center, including 24-hour care, medical assistance, helpful staff, counseling, and of course, a great environment to focus on detoxifying without any external stressors.
Enlight is a dual diagnosis and substance abuse facility that offers treatment and help to those battling addiction and mental health-related conditions.
At Enlight, we treat our clients with care, compassion, and dedication because we care about helping them beat their addiction. Reach out to us today for help with your addiction.
