Rehab is a process with which many people are at least vaguely familiar, having viewed rehabilitation centers depicted in both fictional and non-fictional contexts on TV shows and in movies. However, detox is perhaps less familiar for many, as it can be associated with all-round healthy living.
Nevertheless, detox is a critical stage in the recovery process for substance abusers. To understand the core nature of detox, your first need grasp the basic definition of removing substances from a person’s body through a withdrawal process.
Even everyday consumables like caffeine and sugar can trigger impulsive cravings that are incredibly difficult to control. In addition to the cravings, withdrawal symptoms can include common ailments like headaches, tiredness, and general irritability. You might very well endure an off-balance week as readjust to life without caffeine of sugar.
Now, just imagine what a drug or alcohol abuser goes through when they endure detoxification. These sufferers have perhaps gone through years or even decades of dependency on those extremely harmful substances. Coming off those substances will subject them to considerable mental anguish and physical turmoil, which is why they need a highly effective detox program to help them succeed.
Detoxification: the First Step
Detox is best described as the first step in the stages of overall recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. All of the stages in recovery are vital for substance abusers, as one wrong step along the way can result in a relapse later down the line. Therefore, it is vital that abusers start of their detoxification under the best possible circumstances.
The best piece of advice is that substance abusers should always seek guidance from a medical professional before starting detox. Alcohol and the various forms of drugs each have their own detox process and withdrawal symptoms. For instance, alcoholics might have to go through a gradual process to wean their bodies off the substance, whereas other drugs might be a lot quicker to remove from their system.
The Power of Rehabilitation
Following detoxification, no addict should ever be left to fend for themselves. Isolation will only lead to a relapse unless they receive adequate support, which is why rehabilitation is needed after the detox process. Quite simply, rehab is the act of understanding the mental trauma and behavior, not to mention environmental circumstances, that has driven a person to become an addict.
Through therapy and prolonged discussion, affected individuals can understand the reasoning behind their actions. After they have accepted their issues, rehab can then help them to build a new life that is free from drugs. Only rehabilitation from a qualified, experienced medical professional will prove to be effective as a preventative treatment at this stage.
Staying Sober
Following detox and rehab, addicts then enter a phase that will last for the rest of their lives. While this might sound incredibly difficult, the chances of staying sober are much greater for addicts who have sought detox and rehab treatment from a high-quality center. Navigating those two steps alone will make it much more likely for them to stay sober.
Key to maintaining sobriety is to maintain a routine of physical activity, as this will provide a vital prevention measure for recovered addicts. And Nora D Volkow of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) echoes that sentiment; having determined through more than $4.3 million worth of investment that regular physical activity can strengthen the resistance of teenagers to addiction.
That resistance is strengthened because exercise has been found to be beneficial for the brain by increasing the presence neurochemicals, which have the power to elevate mood, repair damaged tissue, and improve memory formation. Now, just imagine the benefits of regular exercise for an addict who has damaged their brain through years of abuse. Exercise will not only enhance their brain health, but also it will make them happier and fight off the risk of depression. Therefore, physical activity is a vital component in the recovery of any person suffering from addiction.
