7 Things to Help With Withdrawal
When it comes to finding a drug detox center Santa Clarita residents can use for professional treatment, you may not be sure exactly what it is or whether you (or your loved one) really need it. Detoxifying from drugs and alcohol happens when you stop using, whether you’re in a safe medical detox or going through it on your own.
Not everyone needs to go to a detox facility to stop using, but it can help keep you comfortable during withdrawal and reduce your risk of relapse. If you need help to stop, you’re not alone – millions of Americans suffer from substance use disorder and need detox and rehab to get and stay clean and sober.
Most Common Drugs That Cause Withdrawal
You feel uncomfortable when you stop using because your brain gets used to the presence of drugs and alcohol and changes the way it makes certain neurochemicals over time. When you stop using, your brain has to adjust to the lack of the substance and it’s this adaptation period that results in the drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms you experience.
Note that drugs don’t have to be illegal to cause withdrawal symptoms. Some prescription medications are known to be addictive and result in withdrawal symptoms when you stop using them. Several drugs cause these difficult (and sometimes life-threatening) symptoms.
- Alcohol
- Benzos (benzodiazepines), which include Xanax and Valium
- Barbiturates such as Nembutal and Seconal
- Opioids, which include heroin, morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone, methadone
- Stimulants
- By contrast, these types of drugs stimulate or excite your central nervous system.
- Cocaine
- Amphetamines, including Adderall and Ritalin
- Meth
- Nicotine
- Marijuana
Advantages of Medically Supervised Drug Detox to Help With Withdrawal
Many Americans who are worried about their drug use and think it might be time to stop are often held back by the thought of the withdrawal symptoms that they’ll face. In fact, you may have already tried to stop using drugs on your own but had a hard time getting through withdrawal on your own. A drug detox center Santa Clarita residents can access is designed to help you get through it so you can stop using it and then take additional steps toward sobriety.
Supervised medical care around the clock
If you’ve been using a lot and for a long time, your withdrawal symptoms can go from mild to severe in the blink of an eye. Some drugs are known to cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms occasionally. Either way, having staff always available helps ensure your safety if you experience any of these issues.
Medical evaluation on intake
If you need to go to detox, you’ve likely been neglecting your physical and mental health. You might arrive at drug detox dehydrated and malnourished, which can easily be diagnosed on your evaluation and treated.
Encouragement and support
The staff at the detox facility wants you to get clean and sober and can encourage you when things get tough. A team of people dedicated to your sobriety and not your disease makes a world of difference.
Medications
Some people may need medicine to help with certain withdrawal symptoms. You probably don’t have access to these meds if you try to do this alone at home.
Trigger-free environment
It’s hard to get sober when you’re surrounded by the people you use and you’re staying in the places where you’ve used. Drug detox is a setting that’s free of the people who support your drug use and full of calm and soothing people, places, and things.
Mental health diagnosis and care
It’s very common for someone with a drug use disorder to have a co-occurring mental health condition, which you might or might not already have diagnosed. Many people with a dual diagnosis started using at least in part to medicate the symptoms of their mental condition, whether they knew it or not.
Help with a gradual taper if necessary
For some people and some drugs, quitting cold turkey can actually be dangerous to their health. Instead, a gradual taper off the drug keeps them safe.
7 Things That Help When Going Through Withdrawal
Staying as well as you can after you’ve stopped using can help you deal with withdrawal symptoms better and give you something else to focus on besides the lack of drugs and alcohol.
- Move your butt
- Exercise makes you feel better. When you do what you enjoy and are good for you, your body may release some feel-good endorphins.
- Eat nutritious food
- You know what healthy food is, even if you’ve been subsisting on junk food while you were using it. The good stuff makes you feel better mentally as well as physically.
- Stretch and do some mindfulness exercises
- Stretching helps prevent your muscles and ligaments from getting too tight, and mindfulness (including yoga) can help you stay in the present and listen to your body.
- Join a support group
- 12-step programs are popular. There are additional ways to join a sober community and reap the benefits of all those who have gone before you. And you can help others too.
- Get massages and learn other relaxation techniques
- Stress management is key to relapse prevention, and staying calm during withdrawal also benefits you during detox.
- Talk to a trusted person about what you’re going through
- It might be a parent, friend, school counselor, or colleague, but discussing what’s happening keeps your substance disorder hidden. Secrets keep you sick.
- Go to medical drug detox LA
- Be cared for and supported during the process, and you’ll have a great first step on your recovery journey.
How Long Will Drug Withdrawal Symptoms Last?
Your exact timeline will depend on the drug you’ve been using, how long and how heavily you used it, and other factors such as age, weight, and genetics. By and large, however, you’ll be through the worst of it in a week to ten days.
Milder symptoms typically appear within two to six hours of the last use. Peak withdrawal, where people are most likely to relapse, occurs generally one to three days after your last dose. Then symptoms taper off until they’re mostly gone. Some people may experience a longer withdrawal, with mood swings and depression several months afterward.
How Do I Avoid Relapse After Drug Detox?
Remember that going through a drug detox center Santa Clarita residents can trust for treatment doesn’t mean you’ve recovered. You no longer have the drug in your system, so you can proceed with the recovery process. You’ll need to understand why you started using in the first place and learn some life management skills so you no longer need to turn to a drink or drug to deal with any difficulties.
This education often takes place in rehab. After drug detox, you may go to a residential facility where you attend inpatient rehab. After you complete that program, you may go to outpatient therapy where you start transitioning out of treatment but still have encouragement and support to stay sober. You might also decide to stay in sober living for a while for more support.
Drug Detox Center Santa Clarita: Sylvan Is Recognized As a Top Option for Drug Detox
At Sylvan, we’re dedicated to helping you get sober through detox. We keep you comfortable, including luxurious amenities and medication-assisted treatment if you need it. We keep the snack bar stocked and you can enjoy various games and activities in our facility. There’s no need to wait any longer to begin your healing. Give us at (818) 308-3099 today.