Detoxing is the beginning of addiction treatment and recovery for both drug and alcohol abuse in those struggling with addiction. Detox is the process of removing the problem substance from within our bodies which allows the mind and body to begin healing. The reason detox is what starts off treatment is that the dependency our bodies develop due to substance abuse must be broken in order to address the underlying addiction.
Side Effects and Withdrawal Symptoms
Once detox begins and you no longer have the problem substance in your body, withdrawal symptoms will start to appear which are the side effects of detoxing. Typically these symptoms will be minimal and more of an inconvenience or mild pain than anything. Long-term or heavy drug and alcohol abuse often means more severe withdrawal symptoms. In any case, detox patients can expect some or all of the following:
- Profuse sweating
- Anxiety/Nervousness
- Excess sweating and hot flashes
- High levels of blood pressure and heart rate
- Muscle fatigue
- Insomnia
- Nausea
Withdrawal Symptoms Vary Between Individuals
While detoxing journeys can share similar side effects and withdrawal symptoms, each individual will have their own set of symptoms to handle. It depends on how long and often the substance was used as well as the type of substance.
Stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines will have withdrawal symptoms like paranoia, anxiety, inability to concentrate and lack of memory access. Alcohol withdrawals will lean more towards irritability and general uneasiness, the opposite of the effects that most use alcohol to achieve.
Due to how common alcohol use is, high levels of dependence and addiction are seen more often than not. Severe addiction comes with severe withdrawal symptoms that should be monitored in a medical setting as some side effects can be life threatening including heart attack and stroke. As such, we never recommend going through detox on your own.
Always Seek Professional Detox Assistance
Given how many different ways withdrawal symptoms can impact an individual, detoxing under medical supervision is the only safe approach to the process. When you choose to detox on your own at home, you forgo any additional support that comes with a detox center.
Hickory Treatment Centers staff only the most compassionate and knowledgeable addiction specialists that share our vision of accessible and comfortable addiction treatment from detox to aftercare. When you start your journey at our center, you’ll be able to receive medication administered by your dedicated team to help combat withdrawal symptom side effects.
Take the leap for yourself or someone you care about and see just how smooth we can make the process with a confidential consultation. We believe that everyone has the strength to recover from addiction and simply needs the right tools and support to tackle the battle head on.
