Making the decision to take back control of your life after struggling with addiction is a major thing. Even though recovering from a substance use disorder is incredibly hard work, it is well worth the struggle.
There are many instances where people who are trying to overcome a substance use disorder decide to stop using altogether while at home. Even though it is a good thing to get on the road to sobriety, there are some risks when it comes to quitting on your own.
Understanding the potential consequences and why a drug detox in Muscle Shoals, AL, might be the best tool for helping you overcome your addiction is important.
What Happens During Withdrawal?
When a person decides to go through withdrawal on their own views, it can be incredibly painful. In some cases, detoxing outside of a drug detox in Muscle Shoals, AL, can result in unbearable cravings.
When a person has struggled with addiction for so long, the central nervous system will go into overload as it attempts to rebalance itself without having alcohol or drugs in the system. Throughout the process, your brain will continue to send signals and produce hormones and chemicals that can result in severe physical and mental symptoms. Many people going through withdrawal experience significant urges to use substances.
There are a variety of symptoms associated with drug withdrawal. These can include:
- Nausea
- Seizures
- Stomach pain
- Hallucinations
- Diarrhea
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irregular heartbeat
- Irregular blood pressure
- Body temperature changes
- Mood swings
- Headaches
- Agitation
- Insomnia
- Confusion
- Severe muscle aches
The severity of these and other symptoms that you can experience during withdrawal can range from mild to life-threatening. There are a variety of factors that will contribute to the severity of your symptoms. These include:
- How long have you struggled with substance use disorder?
- Your medical or psychological condition.
- Your physical make-up.
- The type of substance that you were using.
Unfortunately, there are many risks associated with trying to detox at home.
The Risks of Detoxing From Alcohol at Home
Trying to detox from alcohol at home is not recommended. This is due to the fact that some of the symptoms of withdrawal that a person can experience have the potential to become life-threatening.
When a person who has been using alcohol regularly stops doing so suddenly, they can experience severe complications. Some of the most severe problems associated with detoxing at home include:
Seizures
While going through withdrawal, there is a significant chance that a person will experience seizures. These can involve convulsions that seemingly alternate with muscle contractions that are involuntary. These seizures can begin between 6 hours and 48 hours after a person stops using alcohol or another.
Delirium Tremens
Roughly 30% of people who experience seizures during withdrawal will also experience delirium tremens. DTs typically begin within 24 hours to 48 hours after a person stops drinking or using substances. Delirium tremens can cause a series of changes in the body. These include:
- Increased blood pressure
- Shakiness
- Confusion
- Delirium
If a person experiences delirium tremens without having medical assistance from a drug detox in Muscle Shoals, AL, they are at risk of suffering:
- Severe injuries to the head
- Dehydration, which can be lethal
- Heart attack
- Choking on vomit
- Stroke
- Death
Heart Rhythm Abnormalities
A person detoxing on their own from alcohol may experience erratic heart rhythms. This tends to occur at the same time as blood pressure increases, breathing problems, and problems with circulation.
Detoxing from alcohol at home can be incredibly dangerous. Regrettably, trying to detox from drugs is dangerous, as well.
The Risks of Detoxing From Drugs at Home
Detoxing from drugs while at home can be incredibly dangerous. This is due to the fact that there are several complications that come with the process. Not having a medical professional overseeing your detox can leave you in a potentially life-threatening situation.
Unfortunately, the progression of the symptoms of withdrawal that you experience in the risks associated with the withdrawal process depends on various factors. These can include the type of drugs you are on, how long you were on them, the severity of your diction, and whether or not you have any co-occurring medical conditions or disorders.
When trying to overcome a substance use disorder, one of the best things that you can do during detox is use medication. Medical drug detox in Muscle Shoals, AL, provides you with the ability to safely overcome your addiction by ridding your system of harmful substances. The use of medication will help to alleviate the symptoms that you experience throughout the process.
Unfortunately, if you try to go through detox from drugs at home, these medications will not be available to you. Additionally, you will not have a medical professional overseeing the process for you to ensure that you remain safe and out of harm’s way.
Rather than trying to deal with the detoxification process on your own, you can benefit significantly from seeking guidance from a team of trained professionals. Seeking guidance from a drug detox in Muscle Shoals, AL, can make a significant difference.
The Benefit of Drug Detox in Muscle Shoals, AL
The truth of the matter is that detoxing from any harmful substance can be incredibly unpredictable. People can experience an array of psychological and physical symptoms throughout the entire process.
When going through drug detox in Muscle Shoals, AL, you can benefit from having medication to help ease you through the process. There are an array of benefits that come with detoxing from drugs or alcohol while under medical supervision. These include:
- Drug detox in Muscle Shoals, AL, helps to keep you safe. The process of detoxing while under medical supervision can ensure that you do not experience any life-threatening consequences throughout the process. You will be supervised 24 hours a day until you are done detoxing.
- The environment associated with medical detox is much safer and far more comfortable than trying to detox from a harmful substance while on your own at home. Having a safe and comfortable environment can significantly increase your chance of being successful through the process.
- Medical drug detox in Muscle Shoals, AL, provides you with the ability to avoid any harmful risks associated with quitting cold turkey.
- Going through medical detox can provide you with the best chance of preventing relapses from occurring. These facilities will keep you in a structured environment as you go through withdrawal. This will ensure that you are not able to give in to any cravings that are caused by the withdrawal process.
- Medical detox will help you transition into an inpatient or outpatient treatment facility so that you can continue on your road to sobriety.
Get Started at Genesis Medical Detox Today
If you are interested in taking back control of your life, reach out to our team at Genesis Medical Detox now. We can help you overcome your addiction and learn healthier habits to move you forward through a substance-free lifestyle. Contact our drug detox in Muscle Shoals, AL, today to get started.
