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Woman Embracing the Addiction Recovery ProcessWhen you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol, the last thing you want to do is think about the fact that in order to get clean you’ll have to go through a detox. And while treatment alone isn’t so much the issue, it means that your body will go through withdrawal as it’s weaned off whatever substance it’s addicted to. But if you’re starting your addiction recovery journey, it is an essential and critical first step to the life of sobriety that you have to look forward to.

What Happens During a Treatment?

Substance abuse leads to chemical changes in the brain, and when you stop using, these changes begin to revert as your body heals. The purpose of an alcohol or drug detox, therefore, is twofold. On the one hand, it allows your system to purge drugs or alcohol from your body and recover from physical addiction, and on the other hand, it gives your mind time to work past the emotional dependence you have on whatever substance you were addicted to.

As your body detoxes, you go through the withdrawal period, which is characterized by symptoms like:

  • Shaking and sweating
  • Depression, anxiety, and irritability
  • Tremors and muscle tension
  • Insomnia
  • Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
  • Headaches
  • Delirium tremens (from alcohol)
  • Heart palpitations, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing

The Importance of Beginning Addiction Recovery as Soon as Possible

A drug or alcohol detox is the only way to start your life of sobriety, because, without it, your system cannot reset itself to a normal state. If your body isn’t allowed the opportunity to purge itself, it won’t have the chance to relearn how to function without drugs or alcohol. You can’t go into recovery unless you get clean first, and a cleanse jumpstarts the process by clearing drugs from your body and clearing your mind from the haze of addiction. Treatment is the first step toward good health and a clean body, and while you will be sober by the end of your cleanse, your recovery will last for the rest of your life.

Why Treatment Should Be Medically Supervised

Withdrawal from any drug has unpleasant psychological, emotional, and physical symptoms, but cleansing from particular drugs carries serious and potentially life-threatening risks. An alcohol detox, for instance, can cause convulsions, seizures, heart attacks, and strokes, making it especially important that the treatment is done under the watchful eyes of medical professionals.

And with any other drug, being in a facility with trained addiction experts and therapists can drastically increase your chances of success, because the risks of relapsing during a cleanse are extremely high.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, a proper cleanse is the only way to start the path to recovery. It will give your body time to rid itself of toxins, allow your mind time to adjust to experiencing daily life sober, and will ensure that you’re as safe and comfortable as possible during your withdrawal period. This may not sound pleasant, but they are the first step to a better, healthier, and more fulfilling life. For more information on starting your addiction recovery, call First Step today at 877-389-1135.