Detoxification Process & Residential Stabilization Program

What is Detoxification?

Detoxification, commonly called “detox,” is the natural process the body goes through to eliminate drugs, alcohol, and other toxic substances from the body. The goal of medical detox centers is to help people struggling with addiction safely manage their withdrawal symptoms.

Detoxing from addictive substances can be scary and even dangerous, but Sheer Recovery’s California drug and alcohol detox center can help.

Why is Medical Detox Important for Addiction Recovery?

Getting sober is extremely challenging. One of the reasons why is that your body becomes physically dependent on drugs and alcohol after long-term regular use. When you try to suddenly stop taking a substance that your body is dependent on, the receptors in your brain don’t activate correctly or produce the right neurotransmitters to make you feel good.

Instead, your body goes into overdrive, experiencing a range of uncomfortable to severe symptoms that make you feel as though you are seriously ill.

Choosing to detox at home or without medical supervision is dangerous because your symptoms could become distressing. Even if your symptoms are not severe, they can be daunting enough that you are tempted to keep using substances rather than continue with detoxification. For example, opiate withdrawal is typically not dangerous or life-threatening, but it is extremely uncomfortable and painful. People who aren’t able to alleviate the pain of withdrawal with medical assistance are likely to continue using opiates. This is why people rarely detox from opiates unless they are receiving help from a detox center or are in jail.

Alcohol and benzodiazepines are the most dangerous substances to detox from. If you aren’t given medication to ease your withdrawal symptoms and reduce seizure risk, detoxing can become life-threatening. If you are a daily alcohol or benzodiazepine user, do not try to detox on your own. Medically-assisted detox is the safest and most comfortable way to detox from any chemical substance.

Rather than trying to detox alone, drug and alcohol detox centers in California can provide around-the-clock care and support so you can focus on what is most important: your sobriety.

What is the Drug and Alcohol Detox Process Like?

Detoxing from drugs and alcohol isn’t easy. You may be anxiously anticipating the painful and severe withdrawal symptoms that await you. However, a medical detox program can help you detox with safety and comfort.

Detox centers like Sheer Recovery utilize medications, 24-hour support, and holistic therapies to help individuals minimize their symptoms, making detox something you don’t have to fear.

Our goal is to keep you as safe and comfortable as possible during this time, while also creating a medically supervised detox plan that is customized for you. We accomplish this using a three-step drug and alcohol detox process consisting of:

Pre-Assessment and Intake

intake and assessment

Prior to the intake, you will have an approximate 15-30 minute telephonic clinical assessment During this assessment, you will be asked in

detail about your substance use, mental health, and medical history as well as other questions that give us the complete picture of what needs to be treated. This information helps the team curate a customized treatment plan based on your situation.

After arriving at Sheer Recovery, you will begin the physical intake process by signing consent to treatment and disclosure forms. You will also sign medical release forms that designate who can and cannot access your private health information while you are in treatment. Finally, you may have to turn in personal items, such as your cell phone or laptop. These will be returned to you at a later date.

Medical Stabilization

The next step is medical stabilization. This is when you take time to separate yourself from the outside world, let drugs and alcohol leave your system, and begin the healing process.

During medical stabilization, doctors will prescribe medication to help reduce symptoms of withdrawal, stabilize your appetite, and help you sleep. Nurses will monitor your symptoms and ensure your safety during detox. For example, clients may receive medication for nausea, muscle spasms, anxiety, seizure prevention, abdominal cramping, insomnia, various tapering medications, anti-craving, and any mental health medication needed.

If you are feeling well enough, you may meet with a therapist individually to begin therapeutic  treatment. Your therapist may evaluate you for a mental health condition and begin building rapport with you. Group therapy sessions may also be available so you can obtain support from your peers.

Preparing for Treatment

It’s important to understand that detox is only the first step of treatment and recovery. Most people do not stay sober with detox alone. Instead, they require comprehensive substance abuse treatment that takes place in an inpatient or outpatient setting. As a result, the last phase of the detoxification process involves preparing for treatment.

While in detox, a substance abuse counselor will meet with you and explain how to transition from detox to inpatient treatment which is where you will continue the healing process.

Symptoms of Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal

 

Although detoxification is a natural process, detoxing from addictive drugs or alcohol can result in painful, severe, and even life-threatening

symptoms of withdrawal. The exact symptoms you will experience may

vary depending on the type of drug(s) you were addicted to, but some of the most common side effects of withdrawal include:

  • Anxiety
  • Cravingssymptoms of drug and alcohol withdrawal
  • Body discomfort
  • Muscle aches and pains
  • Abdominal cramping
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Insomnia
  • Appetite changes
  • Mood swings
  • Difficulty concentrating

In severe instances of withdrawal, some people are at risk for seizures, hallucinations, agitation, or suicidal ideologies. However, detoxing under close medical supervision can minimize these risks and keep you safe.

How Long Does Detox Last?

How long detox takes varies greatly from one person to the next. The length of detox is based on several individual factors, for example, the type of substance you are detoxing from.

Your substance abuse patterns will also influence the withdrawal timeline. The more frequently you used a substance and the longer you were addicted to it, the longer you can expect detox to take.

Other variables that influence the detox timeline include:

  • Polysubstance addiction (detoxing from more than one substance at a time can affect the withdrawal process)
  • Co-occurring mental health conditions
  • Age, weight, and gender
  • Overall physical health and metabolism

Complimentary Services Offered During Detox

Drug and alcohol detox is so much more than sitting in an inpatient hospital room taking medications. It is the beginning of a healthier, happier you. Sheer Recovery is a residential setting, and although medications are used during acute detox, other complementary services are offered that can promote whole-person healing in a natural way.

Complementary detox services at Sheer Recovery include:

  • Chiropractic – Spinal manipulations and adjustments can help alleviate pain issues and comfort your body.
  • Synaptic Electronic Activation (SEA) – Balance neurotransmitters in your body to treat chronic pain and nerve damage to help you feel better.
  • Physical therapy – On-site physical therapy can address bone or joint issues that you may have or simply provide you with gentle stretching to alleviate body discomfort or muscle pain.
  • Yoga – Bring your mind, body, and spirit into unison using guided yoga or meditation. Yoga can also alleviate withdrawal symptoms.

Experience whole-person healing by speaking with an admissions specialist at Sheer Recovery today.

California Drug and Alcohol Detox Program at Sheer Recovery

Detox is the first step toward sobriety, and it is a step that you should not take alone. At Sheer Recovery, we are here to support you during detoxification and the rest of your recovery journey. Call now to find out if our California drug and alcohol detox center is right for you.

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