What to Expect When in a Detox Center
While some people may be able to stop taking drugs or drinking before it becomes an addiction, others aren’t so lucky. You might be one of them. There’s no shame in needing help with beating an addiction. Before you do an online search for “Detox Center in Atlanta, GA,” for example, there are some things to know ahead of time.
When You First Get There
This post assumes that you’re going there voluntarily. The first step that the center is going to take is to set you up on a path to cleanse your body of all the toxins that you have put in there. This can be alcohol or drugs. They will do an assessment when you arrive. This will include things like how long you’ve been addicted, how you ingest it, how much you generally take or drink at a time. All of this will help them come up with a treatment plan.
You may have withdrawal symptoms that can vary due to how long you have been addicted. They can be relatively mild or they can be life-threatening. Your intake team may decide that you need to have certain medication to help you with those withdrawal symptoms. It could be anything from antianxiety medication to stronger things.
How Long Will You Stay?
This depends entirely on your level of addiction and how long it takes for those things to leave your body. You could be looking at a week or a bit less if it’s alcohol, or you could be looking at a lot longer if it’s more potent drugs. Each case is unique. You could be there for two weeks or more before your system is clean.
Once You Are Clean
Your journey is far from over once you are drug- or alcohol-free. The next steps are to help you figure out how to keep this from happening again. There might be a rehabilitation center built into the detox center. That way, you’ll be able to stay in a familiar place. You might have to go to a separate place, though. In either case, you’re going to have people working with you and also fellow addicts that can uplift you, and you them.
While you are there, you will have a structured routine. That’s important, since having that will allow you to be able to focus on what’s important — getting yourself free from the grip of drugs. You’ll be in meetings where you talk with counselors and also fellow addicts. It’s a way to help you understand that you’re far from alone. You might even form bonds with another person there that can help each other by holding each other accountable. You will also be able to do things like crafts to keep yourself busy.
On the Outside
First, you might be able to stay for an extended stretch — you may have other obligations. There’s nothing wrong with returning. Second, people may use these centers as part of their recovery process. They may like the overall structure and pop in and out to get themselves rebalanced. You can also do things like go to meetings, like Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous. That can help you stay on the path of wellness.
This is just a very basic overview of what you can expect if you go to detox. It can be a very rewarding experience for you, and you can look back on it as an important step toward your life of health. That small first step of holding out your hand can be so important.