Anyone who has been physically and psychologically addicted to a chemical substance for any length of time likely has a good grasp on how serious and harshly and comfortable associated withdrawal symptoms can be. The sad truth of the matter is that grappling with a fear of withdrawal prevents many individuals from quitting their drug of choice, even if a big part of them has wanted to get clean for quite some time. As the physical body continues to acclimate to the presence of chemical substances, tolerance continues to build, and the withdrawal symptoms that will inevitably take place once uses stopped abruptly will continue to get more and more severe.
As an example, think of “hair of the dog.” In order to battle more severe hangovers, some people will opt to continue drinking the following morning. This is essentially why breakfast cocktails like Bloody Mary’s and mimosas even exist. It is certainly not a healthy habit, but for some, it does make all the difference. This method tends to work for those who are suffering at the hands of a substance abuse disorder of any type. Say an individual has been using heroin for an extended period of time. As soon as he or she does not have access to heroin or decides to discontinue use entirely, a range of unpleasant physical withdrawal symptoms will take hold. He or she will feel nauseous, achy and generally uncomfortable. Rather than suffer through these symptoms, most individuals who are struggling with heroin addiction will simply try to get hold of more.
And herein lies the problem. This makes for a vicious and unrelenting cycle, one that inevitably ends in the continuation of abuse and the progression of the disease of addiction. as the disease of addiction progresses, the associated withdrawal symptoms will only continue to worsen as well. If you find yourself in this vicious cycle and you feel that you are too afraid of experiencing withdrawal symptoms to make it through the detoxification period, Chapel Hill Detox is available to help.
Overcoming the Fear of Withdrawal
Even if you have not yet experienced withdrawal firsthand, it is easy to succumb to fear because of the media depiction of the detox process and the horror stories that you have likely heard at one point or another. The truth is that while most symptoms are uncomfortable (and while if you can be life-threatening if not adequately treated in a medical detox facility), they are generally not unbearable and will resolve within the first three days of discontinued use. Of course, it is always a good idea to check yourself into a detox center before withdrawal symptoms take hold. Attempting to detox in an at-home setting can result in a wide range of serious and potentially fatal side effects. Sadly, many individuals do not seek the professional treatment they both need and deserve, mostly because they are unaware of what resources are readily available to them. They may not believe that they can afford to cover the cost of treatment, or they may have heard that waiting lists for state run detox facilities are exceptionally long. Chapel Hill detox offers an unmatched level of quality clinical care, one that cannot be found in a state run facility. We believe that medical detox should be immediately available to all those who seek it, which is why we work closely with many major health insurance providers. If you have been putting off addiction recovery because you are afraid of what is in store, we assure you, the devastation of active addiction far outweighs the minor discomfort that could potentially go hand in hand with a short-lived withdrawal period.
The Role of Medically Monitored Detox
The main goal of medically monitored detox is to ensure that every individual who has been suffering at the hands of a drug or alcohol abuse disorder has access to around-the-clock clinical care, ensuring that the withdrawal period is both safe and pain-free. Medical detox facilities like Chapel Hill Detox utilize a wide range of proven medical and therapeutic techniques. If an individual has been abusing an opioid narcotic of any kind, we might utilize medication assisted treatment, which focuses on the short-term prescription of opioid antagonists like buprenorphine and naltrexone. These medications work to combat the more severe physical symptoms associated with opiate withdrawal, while effectively reducing psychological cravings. When it comes to opiate addiction, the psychological cravings very often lead individuals back to use before the detox process has even come to an end. We also utilize a range of non-narcotic, over-the-counter medications, such as painkillers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, non-narcotic sleep aids like melatonin and anything else we deem medically necessary.
Certain drugs like alcohol and benzodiazepines can result in severe withdrawal symptoms that can prove to be life-threatening if not adequately treated by a team of professionals around-the-clock. And very severe cases, men and women who have been suffering at the hands of alcohol or benzodiazepine dependence could experience seizures, coma and dangerous psychiatric symptoms. Our medical doctors, nurses and practitioners check in on patients regularly and utilize whatever treatment methods necessary should any severe and adverse reactions occur.
Weighing Options
We understand that staring withdrawal directly in the face can be quite frightening. However, we implore you to weigh the options. Would you rather continue suffering immensely at the hands of active addiction while continuing to experience a wide range of severe interpersonal consequences, or would you prefer to simply pick up the phone and give us a call. Seeking the professional medical detox, you need is truly that simple. As soon as you become willing to seek the treatment you need, we are available to help in any and every way that we possibly can. If you are currently insured through a major regional or national provider, we will gladly complete a free insurance benefit check and let you know how many of our detox services are covered within the first several minutes of your call. Once coverage is determined, we will set to work developing viable travel plans and a date and a time for your intake. Once you have been admitted to our medical detox program, our experienced team of licensed therapists, case managers and addiction specialists will work together to develop a long-term treatment plan. We focus on rehab placement, knowing that the time between medical detox and inpatient treatment is often the most vulnerable.
Chapel Hill Detox – Pain-Free and Effective Withdrawal
When carried out in a medically monitored detox facility like Chapel Hill Detox, withdrawal is both pain-free and short-lived. Additionally, you only need to undergo this experience once. If you have a long-term treatment plan in place, and you are willing to go to any lengths to get and stay clean and sober, you will never have to fear the symptoms of withdrawal again in your life. If you are ready to take the first step on your personal journey of addiction recovery, give us a call today. We are standing by to help talk you through this initial phase of the recovery process. We look forward to speaking with you soon and answering any additional questions or quelling any additional concerns that you may have.
