Tag Archives: thank you

The Fear of Withdrawal

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.

  Call us today. 844.526.0032

What Happens After Medical Detox?

What is Medical Detox?

Detoxing from drugs and alcohol can be a severely uncomfortable – and sometimes life-threatening – process. Individuals who have been actively abusing a chemical substance of any kind for any length of time will experience physical and psychological symptoms upon abruptly ceased use. In order to effectively treat these symptoms as they arise and make the withdrawal process as pain-free as possible, individuals who have been struggling with substance abuse must check themselves into a medical detox facility as soon as they decide to quit and strive for long-term sobriety. There are many benefits involved in medical detox. For most, this is the very first clinical phase of a multi-phase continuum of care, one that will pave the road for a successful long-term recovery journey. Medical detox allows those involved to develop reasonable aftercare plans and find a drug and alcohol rehab that they can immediately transfer into once they are physically stabilized.

Chapel Hill Detox – Comprehensive Care

At Chapel Hill Detox, we offer comprehensive care – we believe that the first stage of the recovery process should be about more than pain-free withdrawal, client comfort and ultimate physical stabilization. We believe in providing our clients with services and amenities that will make for an integrated detox experience quite unlike any other. Some of the amenities we provide include:

  • Private or semi-private bedrooms decorated professionally for peace and tranquility.
  • A fully stocked, state-of-the-art kitchen and dining area where clients can either prepare their own nutritious snacks and meals or enjoy meals prepared by our experienced personal chef.
  • Common areas that were designed with comfort in mind and come fully equipped with flat screen televisions and board games over which clients can bond and remain engaged.

Some of the recovery-related services we provide include:

  • Weekly individual therapy sessions and regular group therapy sessions, where clients will learn more about the disease model of addiction and be able to discuss and recovery-related concerns that may arise while they are in medical detox.
  • Case management services – our case managers help clients develop personalized treatment and recovery goals while walking them through the detox process and onto the next phase of clinical care (inpatient drug and alcohol rehab).
  • Family resources – our case managers communicate with the loved ones of our clients, keeping them informed and providing them with any additional resources they may need.
  • Medication management – in many instances, our prescribing physicians will utilize non-narcotic medications to help alleviate the more severe symptoms of withdrawal.
  • Psychiatric services and evaluation – we have on-staff psychiatrists who will work with clients that suffer from dual diagnosis disorders.
  • Rehab placement – it is important that our clients transfer directly into rehab once they have completed detox in order to prevent relapse. We help with rehab placement, working closely with many reputable, licensed and accredited treatment centers in the area (and in surrounding areas).

No matter what your personal detox-related needs, Chapel Hill Detox has you covered. We provide a clinically comprehensive program that is both unique and highly effective.

What Happens After Detox?

What happens once the detox process is complete, and the individual is finally physically stabilized and deemed fit to leave? The truth is, there are several options. We always recommend that the individual transfers into a residential treatment center as soon as he or she is able to do so. At Chapel Hill Detox we believe that the only way to ensure long-term sobriety is by enforcing a multi-phased curriculum of care, one that begins with medical detox, moves on to inpatient rehab and concludes with sober living and intensive outpatient (or outpatient) treatment. Sadly, many individuals who return home after completing detox will relapse within the first two weeks. It is important to thoroughly understand that addiction is much more than a physical issue. It is a diagnosable disease of the mind – one that has major effects on mental, emotional and spiritual health as well as physical well-being.

Here are the standard options as far as what happens after detox:

  • The individual returns home. This is common practice, but it is truly never a good idea. Not only do those that return home after detox have a significantly increased risk of relapse, but they often return to detox multiple times before finally committing to an inpatient rehab program – which is a waste of time and of money. In order for detox to be worth your while, it is crucial that you follow it up with long-term clinical care.
  • The individual enters into an inpatient treatment program. This is what we always recommend, regardless of the severity of the substance abuse disorder. Inpatient treatment provides individuals with intensive therapeutic care and helps them develop the coping skills and relapse prevention skills that are necessary to maintaining sobriety in the long-term. Inpatient treatment can last for anywhere from one to six months.
  • The individual moves into a sober living home and continues with a slightly lower level of clinical care. This might be a good option for someone who was suffering from a mild substance abuse disorder. For example, if a middle-aged woman began drinking a bottle of wine every evening after a particularly messy divorce, and simply needed some extra accountability while she got back on her feet and stayed sober – sober living would be appropriate immediately following detox. However, a short stint in inpatient treatment would also be appropriate – it all boils down to personal preference, in a case like this. While in sober living the individual would participate in intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) or outpatient treatment (OP) depending on the recommended level of care.

More About Inpatient Treatment

As previously stated, we always recommend inpatient treatment directly after medical detox, regardless of the severity or length of the substance abuse disorder. Intensive therapeutic intervention is extremely beneficial for everyone. Working through underlying issues in a safe and supportive environment will help pave the road for long-term sobriety. Chapel Hill Detox works closely with several of the most reputable, gender-specific treatment centers in the area. If you have not decided on a rehab before entering into our medical detox program, we will gladly help you with rehab placement, finding an inpatient treatment center that will cater to all of your unique, individualized needs and requirements.

Begin Your Personal Journey of Addiction Recovery Today

Addiction is a progressive disease. Without professional treatment, the symptoms associated with addiction will always get worse – they will never miraculously resolve on their own. For those who are in the grips of a severe substance abuse disorder, seeking treatment might seem unnecessary, or like something that can continuously be put off until things get “really bad.” This is because addiction is a disease of denial. It can be glaringly apparent to everyone involved that the individual who is suffering from addiction is in desperate need of help. However, the individual might remain convinced that stopping at any point is a matter of deciding to do so… it just isn’t quite the right time. We understand how difficult it can be watching a loved one actively suffer from addiction and consistently refuse to seek the professional help that is so clearly needed. If you have a loved one who has been suffering from a substance abuse disorder of any severity, please feel free to give us a call. We will gladly offer support and guidance, and help you get your loved one started on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.

   Call us today. 844.526.0032

Why Recovery is Worth It

You have probably heard someone say the phrase, “Recovery is worth it!” Worth what? What’s it? Is recovery really all that difficult? The truth of the matter is, early recovery is not always a straightforward process. It is a time marked by emotional highs and lows; a time where you will experience intense growing pains and learn more about yourself than you ever deemed possible. The truth is that early recovery is not always easy. When someone says, “Recovery is worth it,” they mean that the gifts of addiction recovery are well-worth the initial struggles and the discomfort that goes hand-in-hand with immense personal growth. But what are these gifts? Why is recovery worth the effort and the initial struggle?

Addiction VS. Recovery

If you have experienced addiction firsthand, you understand just how devastating it can be. Active addiction strips people of their humanity and turns them into lost and lifeless shells of their former selves. It breaks the soul, ravages the body and cripples the mind. Those in the throes of active addiction will likely tell you that anything is better than being a slave to a substance – even death. Dark, but true. Addiction recovery, on the other hand, allows individuals the opportunity to exercise self-discovery and self-realization in a way they never deemed possible. It allows for the reclamation of soul, body and mind, and facilitates lifelong growth and authentic happiness. Recovery is a beautiful process, one that will always – yes, always – change a person’s life for the better. We have yet to hear someone say, “Well yeah, being authentically happy, making my family proud and thriving in life is fine and all. But I kind of prefer spending entire days laying on the bathroom floor in a pool of sweat.” There is truly no comparison. If you are still on the fence about seeking treatment, take a look at the following gifts that addiction recovery will inevitably bring.

The Gifts of Recovery

  • You will wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day – not hungover or dopesick. Imagine the possibilities!
  • You will regain the trust of your loved ones, and – get this – you will actually have the ability to make them proud. While active in your addiction you likely disappointed quite a few people (including yourself, of course). Recovery will allow you to rebuild burnt bridges and heal wounded relationships.
  • You will gain confidence in yourself and build self-esteem. In active addiction it is very likely that you grew to hate and resent yourself. Recovery will transform those feelings into feelings of self-love and appreciation.
  • You will be able to set personal goals and follow through with them. You may have had goals in mind while active in your addiction, but the chances are that you never followed through with them because you lacked motivation and drive.
  • You will start to feel like you’re a productive member of society once again. During active addiction, you will likely begin to feel like you are useless, hopeless and helpless. These feelings will wreck your self-esteem and leave you feeling isolated and alone. When you start to get more established in your recovery, you will slowly but surely begin feeling optimistic and self-assured. Eventually, you will recognize and authentically believe that you have something to contribute – because you do!
  • You won’t feel physically sick all of the time. Again, there is truly nothing like waking up in the morning refreshed and ready to take on the day.
  • You will learn how to laugh. What the heck does that mean? Belly laughing is something that those who have never struggled with a severe substance abuse disorder might take for granted. Recovering from an addiction and going on to acquire several months of recovery will be an amazing experience in and of itself, but the first time you genuinely belly laugh and can’t catch your breath you will understand the true beauty of recovery in a way you may never have before.

There are many, many more gifts when it comes to addiction recovery, and each gift you receive will be unique to you. For example, maybe you are an artist, and you stopped painting and drawing when you picked up drinking and drugging. Recovery will not only allow you to dive back into what you love, but it will provide you with an entirely new perspective. Maybe you used to love basketball, and this hobby completely fell by the wayside when your addictive disorder started getting more serious. Not only were you preoccupied with other things, but you likely could not physically participate in any kind of athletic event. Those who are struggling with active addiction are generally not the epitome of health. Once you get sober, you will be able to physically take part in the activities that you used to enjoy.

Recovery Shortcuts

Surely there must be a shortcut, right? There must be a way to skip over the difficulties that early recovery presents and jump right into the good stuff? Hate to break it to you, but… no. Personal growth always comes from some sort of struggle, no matter how short-lived. If you want to reap the benefits of recovery you must do the work. What work? It is hard work, but it is significantly easier than active addiction. It might seem like attempting to lead a normal life is impossibly difficult while you are actively using or drinking, but the truth is, being engaged in an addiction is more difficult than anything else you will ever do. The good news is that compared to active addiction, recovery is easy. The other good news is, this work will always be laid out for you. You will never be thrown into a brand new situation with nothing but a few words of encouragement, “Good luck! You’ve got this!” You will always have a clear cut plan and a group of compassionate individuals around to support and encourage you along the way. From medical detox and inpatient treatment all the way through aftercare and the eventual transition into fully independent living, you will always have guidance accessible. One of the most valuable things you will learn is that it is completely okay to ask for help when you need it. In fact, it is necessary. No one expects you to navigate early recovery on your own. You will have a structured recovery program, developed by a team of clinical professionals and addiction specialists. As you grow and evolve, this plan will change. You will be given instruction every step of the way, and if you ever feel like you need more instruction, do not hesitate to ask.

Chapel Hill Detox

If you or someone you love has been struggling with substance abuse or dependency and is looking to begin an entirely new way of life, we at Chapel Hill Detox are available to help. Our comprehensive medical detox program is an essential first stage of every recovery process. To learn more about recovery or our specific detox program, please feel free to give us a call today.

   Call us today. 844.526.0032