Alcohol and drugs affect your brain and behavior. Often, substance use begins with the recreational use of alcohol or drugs in social settings. Some people's substance use becomes more frequent and heavier with prolonged use. Once you lose control over your use, you have a substance use disorder (SUD).
Substance use disorders harm you and those around you. No matter how you try to hide your substance addiction, it will eventually damage your relationships. However, when you want to do something about your substance addiction, you can enter a detoxification program. Detox programs are the first step in reaching your goal of becoming substance-free.
What Is Detox?
Medical detoxification or detox is the process of ridding your body of harmful toxins like alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs. The goal is to help you get off the substance quickly and safely. It would be best if you never attempted to detox from a substance on your own. Every substance has different side effects that require specific types of treatment. Medically supervised detox programs understand the dangers of withdrawing from the use of a substance and are trained to provide the necessary reduction or temporary substitution of another substance. While you are under a physician's care,you will receive the most comfortable healing process possible.
Substance Addiction Programs
Many detox programs have relationships with substance addiction programs that include inpatient and outpatient programs. Many programs give you the following options: individual, group, or family. Most programs require you to participate in both individual and group sessions.
Once you transfer to their care, you will continue the healing process through talk therapy and holistic therapies like yoga, breathwork, and physical or creative activities. In addition, you will learn more about addiction and how your environment affects your SUD. Finally, while you are in a program, you will learn why you seek substances to help you cope with certain situations, people, or feelings.
Why Do I Use a Substance?
The environment you live in and your mental health play a significant part in your why. You may not realize the impact people and places have on your behaviors or your mental health. The friends you hang out with, or the places you go can influence your actions. For example, if you go to parties where alcohol or drugs are considered part of the fun, you can use thinking it's no big deal. However, over time, your recreational use can become a problem.
When you discuss your substance addiction in therapy, you may look at how your genetics play a role. Genetics can also determine if you're at an increased risk of substance addiction because of a family history of SUDs.
Your mental health is another factor in substance addiction. Mental health disorders, like depression and anxiety, disrupt people's lives. In some cases, people use alcohol or drugs to help them cope with their feelings or social situations.
Substance addiction programs teach you about healthy coping skills, the addiction cycle, and why addictions occur. They can also teach you to take responsibility for your actions and live a sober life.
What Happens After I Leave Treatment?
Leaving treatment is challenging. During the initial phase of maintaining sobriety, you may feel optimistic and throw yourself into outside meetings, new activities, or skills. If you have a solid support system, you benefit from the love and belief your loved ones have in your sobriety efforts. The skills and lessons you learned while in a substance addiction program guide you through the ups and downs of sober living.
However, not everyone has a healthy support system or living environment waiting for them after leaving treatment. Despite everything learned in therapy, some may not feel ready to go home. For example, some have people who are actively using in their home environment. They know going back home will jeopardize their sobriety. Instead of going home, they can enter a sober living program.
What Is Sober Living?
Not everyone is ready to go back to their environment. You may not have a stable living environment or job, or you might feel like you can't get back into your life without continued care. Regardless of why you enter sober living, it is your responsibility to follow the rules outlined by the sober house. For example, if one of the requirements is you find a job, the sober living house may require you to send out resumes and go to job interviews. Ultimately, you are responsible for maintaining your recovery.
What if I Relapse?
No one says it is easy to maintain their sobriety. You need to work and face the challenges as they come. There will come a time when you face the temptation to relapse. Go to a meeting or seek help from a person in your support system. If you do relapse, it's okay. You can go back to a detox center and start again.
Becoming sober starts with a detox program and ends with you taking responsibility for your sobriety. Substance addiction programs exist to help you quit using alcohol or drugs. Inpatient or outpatient programs teach you about how addiction, mental health, and your environment influence your behavior. The goal of substance addiction treatment is to guide you towards a sober life. You will face challenges to your sobriety, even relapse. Throughout each step towards attaining and maintaining your sobriety, you need to take responsibility for your actions. Regardless of whether your substance use disorder stems from genetics or environment, you have the power to admit you made a mistake by using substances and seek help. Monte Cristo believes you create your destiny by how you react to mental and physical challenges. Our low-cost detox treatment program rids your body of the toxins freeing you to work towards sobriety. To learn more about detox and how it can help you, call (714) 824-9896.