Detoxification from addictive or harmful substances essentially means going through a controlled withdrawal to completely rid the body of said substances. The safest approach to detoxing is through medical detoxification, where the patient is under medical supervision the entire time and is provided any controlled medication or assistance throughout the process to minimize the withdrawal symptoms as much as possible. As the symptoms of withdrawal are the initial worries when one is experiencing detoxification from addictive substances, there are distinct medical detox centers aimed for helping individuals detox with the support, both medically and emotionally, that they may need for this process to ensure their health and safety. Many people who attempt to detox independently or without any controlled medication are much more likely to relapse or experience severe symptoms, and the negative experience associated with detoxing and withdrawal can make it much more difficult to wish to endure again.

The four steps that are involved in addiction recovery include initiating treatment, early abstinence, maintaining abstinence, and advanced recovery. Initiating treatment entails when you first seek out help for your addiction, whether your seeking out the help was voluntary or required. This is when professional treatment starts. Early abstinence is also known as the toughest stage to get through since it involves stopping substance usage, which often leads to withdrawal symptoms and comes with many different triggers. This is one of the first things you will need to do in order to continue with treatment, but with medical supervision and support, this process can become much safer and easier. The abstinence maintenance step arrives after 90 days of being sober. This step is primarily concerned with preventing relapse and assisting you in learning how to maintain your new sober lifestyle once you have been discharged from the treatment center. The final step, advanced recovery, does not occur until you have been sober for 5 years. You are now using the tools and coping mechanisms that you learned at the center and know how to implement them properly into your personal life to maintain sobriety. Reaching this final step does not mean that your recovery is over, it just means that you are back to living a healthy and sober life, while most likely still attending meetings and/or going to therapy to ensure that you are able to live your best life.

Everyone’s individual route to addiction is different and can be influenced by many different factors and decisions. Addiction is hereditary, so those who have had parents or other family members who have struggled with substance abuse may be more likely to follow suit. Other factors can influence whether you develop an addiction, including experiencing physical or sexual abuse, being exposed to alcohol or drugs at a young age, pressure from friends or family to use, chronic stress, and parental guidance.

Detoxification therapy is a medically supervised detoxification process that allows for a much safer means of ridding the body of the harmful substances to which one has developed an addiction. It is recommended that they do it in a detox center or at home with the assistance of a medical professional throughout the entire process. Controlled medication is frequently used to ensure that the patient is not coming off of the substances too quickly, as that can lead to severe symptoms of withdrawal, so the physician or medical professional team that is caring for the patient will have a plan in place to know what kind and how much medication they are able to provide.

Detox removes drugs and alcohol from your body, allowing you to begin your addiction recovery. Visit Psychiatry Unplugged for fast recovery. We have convenient locations to serve you in Los Angeles CA, and Glendale CA. For more information, call now or request an appointment online. We serve patients from Los Angeles CA, Glendale CA, Beverly Hills CA, Santa Monica CA, Hollywood CA, Burbank CA, Pasadena CA, and surrounding areas.