Rehab or Detox: What Addiction Treatment Is Best for You?

Getting help for your addiction is an honorable step. Any move toward quitting a harmful substance is wise, but when you seek professional treatment, the results are more likely to be permanent.

The main types of professional addiction treatment are rehab facilities and detox centers. These can be inpatient or outpatient. The type that’s best for you depends on your needs. In this short blog, we’ll explain what each is and whether you should look for a rehab or drug detox center near you.

The Importance of Holistic Help

When you think of the term “holistic medicine,” what does the image conjure up for you? While some people consider this a conservative approach to medical treatment, the actual term refers to an attitude to healthcare that considers a person’s entire wellness.

Treatments to help you recover best from substance abuse don’t just focus on the physical withdrawal symptoms. Your long-term recovery prognosis is optimal when you include your psychological, emotional, spiritual, and social needs.

Yet, detoxing from a substance can make it extremely difficult to think about anything other than your physical needs. Before you move into the holistic treatment portion of your therapy, you may need a detox center to help you prepare for this essential step.

Detox: Preparing the Mind and Body to Recover

When you quit any substance, the toxins remain in your body for around ten days. While they’re still in your system, there’s a physical craving for more that can be painful. A detox center works with you through programs that last 3-10 days. During this time, you’ll go through different activities that work to eliminate toxins from your body quickly and work through uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms as they arise.

This period at a detox center is a crucial part of preparing your mind and body for recovery. Withdrawal stages bring stress and anxiety. Your immune system can weaken as your body fights off toxins, and you can act impulsively, returning to substances to get rid of those painful feelings and cravings. While you’re in the detox program, you’ll have professionals helping you manage your withdrawal symptoms and control the cravings.

Detox centers teach you how to take control of your body back from the substances. Once your mind and body have overcome any drugs or alcohol, you have an excellent shot at staying sober.

Bear in mind that you should never detox “cold turkey.” Withdrawal is extremely hard on your body, and going cold turkey can be dangerous to your heart, liver, and lungs. While under medical supervision, your team of professionals will support you through this stage.

Rehab: Giving You the Best Possible Chance of Permanent Recovery

If you’ve already gone through the withdrawal stage, rehab is the next step in your recovery. The holistic treatment of most successful rehabilitative methods includes detox and rehab, as each one serves a vital but different purpose.

During the rehab stage, your program includes treatment for your physical, mental, and behavioral processes. You’ll learn how to blend the three together to take control of your life. Without the support of professionals, it’s more likely that you’ll relapse.

The health of your body is the focus during detox, but for the rest of your life, you’ll need a strong mental foundation to develop and sustain new, healthy habits. Building and enforcing any new habit takes months. You can expect your rehab program to last 30-90 days, and further treatment for severe substance abuse can extend to 120 days.

This period of treatment includes individual counseling, group and family therapy, mindfulness techniques, peer support groups, and therapy to develop strategies for various obstacles.