The Battle Between Recovery and Detox in Addiction
Conflating detox with recovery has unfortunately cost many addicts their lives, so it’s crucial to understand the difference to achieve lasting recovery. Detox can occur without recovery, but recovery can’t happen without detox.
Detox is often feared the most on the recovery journey, but the real challenge lies in the recovery process, which is ultimately the most rewarding if you put in the effort to change.
**Abstinence, Addiction, and Dependency**
According to the DSM-V, the manual used by psychiatrists, there is a distinction between dependency and substance use disorder.
– **Dependency**: This happens when your body starts tolerating a drug, meaning you need more of it to get the same effect. If you stop the substance, you’ll experience withdrawal.
– **Substance Use Disorder**: This is when your behavior changes due to dependency.
**Understanding Substance Use Disorder**
To overcome dependency, a medically supervised detox program is necessary. But conquering a substance use disorder requires addressing behaviors and motivations beyond just managing physical symptoms. The DSM-V criteria for substance use disorder include:
– Recurrent legal issues because of substance use
– Cravings for the substance
– Loss of control over usage
– Failing to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home
– Cutting back on social and career activities
– Continuing use despite psychological and physical problems
– Developing tolerance and experiencing withdrawal
To overcome addiction, it’s essential to understand and change these behaviors and motivations. Abstinence and behavioral change are necessary beyond the initial detox period.
**Understanding Detox Today**
Detox varies greatly based on the substances used, the doses, and the duration of addiction. No two detox experiences are the same, even for those using the same substances. Detox generally starts with a health assessment to determine how well your body can handle medication that might ease the detox process. This includes checking for kidney and liver damage and other medical issues related to the substance used.
Based on your health and substance use, a doctor might prescribe medication to help reduce detox symptoms. Detox timelines differ based on the drugs; while the initial days are the hardest, full recovery can take up to a year or more. Psychological symptoms like depression, apathy, and anxiety are common during withdrawal, and caregivers will oversee your mental health.
During detox, it’s important to work on the behavioral aspects of your addiction. The process varies for each person, so being honest about your behaviors and feelings is essential for your recovery.
**The Best Part of the Journey**
For many, addiction stems from an inability to handle emotions. Substances are often used to numb feelings or cope with daily life. Recovery helps you become more comfortable with your emotions and life’s challenges, leading to a more fulfilling experience.
Learning to be present enhances your appreciation of the world, and developing healthier relationships with friends and family is often the most rewarding part of recovery. Many addicts fear intimacy, but recovery can help you understand that being honest about who you are can still lead to being loved. The lonelier days of your life will be behind you.
