Neither drug addiction or alcohol addiction discriminates based on gender or socioeconomic status. However, people from different backgrounds do turn to substance use for distinct reasons. What drives men and women to abuse drugs or alcohol is incredibly different, and the most effective treatment center should target your specific needs. It’s also true that people from contrasting socioeconomic positions in society develop substance abuse disorders for varying reasons.
Executive drug rehab for men targets the most successful professionals and executives within society, whose demanding professional lives and high-pressure jobs can take a severe toll. Standard facilities often have less staff and more patients and may not be furnished with the type of amenities that you, as someone at the top of their field, are used to.
How to Prepare for Drug Detoxification
If you’ve chosen to begin rehab and start making the changes necessary to regain control over your life, you should be proud. It’s not an easy decision to make, especially if you’re struggling against the confines of addiction. This disease takes over your mind, and it becomes incredibly hard to prioritize anything else apart from your substance of choice. Not knowing what to expect can make the experience seem more daunting than necessary.
By gaining an understanding of what happens during your recovery journey at rehab and getting into the right mindset, you can prepare and minimize any fears or worries you might have.
What Is Detox?
Knowing what to expect and doing your research are the best ways to prepare yourself for detoxification treatment. The most important thing to realize about this initial process is that the focus is almost entirely physical. Your body is purged of the substance that has been causing you the problem, giving you a clear mind to work on the psychological grip of a substance use disorder.
When you detox at a rehab clinic, the focus of the doctors, nurses, therapists and support staff is on making the process as painless and safe as possible. Trying to do it alone can be dangerous, especially if you’ve been using opioids or benzodiazepines. Your body becomes dependent on having these drugs in its system, and managing these undesirable withdrawal symptoms in a residential setting is the most sensible option.
How Are Withdrawal Symptoms Managed?
There are several methods the staff deploys to help minimize withdrawal symptoms and promote a safe, peaceful recovery. In cases of opioids and some other drugs, you may be prescribed a medically assisted detox. Doctors administer non-narcotic doses of medication that help to ease you off the substance you’ve been using without causing a shock to the system. As you gradually taper off these medications, your body adapts to the changes more comfortably.
If you don’t require a medical detox, there are still plenty of activities and alternative treatments for you to take part in to relieve pain and promote relaxation. Some of these include:
- Group meetings
- Meditation, mindfulness and yoga
- Music and art therapy
- Massage
- Drinking electrolyte-enriched beverages
- Eating light, healthy meals
- Chiropractic treatments
- Acupuncture
Call the Clinic and Ask Any Questions You May Have
We strongly recommend that you compile a list of questions to ask the clinic in advance of starting your course of treatment. If there’s anything that concerns you or any preconceptions you want to find out more about, write it down. By speaking to the staff in advance, you’ll get insight into how caring and helpful they are. It also gives you the best chance of feeling secure by knowing exactly what to expect. Here are examples of some questions that may be worth asking:
- How long is the average detox?
- What items can I bring to the detox center?
- How will detox medication affect me?
- Can I speak to loved ones?
- Who works at the clinic?
- What does a typical day look like?
Positivity Is Key — Focus on the Future
A crucial piece of advice to keep in mind is that your attitude is everything. The entire recovery process goes much more smoothly if you embrace it with open arms and engage fully. While some aspects of recovery aren’t desirable, the benefits outweigh the negatives by a mile. Maintain a positive outlook and try to think of the bigger picture if you feel down. Remember, in rehab, there is always someone to talk to — make the most of it.
If you’re ready to get into a detox program, call our luxury rehab center in California at 866-986-2486.
Alcohol Detox Timeline
Alcohol use disorders affect each individual differently. They range from mild to severe and require specialized treatment that takes into account your unique background and circumstances. If you need alcohol to feel normal, it’s likely you’ve developed physical dependence. This isn’t the same as addiction, but the two go hand in hand. In case of dependency, you’ll need to go through a detoxification program to purge alcohol from your system and begin the recovery process.
What Is Detox?
It’s vital to understand that detoxification doesn’t cure alcoholism; it’s the necessary first step along the journey to recovery. Detox removes all traces of alcohol from your body, which puts your mind in a better place to receive treatment. The word itself refers to the natural process of your body, removing toxins and poisons, such as ethanol, that accumulate after the sustained use of alcohol.
Medication, medical supervision and group and individual counseling sessions are usually provided during this process, which lasts between 10 and 14 days.
Who Needs to Detox?
If you’ve frequently been drinking for a prolonged amount of time, stopping drinking suddenly can be dangerous. It causes a host of withdrawal symptoms that range in intensity from person to person. The longer you’ve been drinking, the more likely you are to experience adverse effects. In these cases, the best course of treatment is in a residential rehabilitation center with round-the-clock support from medical professionals.
The Detox Process
You go through this process in preparation for a more extended treatment program. In most cases, there are three stages to detox:
- When you check into the clinic, you’ll go through intake first. This usually involves a medical examination as well as an interview to determine your medical history and requirements. The doctor will do your blood work, discuss your drinking patterns and check your mental and physical health.
- Medication is often given to those with chronic alcohol use disorders. These pills mimic some of the effects of alcohol without making you inebriated to minimize withdrawal symptoms. They can also help to ease issues surrounding mental health and general discomfort.
- The third stage provides further treatment that helps you to address the causes of your illness and aims to teach you new coping mechanisms so you can rebuild your future.
Acute Withdrawal
These symptoms occur within 24 hours of your last drink. Most of them are significantly reduced by the medication administered during medical detox. Severe withdrawal symptoms can last between three days and several weeks and include:
- Hypertension
- Tremors
- Sweating
- Vomiting
- Sleep disturbances
- Nausea
- Convulsions
- Anxiety
Early Abstinence
This is the second phase of withdrawal and can last for several months as the brain resumes normal functioning. This stage also takes into account that your lifestyle and day-to-day habits will need to change significantly to overcome alcohol use disorder. Continuing with rehab after detox arms you with strategies to prevent the following symptoms from overwhelming you and tempting you to drink again:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Restlessness
- Sleep disturbances
- Diminished appetite
- Mood swings
- Sense of hopelessness
- Craving
What Are the Dangers of Detoxing Alone?
If you’ve been using alcohol for a prolonged amount of time, we wouldn’t recommend trying to quit cold turkey. Although rare, some serious medical consequences can arise when you go from drinking heavily to not drinking at all. These include:
- Seizures
- Pneumonia
- Heart arrhythmia
- Insomnia
- Migraines
- Kidney or liver dysfunction
- Intense cravings
- Hallucinations
If you’ve been using alcohol to the point that you’re unable to go without it, it’s time to seek help. You can speak to an expert from our luxury rehab center and find out more at 866-986-2486.