For some people, an admission to detox will be part of the journey……..but what happens?? I went to a private rehab and didn’t go to a detox but a few years later I was working in one and did so for a couple of years. I met some amazing people and saw them make great progress. Some people came through multiple times, some only once. Some people lasted a few hours, some were there for a day, others for up to 28 days. People discharged for many reasons which I’ll go into shortly. Most detox’s are only 7 days but we ran a 28 day program and people could do anywhere from 7 – 28 days. It doesn’t matter how many times you go………..what matters is that you’re there trying.
Detox is a chance to get away from your usual routine and clean out your system in a safe environment. There’ll be staff there to support you and you’ll get medication to help you through the process if that’s what is needed. Not all substances will require medication as part of the withdrawal process. Most people coming in for alcohol will be given Valium for the first few days because of the risk of seizures associated with alcohol withdrawal and then come off it. It wouldn’t make much sense to go into detox for one substance and come out taking another one.
How it would be like in detox.
Depending on where you go you’ll either get a room to yourself or you may need to share a room. One of the hardest things about detox is the communal living aspect. We had up to 12 people at a time and living with others had moments of conflict for all sorts of reasons. There’s cleanliness, not doing the dishes properly, people not doing assigned jobs, what to watch on the TV, being around personalities that you wouldn’t usually be around…………but everyone is there for the purpose of withdrawing from a substance. Patience and tolerance are needed and that’s not easy when you’re withdrawing and have limited stocks in reserve.
There’ll be a timetable for the day. Usually up early enough for medication and breakfast with time for a shower before morning meeting. This is where you’ll go through a plan for the day and find out what’s on, assign tasks such as cooking or cleaning, and work through any issues that may have arisen. There’ll be therapeutic groups during the day with breaks in between…………think similar to a school timetable. Depending where you are there’ll be a roster for preparing lunch and dinner each day and some people aren’t that strong with cooking skills so can need some extra support. Groups can be anything from art, relapse prevention, emotion regulation, communication, sleep hygiene, physical activities, conflict resolution, and much more. You’ll be expected to attend all groups and this can be hard when you’re tired and withdrawing. What’s trying to be achieved though is to help you establish a routine which is important when you leave and go home.
Something to keep in mind
Most detox’s are non-smoking and in all honesty I think it’s what contributes to a lot of early discharges. Nicotine withdrawal is really tough, it’s well documented that nicotine is highly addictive and one of the hardest drugs to withdraw from. Most people aren’t prepared for it and while you’ll get nicotine replacement such as patches, lozenges, etc it’ll still be hard. There’s a high chance you’ll already be irritable and emotional, feeling sick depending on the level of drug or alcohol withdrawal you’re going through, tired, anxious, stressed, scared, embarrassed, feeling guilt or shame, and much more.
What’s important to remember is that it’s a safe and supported environment. If you can talk to the staff about what you’re feeling it’ll be easier. People miss friends, family, kids, pets and that has an emotional toll. 7 days really isn’t long in the grand scheme of things but it can be too much for some people. Maybe you do end up self discharging before your 7 days are up but at least you’ll know what to expect next time if you’ve never been before. Staff will ensure a safe environment for everyone and aggression will not be tolerated and can result in being discharged.
Some people use detox to get a break from their substance use. Some are doing it as a requirement of their admission to rehab. Public rehabs will usually always require you to go straight from detox to your rehab admission.
What I loved watching the most through people’s admission was their progress. To see how sick some people were on day one to walking out there a week later with colour in their cheeks, eating 3 meals a day, energy returned, a smile on their face, and feeling like they can work towards their goals.
If you have any experiences you’d care to share about detox to help others who might not have been and are wondering what it’s like, please do so here. I’d just ask that this thread isn’t used as a name and shame if you’ve had a negative experience. If your experience was negative then please share it but just don’t name the facility.
I hope this has been helpful. It’s a pretty brief overview and if you have any questions please tag one either me or @scorpionPW and we’ll be happy to answer.
Adding an edit………..
As I said at the start, detox is a safe and supported space to help you get through the tough early days of withdrawal. It’s hard to do at home because it’s much easier to succumb to temptation and access your substance. How many times have you said to yourself “Just once more and that’s it” or “After today I’m not doing this again” or something along those lines only to find yourself still doing it days and weeks later? Detox isn’t easy, but it’s a break from your regular environment which is what a lot of people need.
It’s only 7 days……….use it to help get you in a space where you can better work with your GP, Psych, Drug and Alcohol Counsellor, Friends, Family or whoever else is helping you along the journey. Detox isn’t a magic bullet. You are still going to want to use because that’s what addiction does. Use detox as an opportunity to get your mind, body, and spirit to a place where you can have a clear head and make better decisions about moving forwards. You still need the support of others to help you create a life without substances and that takes time, energy, and a fair bit of trial and error. Be patient and if you need to do another detox at some stage then that’s cool. Get onto it quick before things spiral out of control. It doesn’t matter how many times you go to detox………..the quicker you get back there the better off you’ll be. Look for the lessons from each lapse or relapse so that you can try not to repeat the same mistakes.
There’s a saying that “The world record for abstinence is 24 hours” because all you gotta do is get through today and get your head safely on the pillow at night without using. No matter what else has happened that day, it’s been a great day if you haven’t used. Do that “A day at a time” and you’re on the way to a much better space. A residential detox will help with this.
Detox………….not easy………….but worth it.
