One of the most difficult parts of getting sober if you’re battling a substance use disorder is detoxification. Drinking orange juice is an easy way to alleviate some of the symptoms of withdrawal during detox. At Promises, we offer addiction treatment services to help you recover. Learn more by calling 844.875.5609.
Withdrawal and Orange Juice: Understanding the Process
When you become dependent on drugs or alcohol, your body forgets how to function on its own. Addictive substances create structural changes to the brain and cause hormonal and chemical imbalances that affect all of your body’s typical functions. If you stop using drugs or alcohol, it’s understandable that your body struggles to readjust.
That struggle is what causes withdrawal symptoms. These can vary in type as well as in severity depending on the substance you have an addiction to, but the most common withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Fever
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Tremors
- Changes in blood pressure
- Appetite fluctuations
Many of the withdrawal symptoms can cause a serious loss of liquids, putting you in danger of dehydration. That’s why withdrawal and orange juice go hand-in-hand.
Orange juice keeps you hydrated while also providing sugar, which your body will likely ask you for as you detox. Instead of turning to sweets, which can make nausea and other symptoms worse, drinking orange juice will give you that boost of sugar quickly and easily.
Orange juice contains ascorbic acid (vitamin C), which helps make some of the symptoms less potent, especially for people going through opioid withdrawal. Clinical trials have shown it can help with pain as well. For many people, continuing to take ascorbic acid even after finishing the withdrawal process helps them manage cravings.
Ascorbic acid is found throughout the central nervous system, where it can help with inflammation and even stress adaptation, according to research published in the journal Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal.
Not only can orange juice provide ascorbic acid, but it does so with a high water content to let you get the fluids you need. That’s why it’s a valuable tool to turn to throughout the withdrawal process.
Going Through the Detox Process Safely
You don’t have to go through these powerful withdrawal symptoms on your own. It’s dangerous to try to detox alone, especially if you have an alcohol or opioid addiction, which is why turning to medical detox services is essential.
Medical detox allows you to receive close monitoring from medical experts so that you remain safe and comfortable throughout the process. During medical detox, you receive medications that treat your exact symptoms and that help prevent the kind of cravings that can lead to relapsing.
Once you complete the detox process, you can start diving into the underlying cause of the addiction by attending therapy sessions, both in groups and individually.
Some people benefit from inpatient detox services, while others can’t take the time away from work or family responsibilities and do better with outpatient services. Finding the best option for your unique circumstances can help you stay engaged with your recovery.
Beginning Addiction Treatment at Promises
If you’ve decided to get sober, we’re here to help. With a team of experts ready to assist you in understanding the root cause of the addiction and with treatment programs that can be personalized to your unique needs, we offer options that promote long-term recovery.
From inpatient services that offer intensive levels of care to a variety of outpatient options that allow you to stay in your life while still getting help, we can guide you through the entire recovery process.
Start your journey back to a sober you by turning to us. Contact Promises today by calling 844.875.5609.