For those struggling with weight loss or addiction, a pill that could cure drug dependency overnight or magically melt 100 pounds away seems like the goal: an impossible, yet endlessly desirable gift. Our bodies, however, have the right idea. Going through the difficult and taxing work of detox and then the long, grueling journey of rehabilitation is not one that seems fun or enjoyable, but it is the most reliable and most effective route for getting clean. No matter how appealing that kind of pill seems, it falls short of dealing with the deeper psychological and physiological issues that accompany addiction. Part of the pull of drug addiction is how easy the high truly is: one hit and your problems seem to melt away. Should getting clean be that simple or easy, falling back into addiction would be a simple and sure thing. You would have put no distance between yourself and your addiction, and you would certainly have none of the emotional tools necessary for long-term sobriety.
Emotional Benefits
Instead, working through detox and then a rehab program will not only help you work through the physical issues involved with addiction, but also with the underlying emotional issues. For most who face addiction issues, whether it is alcohol or drugs, there are often emotional issues that caused initial dependence on drugs or alcohol. Because the underlying emotional problems that cause addiction and drug dependency are far more powerful than the temporary physical desire to resume drug or alcohol use, seeing a therapist or counselor who can help you confront and work through these issues is of utmost importance. If you choose not to do so, you may successfully detox and begin physically living without drugs, but the risk that you will succumb to temptation is far higher. Working toward emotional health is one of the most productive steps you can take to move away from addiction.
Physical Benefits
You can certainly endure the painful process of detoxing by yourself, but it is a far more difficult challenge. It can also be dangerous to attempt this on your own without doctors and medical staff to watch over you. Entering a drug rehabilitation program and participating throughout the entire detox and rehab process is especially important in terms of dealing with the pain and fear that accompany detoxing. The constant support that rehab facilities provide is one of the most important resources available to you during the rehabilitation process. Your body becomes adjusted to, and dependent on, addiction. Each day that you choose to successfully live a healthier lifestyle, your body becomes accustomed to living without stimulants. An enormous benefit of completing a rehab program is the medical oversight involved. Straight detox can be dangerous, and having medical professionals supervise your progress is important in ensuring you get healthier. As you become less dependent on alcohol or drugs, health complications may arise, and close supervision can prevent those health problems from going unnoticed and untreated. Because your immune system is often substantially weakened by addiction, normal illnesses or conditions could affect you more seriously than they would otherwise. Focusing on the physical element of leaving addiction behind should not come at the price of your overall physical health.
Moving Forward
The most vital reason you need to work through the detox and rehabilitation process is that reaching a place where you are no longer emotionally or physically dependent on drugs or alcohol is hard work. Once your body is rid of the toxins, it is still a daily struggle to resist further drug or alcohol use. Taking a pill to magically alleviate the symptoms of drug addiction doesn’t put you in an emotionally stable place to deal with drug or alcohol-related challenges in the future. Rehab programs also help you build a lot of skills that you will need to adjust to sobriety and life in the community as a whole. In the years that you may have spent dependent on alcohol or drugs, you missed crucial time that could have been spent networking, learning how to manage your money, building financial responsibility, and building a work history. Rehab will help you develop all of the skills, and each of them is necessary to make sure that you can avoid relapses in the future. Those struggling with addiction issues who also struggle with financial issues and common everyday challenges are far more likely to return to a lifestyle that includes drugs or alcohol. It is a long and difficult journey, but the work involved in each day of your sobriety will pay off in the long run. Contact us at 844.875.5609.