Is Drug and Alcohol Rehab Really Better than Quitting Cold Turkey?

Admitting to yourself that you have a drug or alcohol problem is the first step toward liberation from a dangerous and unhealthy lifestyle. If you are like most people afflicted with a substance abuse disorder, you probably went through some tough times that led you to this conclusion. Now that you realize that you have this problem, you are probably wondering what the next step is to arrest your addiction for good. Perhaps you have heard about drug and alcohol rehabs and are questioning if they are necessary or whether you can stop cold turkey by yourself without any assistance.

Usually, when you reach the point where you recognize the severity of your problem with drugs and alcohol, your situation has become untenable. Recovery from substance abuse is a significant undertaking, and you should leverage all available options towards a successful outcome. While some addicts and alcoholics can stop cold turkey, they are the exception, and most require some help professionally to recover from addiction.

Below are some reasons why utilizing the services of a drug and alcohol rehab is a better idea than quitting cold turkey by yourself.

Rehabs Manage Your Withdrawal Symptoms.

Depending on your drug of choice, you could experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms that make quitting extremely difficult by yourself. Often, when a chemically dependent person begins to encounter the effects of withdrawal, they feel so horrible physically and mentally that they are compelled to use again. Also, abruptly quitting some substances can be life-threatening. Immediate cessation of alcohol or benzodiazepines, for example, can result in grand mal seizures, even after days of sobriety.

Conversely, drug and alcohol rehabs specialize in addressing withdrawal symptoms medically, so that the patient is safe and does not go through the horrible discomfort that they would when quitting cold turkey. Doctors in treatment facilities prescribe medications for a detoxification protocol, and these meds differ according to your drug of choice. Nurses monitor your vital signs on a regular schedule and adjust medications accordingly with the oversight of the physician. The goal is to prepare you physically and mentally for the remainder of your treatment.

Rehabs Teach the Skills to Stay Sober for the Rest of Your Life.

If recovery from drugs and alcohol were easy, then every addict and alcoholic would be sober. Just like any other job that you are unfamiliar with, there are instructions to follow for a favorable result. In a drug and alcohol rehab, you will learn life skills that will help you to stay sober from trained professionals that specialize in addiction. If you were to try and stop using by yourself, you would not receive any instructions on how to stay sober, and, at this point, you probably realize that your ideas in this regard have proved futile.

Rehab also gives you the opportunity to interact with other addicts and alcoholics that are in the same position. There is a comfort in spending time with others that understand what you are going through and can relate to your struggle. Sharing your experience with others and listening to theirs is particularly therapeutic and lightens the load of your concerns. Trying to quit cold turkey is frightening because no one can empathize with your position. Addiction is a disease of loneliness, so trying to tackle it by yourself does not make sense.

Rehabs Give You the Time that You Need for Your Brain and Body to Heal.

Substance abuse wreaks havoc on the organs of your body, and your brain. Neurotransmitters, synapses, and other components of cerebral functionality are all adversely affected by addiction. Your liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs might also have issues to address. Drug and alcohol rehabs specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of addiction-related illness. Anxiety and depression are common conditions reported by recovering addicts, and staff mental health professionals can treat the symptoms. Ailments, such as liver disease, are subject to monitoring and medical care.

Also, the time spent in a drug and alcohol rehab is a critical reprieve from the stresses and agitations of your everyday life, many of which contribute to your addictive behavior. This time of healing is vital for the personal reflection and soul-searching that is so essential at this juncture of your life. Trying to manage your stressful daily affairs is exceptionally challenging, to begin with, let alone while you are trying to get sober. You need to take a break and allow people to help you because trying to manage your life under these circumstances is not working.

Now, it is not impossible to quit drugs and alcohol cold turkey, and people have done it before. The problem with this approach is that the odds are stacked heavily against you. Will power alone does not work against chemical dependency, and thousands of addicts have found this out the hard way. We can help you to win the battle with your addiction.