If you have a drinking or drug problem, admitting that truth to yourself and others is the first step in changing your life for the better. The next is deciding to quit. However, achieving and maintaining sustained sobriety is a challenge you shouldn’t face alone, especially in the earliest stages of the process. You need to plan for your unique needs, including how to manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Why Might You Experience Withdrawal?
Withdrawal is the first obstacle many people encounter when they try to stop using their substance of choice. This array of uncomfortable symptoms can be physical and psychological, and may be severe, depending on factors like what substances you’ve been abusing and how long you’ve relied on them. You’re likely to experience withdrawal if the disease of addiction has changed your brain to such an extent that it can’t achieve equilibrium in the absence of alcohol or drugs.
For some people, withdrawal can be severe enough to become dangerous, causing issues like seizures, nausea and hallucinations. If this is the case for you, your first week of sobriety should include medically supervised detoxification, where health care professionals will carefully monitor your condition 24/7 and keep you as comfortable as possible until your body and brain are clear of all intoxicants. Once you are stable, you can move into the next phase of your treatment.
What If You Don’t Need Detox?
Even if you do not need medical detoxification, you can still benefit from enrolling in inpatient treatment for the first stages of your recovery journey. At Hemet Valley Recovery Center and Sage Retreat, we offer all the comforts of home, with additional support provided by trained addiction professionals.
Being in an inpatient treatment facility is ideal for many recovering addicts because of the supervision and structure it provides. It removes many of the typical cues to drink or use drugs by taking you outside your familiar environment and introducing you to new routines. This approach can help you take your first week of sobriety and beyond one step at a time, instead of trying to rush through the process.
How to Experience a Smooth First Week of Sobriety
Your first week of sobriety can be tricky as you learn to navigate your life without the crutch of alcohol and drugs – especially if you’ve built specific habits around drinking and using. Participating in an accredited rehab program can give you the tools you need to replace self-destructive behavior with healthy coping mechanisms and achieve a better quality of life. Services like group and individual therapy, educational workshops and opportunities to socialize can show you how to thrive in your new substance-free lifestyle.
HVRC offers a complete continuum of care, from medically supervised detox to sober living. We provide clinically sophisticated treatment specifically designed for young adults, older adults and everyone in between. If you need help getting sober and are looking for a place where you can get all the services you need in one facility, reach out to our admissions staff today.
