5 Essential Tips for Coping with Detox Symptoms
1. Talk About It.
Detox can be one of the most difficult times in a person’s life, even with the use of medication to minimize withdrawal symptoms. If you are going through it alone, it will be even harder. Talk to your friends, family, and loved ones about what you are going through and how you’re feeling. If you keep it all bottled up, it can be even harder and you may be more likely to relapse.
2. Remember to Attend Therapy Too.

It is crucial to attend therapy during drug detox.
According to the NIDA, “Detoxification is the process of allowing the body to rid itself of a drug while managing the symptoms of withdrawal.” While the withdrawal symptoms alone can be difficult and the medication you will be on will likely have symptoms of its own, it is important to remember to attend therapy as well which many detox programs will offer.
Therapy can help you through the difficult time of detox and also prepare you for drug addiction treatment, which is often necessary for those in detox. If you are addicted to a drug and not just dependent on it, you must attend therapy. “Detox alone with no follow-up is not treatment” for addiction.
3. Get Plenty of Rest.
According to the NLM, “When the person stops taking the drugs, the body needs time to recover, and withdrawal symptoms result.” Remind yourself that the reason you’re going through these symptoms of withdrawal is because your body is trying to recover from your drug abuse. This means that you need to help it as much as possible, and resting is one of the best things you can do.
In the case of cocaine, opioid, marijuana, or some other types of drug detox, you may be struggling with sleep disturbances. Just making sure to close your eyes and rest in a dark room for a while is necessary. And if you are worried that you may need help or reassurance during this time, ask a friend to stay with you for a week or so.
4. Reduce Your Stress Level.
Many people decide to attend inpatient detox because it helps them get away from the stresses of their life for a certain amount of time. Especially if they are dealing with intense symptoms, this can be extremely important. Make sure that, even if you are attending outpatient detox, you reduce your stress level. Cut your workload, discuss what’s going on with your teachers or boss, and essentially treat yourself as if you’re getting over a particularly bad illness. In a way, you are.
5. Communicate with Your Detox Caregivers.
Absolutely communicate with those individuals who are taking care of you, whether they are the nurses at your detox facility or the counselors in your drug treatment program. If you are honest, it may make your detox much easier to get through. For example, you may be on a dosage of medication that is not working well enough and need a higher amount. If you’re honest with your caregivers about what you are feeling, your treatment can be adjusted to help you cope more easily.

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