Withdrawal symptoms are one of the hardest things to endure during the addiction recovery process. These unpleasant reactions to stopping alcohol or drugs set in from six hours after you stop taking your drug of choice.
You don’t need to drink or take drugs for years to suffer from withdrawals. Symptoms can set in after just seven to ten days of overindulgence.
If you want to get past this unpleasant phase of recovery, you need help to guide you through the five phases of detoxification. Find out what to expect at the outset in this phase 1 vs phase 2 detox guide.
What Is Phase 1 Detox?
The first stage in anyone’s recovery journey isn’t the most physically painful one, but it’s a roller coaster ride of emotions and uncertainty. The main aspect of phase 1 detox is admitting that you have a problem with alcohol or drugs.
As such, it’s often the longest phase of all. It’s challenging to admit that you’ve lost control of your behavior and reach out for the help you need.
You won’t experience any physical symptoms at this stage, but you’re likely to experience feelings of guilt, helplessness, and even relief. It’s vital to get professional help so that you can navigate step two safely without relapsing.
What Is Phase 2 Detox?
Alcohol and drugs affect your body on a neurological level. They stimulate dopamine production, which leads to feelings of happiness.
Over time, your body stops producing dopamine on its own. So, when you suddenly take these outside stimulants away, you’ll experience the opposite emotions, i.e. anxiety and depression.
Drugs and alcohol also act on parts of your body, like your liver and brain, which take time to adjust to the shortage of these stimulants or depressants, once you take them away.
Phase 2 detox refers to the onset of these physical adjustments.
Symptoms associated with drug and alcohol withdrawal include headache, nausea, and tremors. These can start within a few hours of your last dose, or much later, but you’ll typically start to feel the effects within 24 hours.
According to https://hoperisingrecovery.com/, everyone undergoes a unique experience during detox. That’s why it’s important to seek treatment from the moment you decide it’s time to quit.
Without assistance to manage and treat withdrawal symptoms, it’s easy to relapse. What’s more, withdrawing from alcohol and some drugs can pose serious health risks.
Phase 1 vs Phase 2 Detox Compared
Phase 1 and phase 2 detox are the most challenging phases of all when it comes to recovery.
After all, the process can’t start until you overcome the emotional difficulties of committing to recovery. If you don’t seek help during phase two, things can get a lot worse, fast, resulting in relapse or serious health consequences.
Preparing For Change
The secret to navigating all five phases of recovery is gathering the commitment and support you need to stay the distance, and it all happens during these vital first stages. When you understand the intricacies of phase 1 vs phase 2 detox, withdrawal symptoms won’t catch you off-guard. Reading articles like this, or researching more in-depth studies on addiction, may help you build up the courage to make the call and stick to it. Keep browsing our blog for more helpful health-related information.