If you’re struggling with heroin addiction, quitting cold turkey can be a tempting option. You might be ready to make a change in your life, and giving up the drug on your own can seem like the right place to start. However, quitting cold turkey on your own can be dangerous. Reaching out to a heroin detox center can help you begin your journey to recovery with a strong foundation.
Quitting a Nervous System Depressant Can Be Painful
Is it possible to quit heroin cold turkey? When you use heroin, it first provides a rush of dopamine. After this wears off, it will numb your nervous system, which can keep you from feeling any pain. In fact, most people drift in and out of consciousness after they have had a dose.
This behavior is known as nodding. However, if you decide that you don’t want to use the drug any longer, quitting right away and cutting off your supply can result in an upset of your nervous system. While your central nervous system was suppressed by the drug, suddenly, you feel everything.
This can create some misfiring. As a result, you experience pain, such as muscle cramps and abdominal discomfort. Gastrointestinal upset is another part of the experience. For some, these withdrawal symptoms can be so uncomfortable that they relapse and use heroin again to feel relief.
For these reasons, going through detox with the support of a medical team in a detox center can be a safer, more effective option.
Medical Detox Is a Better Option
Enrolling in a high-quality drug alcohol detox program is a better option. You don’t have to quit heroin cold turkey and sweat it out at home by yourself. Rather, work with professionals who understand what you’re going through. Most importantly, they can assist you with the pain relief you need to stick with your plan.
Possible treatments that provide safety and comfort during the detox program include:
- Medication-assisted treatment that takes away the pain and minimizes withdrawal symptoms
- Massage therapy, which helps with muscle cramps and gives you the relaxation you need for good sleep
- Detox process group participation as a way of expressing your emotions, concerns, and goals
- One-on-one talk therapy, which empowers you to plan for lifelong recovery
- Addiction education as a tool for understanding why it’s a bad idea to quit heroin cold turkey
Your peers in recovery are an invaluable asset as you work to overcome addiction. With their help, you’ll realize that you’re not alone. Because of the communal aspect of the detox experience, you learn that recovery is often a group effort. In the process, you explore how to set healthy boundaries with others and express your wishes.
It’s fair to say that detox is so much more than quitting a physical addiction to heroin. It’s also a time for personal development and growth. Moreover, it’s the beginning of the rehab experience. The next step is overcoming the psychological dependency. Therapy and counseling are essential to help you understand the factors that may have led to substance abuse.
Going from Detox to Rehab at Serenity Light Recovery
Within about a week, you graduate from medical treatment. The detox period can be surprisingly brief. From there, it’s essential that you move on to clinical care right away. Failure to do so may result in relapse.
When you don’t want to quit heroin cold turkey, Serenity Light Recovery is here to help you. Our therapists are ready to help you make the change you’ve been thinking about. Call (281) 431-6700 now to schedule an appointment and begin your journey to recovery safely.
As our CEO, Heather’s main calling is to stay true to the vision of the organization, which is saving lives and striving to redefine statistics by raising the standard of care with evolving treatment methods. Heather studied psychology at LSU and both the main and Clear Lake campuses of the University of Houston, and she is a certified IASIS provider and CPI instructor. She’s been helping people in recovery since 2011. Heather’s motto to live by is “I am not what I’ve done; I am what I’ve overcome.”
