Have you decided to quit your alcohol or drug addiction for good? If yes, that’s an excellent idea, especially if you’ve been addicted for quite some time. And it’s about time you start working on flushing out the toxic chemicals from your body. However, this isn’t an easy feat to accomplish. After all, your body might have become dependent on the substance you’ve been abusing for such a long time. And not consuming your daily dose won’t allow your mind and body to function correctly.
Hence, to aid recovery and help you get rid of harmful substances from your body, listed below are a few things you can try.
Check into a recovery or detox center
Going cold turkey when trying to quit alcohol or drugs won’t be a safe approach at all, especially if you’re doing it at home. In fact, alcohol or drug withdrawal symptoms will be difficult to manage on your own. After all, some drugs such as opioids and heroin lead to more severe side effects than other substances. Moreover, quitting alcohol will put you at risk of seizures when trying to flush the last ounce from your body. So, it is crucial to search for an excellent detox or recovery center to get professional help. Addicts in Florida can check into The Palm Beach Institute, whereas others can perform a quick near-me search on Google to locate good options. Signing up for rehab will ensure the detox process goes as smoothly as possible. These detox or recovery centers have trained staff that will help and support you 24/7. Moreover, you’ll also receive supplemental medicine and CBT to cope with withdrawal symptoms.
Follow a nutritious diet
Drug or alcohol withdrawal will eventually lead to a disturbed digestive system. For example, you might feel nauseous and experience diarrhea or vomiting due to a thrown-off digestive system when you quit. However, to counter this, it would be wise to eat healthy foods during the detoxification process. After all, your body requires nutrients to keep with the detox process, especially niacin and Vitamin C.
Ensure you’re getting your daily dose of fruits and vegetables. That said, don’t also forget to eat food containing proteins such as legumes, lean meat, and fish. Furthermore, chicken soup is a perfect supplemental food type that will aid with flushing drugs or alcohol from your body.
Drink plenty of water every day
Water is a natural drink that allows you to flush out drugs, alcohol, and other harmful chemicals from your body a lot faster. After all, plenty of fluids are required to help your liver push out toxins more quickly. Plus, as mentioned above, detoxification might lead to vomiting and diarrhea, so you have to replenish the fluids and electrolytes you’ve lost by drinking lots of water every day.
Furthermore, detoxification can also result in a runny nose, severe sweating, or fever. So, drinking cold water will help lower your body’s temperature as well. However, you can also drink fruit juices, coffee, and sugar-free juices to rehydrate your body. But, as a general rule, drink at least 12 cups or 100 ounces of water to remain adequately hydrated during the detox process.
Keep your body moving
During drug or alcohol detox, you might eventually feel like curling up in a dark corner and crying your lungs out. After all, it will be a challenging process. However, you can push past this pain and suffering and overcome your demons eventually. That said, low-intensity, regular exercise will make the process a little easier for you. When you exercise, your body will release dopamine and substitute the need to crave drugs. So, ensure you’re getting your daily dose of physical activity every day.
Go for a moderate hike or a walk. There is a high chance that your detox center might have a pool. If it does, swim a few laps. Moreover, if you feel cravings are about to kick in again, play a friendly game of kickball or basketball. In the end, keeping yourself distracted through exercise and other forms of physical activity keeps you away from wallowing and indulging in bad habits.
Do some breathing exercises
If you’re not a gym person, breathing exercises are an excellent alternative. When you inhale deeply, your lungs will relax and suppress your nerves. So you can say that with every exhale, you will be breathing out toxins and stress from your mind and body. Furthermore, inhaling allows more oxygen to enter your lungs and cells, boosting the detox process even more.
That said, start by finding someplace comfortable to practice deep breathing. Then, close your eyes and clear your head. After that, take a long, deep breath through your nose and hold it in for at least five seconds. Then, finally, exhale slowly for at least six seconds. Practice this breathing exercise for 10 minutes to ensure it is effective. You can also do it before going to sleep.
Don’t be afraid to lean on your support system
Despite the stigma around drug and alcohol abuse, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. So, it is vital to lean on your support system, be it rehab or detox center. With that in mind, don’t push away staff when they try to console you. After all, these clinicians, psychologists, doctors, and nurses want what is best for you. They are, in fact, here to have a non-judgmental, friendly chat with you.
Furthermore, don’t forget to ask for help from your loved ones, such as friends and family members. They also want to see you get better and back to normal. Share your progress with your best friend, spouse, or siblings. They will always support you and help you get through the alcohol or drug detox process. And while you’re at it, get rid of enablers from your life – for good!
Conclusion
Drug and alcohol abuse will harm your body in various unimaginable ways. So, it is crucial to rid yourself of addiction as soon as possible. Otherwise, you risk putting your body in harm’s way. And the more you delay the process, the harder it will be to get back to normal. So, whether you want to get well for your loved ones or you want to quit drugs or alcohol to improve your health, consider following the tips mentioned above.
