When you decide you’re ready to get sober, your first instinct might be to quit drinking or using right away. While this intention is admirable, stopping suddenly without professional help can be extremely dangerous. Abrupt withdrawal with no medical supervision is uncomfortable at best and life-threatening at worst. Here’s why medically managed detox is always better and safer than trying to go it alone.
Why Going Cold Turkey Is So Dangerous
Some people assume that spontaneously attempting to end their relationship with alcohol or drugs demonstrates their strength or determination. However, they may not realize the genuine risks involved in this approach.
Substance abuse profoundly changes your brain function – specifically, the regions responsible for governing how you experience rewards and pleasure. Over time, your brain will become dependent on drugs or alcohol to maintain balance. When you remove that source of equilibrium without tapering off or seeking medical assistance, your body will struggle to adjust – resulting in withdrawal.
Withdrawal Can Be Physically and Psychologically Devastating
Withdrawal symptoms will vary based on the substance you used, how long you used it and individual health factors like your age and weight, but they often include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe muscle aches and body pain
- Insomnia and fatigue
- Intense anxiety or depression
- Disorientation and confusion
- Profuse sweating and chills
- Shaking or tremors
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
In the worst cases, withdrawing from substances like alcohol, opioids or benzodiazepines can result in life-threatening complications.
Why Are Alcohol and Benzodiazepines So Risky to Quit Alone?
While detox from any substance can be difficult, alcohol and benzodiazepines are particularly dangerous to quit without medical help. People who stop drinking cold turkey may experience delirium tremens – a severe condition marked by confusion, seizures, dangerously high blood pressure and even death if left untreated.
Similarly, quitting benzodiazepines like Xanax or Valium without tapering can lead to prolonged withdrawal, intense anxiety, hallucinations and seizures. These symptoms aren’t merely unpleasant – they’re medical emergencies necessitating professional attention.
At-Home Detox Often Leads to Relapse
Even if your symptoms don’t escalate to a full-fledged crisis, trying to endure withdrawal alone at home can quickly become overwhelming. Many people relapse – not because they lack willpower, but because the physical and psychological distress becomes too much to bear. In a moment of desperation, returning to substance use may feel like the only way to stop suffering.
This cycle of quitting and relapsing delays recovery and increases your risk of overdose, especially if your tolerance is lower after a period of abstinence.
Safe, Effective Medically Supervised Detox
Hope by the Sea offers compassionate, professional detox services to give you the strongest possible start for your recovery. Our clinical team will monitor your vital signs, ease cravings and keep you as comfortable as possible during this crucial first phase.
Benefits of medical detox include:
- 24/7 supervision to prevent complications
- Counseling from trained addiction specialists to help you deal with the emotional effects of getting sober
- A structured, substance-free environment
- A seamless transition into a residential treatment program once you are stable
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Hope by the Sea often works with people who thought they could handle detox on their own. Quitting cold turkey may seem like the quickest path to recovery, but it can easily cause additional complications.
Recovery doesn’t happen in isolation. It requires asking for help and equipping yourself with the tools you need to achieve long-term sobriety. Contact us today to learn more about our continuum of detox and addiction treatment programs.
