Do not dissuade yourself from quitting drinking or drug taking because of misconceptions. Detoxing from addiction could be the best gift you ever give yourself.
Do you think you can not break free of alcohol or drug addiction? These common myths might be holding you back. We tackled as many detox myths as we could in one place.
If you have heard certain rumours or misconceptions, you might not want to quit drinking or using cocaine, cannabis, heroin, or other drugs.
So, if you are put off by rehab centres, scared to go solo, or do not think you are strong enough to quit drinking – we are here to help. Browse this article and help gain peace of mind. Rehab is not as terrifying as you think it is - detox is the hardest part. Get help to break free and start living your best life.
Myth #1: You Can Go “Cold Turkey” Whenever You Want
If you are the type of alcohol or drug user who tells yourself you can ‘just stop’ whenever you want to, you already know you are lying to yourself.
The cold turkey method is not always safe, so it should not be your go-to resource to quit drinking or using drugs.
Chances are, you don’t know how long it takes to fully detox from alcohol. You may be unaware of the alcohol withdrawal symptoms here in the UK. You may not know that if you’re a heavy drinker, going cold turkey has the potential to cause DTs and cardiac arrest.
You absolutely should not go cold turkey on your own. We recommend you call and talk to our advisors if you are even considering it. If you have a mild addiction, one of our home detox kits might help. However, if you have severe dependence, a medically supervised detox may be the best choice for you. Let us find the right plan for you and your addiction.
Myth #2: You Can Detox Your Body Overnight if You Eat and Drink the Right Things
We often hear clients claim that drinking lots of water helped them get through detox faster. We even see rehab programme after rehab programme providing dietary conditioning as part of the recovery process.
Nutrition and good health go hand-in-hand, so we would never discourage a healthier diet and plenty of water throughout detox. When detoxing from drugs or alcohol, you should consider your diet and exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle and support the recovery process. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables for a balanced diet, and steer clear of heavily processed foods.
However, know that ‘detox diets’ are not a solution. Detoxing requires hard work and in most cases, medical support.
Drinking organic pressed raspberry juice from Guatemala should not be on your recovery plan… unless it is a self-care or weight-loss thing!
Myth #3: You Need to Buy Special Products to Detox
The body will detox itself, is what we are trying to say here. You do not need special clays or masks or minerals. All you need is to stay free of alcohol or drugs for long enough for your body to readjust to how it ran before all that.
Once you are through this tough period, things will gradually ease off. It takes time, but it does not take a special cleanser from the mountains to do it. That being said, you may benefit from detox medication - certain medications can help to ease the withdrawal symptoms and streamline the process.
Myth #4: Rehab is Only for Rich People
We hear two versions of this myth often in the rehab world. One is that you don’t get rehab for alcoholism in the UK, and the other is that it is only rich people can afford it.
This is NOT the case - rehab is available to anyone with an addiction. There are lots of UK-based rehab clinics ready to help you beat drugs or alcohol. The range of clinics available to you goes from budget-friendly and NHS-part-funded, right up to high-end luxury rehab clinics with all the trimmings. Whatever your price points, there is a rehab centre that will help you.
Myth #5: You Have to Detox in a Hospital
You do not have to detox from drugs or alcohol in a hospital environment. There are now options for detox at home, although if you’re eligible, you must adhere to strict guidelines. If you are anything other than a mild drinker who does not drink every day to excess, then you may not be suitable for it.
If you are not suitable for a home detox, which is ideally suited to alcohol use and not drug abuse, then you still have options outside of the hospital. You can choose to detox at a specific detox centre, or you can go through the detox process at the beginning of your rehab programme. UK rehab clinics often have a detox centre included, to make your recovery as easy as possible.
Before You Leave…
At Help4Addiction, we are a detox and rehab clinic selection service. If you find you need extra help deciding on what to do to quit drinking, drug taking, or even gambling, we are the agency for you.
Contact us at 0203 955 7700 to speak with our advisors. We can inform you of all your options because usually, you have more escape routes out of alcoholism available to you than you think you do. Give us a call, we can teach you how to stop drinking alcohol in the UK in a way that is easiest for you.
