What to Expect When a Loved One Is in Addiction Detox

Your family member has finally taken that step toward recovery from addiction and checked into a substance abuse detox center. You may be wondering what to expect when a loved one is in addiction detox. There are bound to be a lot of questions that you may not get answers to right away.

What to Expect

During this early stage of your loved one’s recovery, you may feel shut out. This won’t last. In the first days of detox, your loved one needs to concentrate solely on what is going on. Removing harmful drugs from the body can be an uncomfortable and painful experience. In some cases, it is compared to a bad flu.

You most likely won’t be able to see or talk with them at first. This is to give them a chance to save all their energy for the physical hardship of detox. Don’t worry, there are things you can do now that will help later and your role will become greater in time.

Mixed Emotions

Mixed emotions are part of what to expect when a loved one is in addiction detox. Addiction is something that affects everyone who loves the person and it is likely that the time leading up to this point has been full of many ups and downs.

You may feel relief that the substance won’t be running your home any longer. You may feel anger that this even happened. You may also feel frightened and unsure about how things will change once your loved one is home again.

All of this is normal. You may also feel helpless. You won’t be able to see or talk with your loved one for a time and that may make you feel like you are letting them down. In reality, this is best for them at this time. Take time to feel your emotions, examine them, and then move forward.

Time to Heal

You need time to recover and heal from what the addiction has done to your life as well. In considering your role when a loved one is in addiction detox, think about getting counseling for yourself to deal with the emotions. Look into joining a support group.

Take time just to breathe and refamiliarize yourself with the person you were before addiction played a role in your family. Become stronger so you can be ready to give your loved one the support they will need as they enter future stages of recovery. Your chance to be there will come.

Tides Edge Detox

What to expect when a loved one is in addiction detox is difficult to explain because each person will experience things based on their own experience and personality. After contacting Tides Edge Detox and seeing your loved one admitted, we can guarantee that you do not need to worry.

Your loved one is under the care of the fully-trained professional staff that will do everything in their power to help get them through detox and onto the next phase of addiction recovery at our partner facility.

We enthusiastically encourage you to use this time to regain your own strength and seek the support you may need so you can be there when it is time for you to step in. Loved ones are often the strongest support system for those recovering from addiction. Your role has just begun.

Find help for your loved one with our programs which include:

Call 866.723.3127 for more information about how you can stay involved in your loved one’s recovery process.