Dealing with a drug addiction and homelessness at the same time is hard. You may worry about your safety on the streets when you are under the influence of drugs. While you may know that you need help to deal with your addiction, you might not know where to turn. There are many programs available that can offer you support. It is reassuring to know that a detox center can help you get clean if you’re homeless. In fact, going to a detox center is the safest and most effective way to stop using drugs or alcohol when you have a serious addiction.
Your addiction might have led you to make choices that led to your homelessness, or you might have started using drugs or alcohol to cope with the pain after losing your home or job. Either way, you’ll find non-judgmental and caring people when you go to a treatment facility. The staff at a detox center cares about helping you get clean so that you can get your life back on track and get out of situations such as being homeless.
Go Through Detox In a Safe Environment
The detox process is often unpredictable. You need to be prepared for having serious symptoms that could impact your safety and health. A few of the most common detox symptoms that people experience include the following:
•nausea
•seizures
•fatigue
•mood swings
•increased pain
The symptoms that you experience will depend upon the types of drugs that you use along with your body’s dependence upon the substance. You should also know that abruptly quitting certain drugs without professional assistance can lead to increased cravings. Your risk for serious withdrawal symptoms also goes up if you have ever quit and had a relapse or if you’ve had an overdose.
While it might be scary to think about having withdrawal symptoms, you can feel better knowing that they are temporary. In most cases, you will be finished with the most challenging part of the detox process within a few days to a week. After that, you will begin to work on learning how to manage your addiction so that you can stay sober once you finish the program. The benefit of going to a detox center rather than trying to get sober on the street is that you also receive personalized treatment that includes management of your withdrawal symptoms. Feeling comfortable and supported makes it easier to stay strong as your body adjusts to living without drugs or alcohol.
Get Help for Your Mental Health
The detox process is only the first step toward managing your addiction. You will also need to learn how to take care of your mental health. There are many mental health conditions that can lead to someone using drugs as a method for coping such as PTSD and depression. You may also have developed a mental health condition such as anxiety after you became homeless. Once again, this is an area where you benefit from seeking professional care.
In a drug and alcohol treatment program, you gain the ability to work with professionals who can help you figure out what causes you to drink or do drugs. You can also receive services that include intensive counseling to help you begin to feel better mentally. If you have family nearby, then your rehab program can also help you to begin healing those relationships through family counseling. Group therapy is another type of treatment that helps you to not feel so alone, and you can even participate in recreational activities that help you feel normal and healthy again.
Find Hope for the Future
Both homelessness and addiction can make the future feel bleak. Getting sober turns this completely around. Your stay at a detox center can help you to start rebuilding your belief that life is good. Your counseling team will help you to begin to put together a plan for how you can live safely and sober after treatment.
When you enter a detox center as a homeless person, you are connected to resources. The resources can help you with your addiction, help you find a job, a home and renew your family relationships. While it will not be easy, you can expect to continue to improve your life after your treatment is complete by continuing to follow the plan that your team helps you put together for getting your life back on track.
Are you ready to regain control over your life by ending your addiction? We can help you get into a detox center that changes your life. Give us a call today at 844-903-2111!
