When someone has issues with addiction, they are suffering from a disease which can often tear families apart as they try to understand, support, and help their relative. It’s never a case of being just the addict that goes through addiction because everyone else in the family are usually pulled into the situation, even if the addict has moved away. 

Although it is fair to say that detox is not a walk in the park, it is the essential first step towards recovery. Once a person has been rid of any toxins relating to substance abuse through detox, they are ready for the next phase of treatment which is rehab. In this sense detox and rehab are separate components of the same treatment program.

When someone is in rehab treatment for addiction, they will have to make many changes in their lives, most of which are extremely positive.

From birth we begin to develop physical, mental, and emotional boundaries.

Dependency can be reliance on a substance, activity or person where an individual treats something or someone as more important than themselves.

Because addiction is a mental illness, it is often difficult for sufferers to express the feelings or thought processes driving their compulsion to abuse alcohol or drugs. Creative therapies such as art therapy in recovery provide patients with the tools to express themselves through methods other than medical treatment or psychotherapy.

Some people with addiction issues find themselves faced with difficulty financing their detox or feel confident they are able to complete the process on their own. However, there are many reasons DIY detox is ineffective, which we will examine here. 

Opioids and heroin have specific effects on the brain that can make them particularly difficult drugs to detox naturally. According to research, there are a few natural opioids produced by the body including endorphins that effect specific protein receptors in the brain to give a feeling of wellbeing. This is the reason why physical activity often gives you a buzz or ‘high’ feeling.

As evidenced by the millions of people all over the world sharing their lives with pets, the bond humans have with animals is widely considered life-enhancing. It’s perhaps no surprise that animals can have huge benefits for someone going through alcohol and drug detox and that animal-assisted therapy in recovery is becoming more commonplace.

Dependency can be reliance on a substance, activity or person where an individual treats something or someone as more important than themselves.