Whether it’s alcohol, smoking or an addiction to our phones, most of us have a bad habit that we would like to get rid of. Sometimes cutting these practices out of our lives, even for a limited time, requires a complete detox.
A detox, short for “detoxification,” means adopting a regimen that completely removes something from your routine. Detoxing has many short-term and long-term benefits that will positively impact your health.
The Psychological Benefits of a Detox
Katie Verucchi Weinel, M.D., child, adolescent & adult psychiatrist, confirmed that going through a detox can improve your well-being.
“Detoxing from a substance like alcohol is associated with rapid improvements in symptoms of depression, anxiety and overall psychological well-being,” said Weinel. “While patients who completely stop alcohol use experience significantly larger gains, even those who use again will still show improvements in quality of life.”
Interestingly, detoxing from our cell phones and digital space poses similar psychological benefits to detoxing from alcohol.
“A digital detox is also associated with improvements in well-being, life satisfaction, sleep quality and a reduction in symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress,” said Weinel.
The Physical Benefits: A Motivation Bump
Sarah Steadman, M.S., FirstHealth exercise specialist, said there are many physical benefits to detoxing from certain substances that can take place almost immediately.
“Choosing to stop drinking and/or smoking is one of the most powerful decisions you can make for your health and wellness,” she said.
“When you quit these activities, you will experience improvements to your mental clarity, sleep, heart rate, blood pressure, lung function and circulation.”
Steadman said detoxing from alcohol and tobacco may even increase your motivation to be active.
“Alcohol and tobacco cessation positively impact your motivation to exercise by improving your brain chemistry and dopamine baseline, reducing your perceived exertion and enhancing your rate of recovery and visible progress,” she said.
Starting and Maintaining Your Habits Post-Detox
When planning a detox, it is important to decide if a gradual reduction or going cold turkey will be more effective and long-lasting for you.
Research suggests that usage reduction can lead to longer-term benefits than complete restriction. Steadman recommends starting your detox with small changes.
“Most often, failure to follow through is a result of setting the bar too high. I think if you start with one small change that is specific, measurable, action-based, relevant and time-based (SMART), you will be much more successful,” she said.
Weinel said working with a therapist may also help with supporting healthy habits after you start. “A therapist can help you develop coping strategies for managing stress without returning to unhealthy habits,” she said. “A therapist can also act as an accountability partner to help keep you in line with your goals and make changes a reality.”
It is important to remember that even if there are moments of relapse or indulgence, it is incredibly common.
Every journey has its bumps in the road, and you can always make the choice to start again.
FirstHealth Behavioral Health
Our Behavioral Services care team provides multi-level, integrated services to assist patients in their recovery from the physical, emotional, social and spiritual effects of their illness while recognizing the rights and dignity of the patients as individuals. Our staff is trained to deliver quality, compassionate care with the utmost privacy and respect for the individual and family. Psychiatric registered nurses and licensed providers provide confidential assessments for people who may be having emotional or dependency problems.
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