Valium, or diazepam, is a long-acting benzodiazepine, primarily used to treat anxiety, that has led to addiction in many users.
When you undergo a Valium detox in Edinburgh, you’re giving yourself the fresh start you deserve. Withdrawing from Valium is step one of your recovery, and we’re here to help you make it happen.
Interested in being referred for a safe Valium detox? Please reach out to our lovely team on 0800 140 4690.
Dependence is what happens when a Valium user’s body stops functioning “normally”, and is reliant on the drug.
Although it doesn’t tend to happen suddenly, it can still feel unexpected. Many people don’t realise how powerful dependence is. They assume that they can keep taking Valium whenever they want to, without ever becoming dependent on it.
However, in many cases, people end up becoming physically reliant on Valium, which means they are likely to experience uncomfortable symptoms, as well as withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking it.
Often, this morphs into an addiction, adding psychological symptoms to the mix. Both Valium dependence and Valium addiction can intrude on happiness, health, productivity and relationships in major ways.
Despite these risks, people continue to contribute to Valium rehab in Edinburgh statistics, because addiction is a disease that is very difficult to fight.
Some people develop a Valium addiction through obvious misuse. They may access the drug illicitly, through dangerous methods such as doctor shopping. A French study of 128,230 patients who received benzodiazepines found that 3.2% of diazepam was obtained through doctor shopping (1).
Other illicit activities include going online to purchase Valium and using someone else’s prescription. All of these actions are extremely risky, both from a legal perspective, and a medical one.
It’s also common to become dependent on Valium without getting involved in illicit activities. The risk exists for everyone who takes Valium, but it’s a much higher risk if the patient:
First, let’s talk about how Valium makes people feel, and then we can put it into a scientific context.
Valium usually makes people feel very relaxed, and even sleepy. The shift in temperament can be surprising for anyone, but if someone is particularly anxious, they may feel an enormous difference in how they feel, think, and react to things when they’re on diazepam.
This doesn’t come without drawbacks. Some users will experience side effects such as poor concentration, muscle weakness and memory issues, all introduced or worsened by Valium.
Scientifically, Valium works by enhancing a calming chemical in the brain, known as GABA. Your central nervous system activity is then slowed, which is what causes the effects we mentioned above.
Detoxing isn’t something to fear, but it’s something to be very cautious about. When it’s carried out safely, it can lead to a stable withdrawal process, but if suitable safety measures aren’t in place, it puts the patient’s life at risk.
Safety measures for Valium withdrawal include:
Tapering is favoured over immediate withdrawal, because it helps avoid dangerous withdrawal symptoms including severe confusion, seizures, hallucinations, and delirium.
If these symptoms happen nonetheless, the patient can be treated immediately.
Even with tapering, the majority of detox clients still experience some withdrawal symptoms. Severe symptoms aside (which are less common), here’s what you can generally expect:
It goes without saying that these symptoms can be incredibly hard to deal with, even if they aren’t life-threatening. Rehab staff work hard to make the experience as comfortable as possible, by preparing clients for what’s to come, prescribing medication, following a thorough treatment plan, and offering emotional support throughout.
The two main options for Valium detox in Edinburgh are inpatient detoxing and outpatient detoxing.
As an inpatient, residential rehab is your home for a fixed period of time. You can stay for the detox alone (a few days to a few weeks), or you can enrol on a full treatment plan, which lasts around one month.
In this time, you’ll learn to balance different aspects of your life in a way that honours recovery, prioritising your physical and mental health, ambitions, relationships, etc. Living with other people in recovery, you’ll be part of a strong community, which helps keep you grounded as you get sober.
Outpatient detoxing isn’t worlds apart from inpatient, but it happens during the day only. There’s a significant lack of supervision compared to inpatient detox, so it’s crucial that patients who take this route are in good health.
Just like in residential rehab, outpatient detoxing can be part of a wider treatment programme, which incorporates psychological support into your recovery. It’s less intense than inpatient rehab, which means it’s potentially less overwhelming and exhausting, but it’s also less successful overall.
That said, it’s a wonderful option for people who are unable to go to inpatient rehab, but still need solid structure and guidance as they recover.
Below, we outline some of the common myths around the Valium detox process:
Detoxing on your own isn’t easy. You’re at a greater risk of a bad withdrawal experience, and there won’t be doctors around to immediately step in.
We know there’s a lot of effort involved in committing to a medical detox, but it makes the entire process much smoother and safer.
If you’re dependent on Valium in any way, it means your body isn’t working as it should be, and this should be treated as an urgency. It’s not something to panic about, but it does mean choosing to detox is the safest decision you could make for yourself right now.
Don’t wait until you have a severe problem to get started with detoxing in Edinburgh. The sooner you make the commitment, the smoother your recovery will be.
Many people are unaware of just how personalised Valium detoxes are. The quality of care is incredibly high, particularly at inpatient rehab, and no one has to follow a basic, standardised plan.
Each detox client benefits from an individualised detox plan that is produced by medical professionals who’ve performed assessments and had 1:1 conversations with patients.
Detoxing doesn’t have to be agonising. If you opt for a professional Valium detox in Edinburgh, it’s unlikely that you’ll describe your experience in this way.
While uncomfortable, and sometimes painful, many clients find that detoxing is much less distressing than they imagined. They’re well-prepared going into it, they have healthcare professionals attending to them consistently, and they’re given medication when symptoms escalate.
People pay completely different prices for Valium detox in Edinburgh, given the personalised nature of detoxing, and the many decisions that go into it, such as:
In other words, adjustments can be made. It’s definitely possible to get an affordable detox in Edinburgh if you explore your options and stay flexible.
There’s even funding available via the NHS in Edinburgh. However, it’s competitive, and requires you to go through several steps which you may not have time for.
Strong support systems can significantly lower your relapse risk, there’s no doubting that. What they cannot do is replace therapy.
After detoxing, you will need to rely on your support system, whether that’s your close friends, family, peers, neighbours, or colleagues. They can be a source of great comfort, familiarity, and understanding.
Yet, professional therapists provide something that the people around you cannot. They use tried-and-tested techniques to help you figure out why your Valium addiction started, which parts of yourself you can work on, and how you can resist temptation long-term.
Someone who is addicted to Valium might show the following symptoms:
Don’t be fooled. Not everyone with a Valium addiction is battling symptoms that are outwardly obvious, and some are going to great lengths to reduce the visibility of their symptoms. They might still be working hard, visiting family, exercising, and planning holidays.
This is what’s known as “high-functioning dependence”. It doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem, it just means you have to look harder to see the signs.
Prescription medication addiction, such as Valium addiction, is often downplayed or overlooked. But why?
After detox, it’s extremely important to focus on your emotional and mental health, and keep this a priority throughout your life.
Comprehensive treatment programmes give you the best headstart with this, as they’ll introduce you to addiction counselling, various therapies, and other mental health tools.
When you come out of rehab, life looks very different. You’re no longer battling temptation inside four secure walls. You’re bound to deal with more temptation and triggers. This is when healthy coping strategies become more useful than ever before.
After detoxing, think about incorporating some of the following coping mechanisms into your day-to-day life to help fight conflicting thoughts:
Yes, some people are dependent on Valium but not addicted.
There’s never a guarantee that dependence will stay dependence. It very often turns into addiction.
If you’re prescribed Valium in the UK, it will likely be on a short-term prescription, and this is because doctors are aware of how rapid the onset of dependence or addiction can be.
Something to keep in mind is that dependence is damaging on its own. Plenty of people who detox from Valium in Edinburgh are “only” dependent.
Physical dependence on Valium is often dismissed as being less serious than addiction, but it can still produce dangerous symptoms, and affect people’s lives in significant ways, leading to unemployment, poor mental health, financial instability etc.
We’ve explained the how, what and whys of Valium detox in Edinburgh. Now it’s up to you to decide whether you’re ready for this first phase of addiction recovery.
There’s no pressure, which is why we offer a free, confidential phone call, and give you all the time and space you need.
Don’t hesitate to call us on 0800 140 4690 to find out more about the benefits of Valium detoxing, or to get a referral right now.
Below, we provide answers to common questions around this important topic:
Yes, Valium and diazepam are the same drug, but you’ll notice one is capitalised and the other isn’t. This is because Valium is the brand name for diazepam.
When we talk about Valium dependence, addiction and detox, it’s the same as diazepam dependence, addiction and detox.
Yes, you can absolutely get a home detox in Edinburgh. Plenty of home detox providers work with Edinburgh clients to prescribe medication and give an overview of how to detox independently.
We’d advise you to be cautious about home detoxing, as it’s a high-risk route for people with moderate to severe Valium addiction. Although it can be a brilliant option for some, with its convenience and comfort, it’s certainly not safe for everyone. This goes for any dependence or addiction, not just Valium.
No, detox does not cure addiction. There’s no cure, there are only treatments.
What detoxing does is help individuals to start their sobriety journey by treating one of the main issues involved in getting sober, which is experiencing strong cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and overall attachment to the drug (e.g., Valium).
Detoxing doesn’t treat the root cause of the addiction, or any mental health challenges that are tied to it. It also cannot take away the temptation to use Valium, and neither can therapy, but both can reduce the risk of relapse by giving the patient plenty of empathy and support.
[1] https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.640120/full
