Drug Withdrawals
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Drug addiction is among the hardest to shake off, with around 85% of the individuals going through a relapse. The withdrawal stage is often the toughest to deal with, as the strong cravings and physical symptoms make it difficult for people to resist another “fix” before they “try again later.” Understanding drug withdrawal and how rehab can help is the first step into getting over the addiction.
What Are Drug Withdrawals?
Drug withdrawal is your body’s psychological response to a particular substance exiting your system. Once your body gets accustomed to the substance, it will slowly but surely grow dependent. It adapts to function mostly with that substance in your system. Therefore, when it begins to get out of your system, your body goes into its own version of a “panic mode.”
If you suddenly stop using a substance that has a high potential for drug addiction, then you are likely to experience some symptoms along with your withdrawal. These symptoms are your body’s way of telling you that it wants that addictive substance back. As the substance is getting out of your body, your system is basically “rebooting” so that it can function once more without the substance.
Drug withdrawal can vary in intensity for every addict. For some people, it might be some mild 2-3 days of discomfort. For others, the withdrawal can even be dangerous – especially if the addict quits “cold turkey.” Depending on the severity of the addiction, a drug addict may want to consider rehab in order to get rid of the symptoms.
Signs And Symptoms of WIthdrawals
Drug withdrawal comes with a series of symptoms that may either be physical or psychological. Some symptoms may be mild, whereas others can be pretty severe. It’s important to understand the signs of addiction first. Secondly, if you are struggling with withdrawals from alcohol or benzos, the process can be deadly. Please reach out for help immediately if this is the case.
The severity of these symptoms will depend on a variety of factors, such as the drug you have abused or how long you’ve been abusing it. Your genes may also affect your symptoms, as well as your method for taking the drug. For instance, snorting or injecting the drug may lead to more symptoms compared to swallowing it.
The Signs:
Physical symptoms of drug withdrawal may include the following:
- Nausea or the need to vomit
- Bone and muscle pain
- Chills and/or high temperature
- Fatigue
- Excessive sweating
- Shivering and sweating
- Heart palpitations
- Restlessness
- Headaches
- Unpleasant dreams that feel highly vivid
- Symptoms resembling the flu
- Hallucinations (visual and auditory)
- Seizures
The Symptoms:
At the same time, the following psychological symptoms may be associated with drug withdrawal:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Paranoia
- Confusion
- Agitation and irritability
- Panic attacks
- Intense cravings
- Inability to concentrate properly
- Memory loss
How To Get Help
When you’re trying to get rid of an addiction, a fair share of symptoms is to be expected. Unlike alcohol addiction, drug addiction such as meth or cocaine addiction can lead to more painful or uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. More often than not, professional help may be required, and this can be given in the form of rehab.
When getting help, you might want to identify the symptoms of withdrawal. If the symptoms are there, it will indicate that you have an addiction. Before you decide to quit, you might want to reach out for help to manage your treatment. Sometimes, simply quitting the substance like ripping off a band-aid might seem like a good idea, but it’s not always the healthiest.
In most cases, you will have to slowly reduce the substance before quitting. Otherwise, you may have to deal with a whole new array of symptoms. By getting help, the doctor will be able to offer you the appropriate course of treatment and medical supervision.
Look in your area for rehab centers that can help you recover from your drug withdrawal. In some cases, patients may prefer to go outside their hometowns to get help. This would keep them away not only from temptation but also from their drug sources.
Treatment For Drug Withdrawal
Usually, treatment for drug withdrawal includes care and support mixed with medication. The medication is used not only to reduce cravings but also to ease the symptoms and keep other complications from occurring.
In some cases of drug withdrawal, people might be able to stay at home and recover, using outpatient treatment and medical detox to get over their addiction. If the addiction is severe and the individual does not trust themselves to resist the cravings, inpatient treatment is often recommended.
Some drug withdrawals can be potentially dangerous, depending on the type of drug that was abused, along with the length of the addiction. In this case, medically assisted detox may be recommended, which can include the following medications:
- Buprenex (buprenorphine)
- Ativan (lorazepam)
- Librium (chlordiazepoxide)
- Catapres (clonidine)
- Valium (diazepam)
- Methadone
Other meds may also be used in order to help smooth the withdrawal process. For example, anticonvulsants and antianxiety medications may be prescribed if the situation asks for them. Drugs targeting sleep problems or nausea may also be prescribed to alleviate short-term discomfort.
Detox And Recovery
When recovering from drug withdrawal, professional help is often used in order to manage the symptoms. Real Deal has what it takes to help you reach sobriety, allowing you to recover with the least amount of discomfort as possible.
Real Deal has everything that you may need, from medical detox to support groups and individual therapy. The doctors and assistants will offer you the supervision that you need in order to recover without the risk of a relapse.
You may go for inpatient therapy, which will offer you around-the-clock supervision, or you may choose outpatient therapy. With the latter option, you will still receive the treatment that you need, but you will be able to return in the evenings in the comfort of your own home. The doctor will determine which option is best for your addiction.
Getting Help At Real Deal
Drug withdrawal can be very difficult, with symptoms painful enough for you to want to relapse. The best way to get over these symptoms is to receive appropriate help. Call Real Deal and you should be able to get the support that you need!