10 Common Withdrawal Symptoms That You Should Be Prepared For

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 11% of Americans aged 12 and older used illegal drugs in the month preceding the survey in 2018. 

Many misused substances are linked to the development of severe physiological dependency, especially when ingested in high quantities regularly. 

When a person develops a substance dependency, they may experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit drinking or taking drugs.

Withdrawal may be difficult—and occasionally dangerous—for someone who is new to sobriety. 

If you’re thinking about getting clean, it’s best to consult with a medical practitioner, who may prescribe a medical detox. In this manner, if withdrawal symptoms arise, they may be adequately addressed by skilled medical personnel. 

You can always seek help from the medical professionals in Infinite Recovery. If you look at the Infinite Recovery ideas of managing withdrawal symptoms, you will likely be impressed with it.

What Is Withdrawal?

Withdrawal is the mix of psychological and physical consequences that a person suffers after discontinuing the use of drugs or alcohol.

Suppose you take a substance with a high potential for addiction. Now, you can’t quit the substance suddenly or reduce the dose abruptly, as you may suffer a range of withdrawal symptoms. 

Withdrawal may be painful and, in some situations, hazardous. As a result, you should consult with your GP before discontinuing your drug usage.

Why Does Withdrawal Occur?

When someone consumes alcohol or takes certain drugs frequently, their brain may begin to acclimatize to the presence of these substances. 

Withdrawal is typically an unavoidable response in those who develop severe degrees of reliance on the unexpected absence or decline in blood concentration of a particular drug. 

When a drug-addicted individual ceases a substance or significantly lowers how much they use, withdrawal symptoms may arise. 

During withdrawal, the body seeks to reestablish homeostasis by ridding itself of any residual chemical impact of the substance in the issue. Unfortunately, this can cause transient abnormality and significant mental and physical health consequences.

10 Common Withdrawal Symptoms In Drug Addiction Recovery

The time of withdrawal is regulated by the drug consumed and the degree of reliance on the substance. Depending on the circumstances and individual variances, it may take days, weeks, or even months to completely resolve all withdrawal symptoms.

Let’s take a look at the 10 most common withdrawal symptoms here:

1: Mood Swings

Mood swings are a typical sign of many forms of addiction withdrawal, including alcoholism, opiate addiction, and dissociative drug usage. 

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, this is due to the way these substances affect the brain. 

Mood swings can also result in cognitive dissonance, leading to confusion, worry, and other mood changes in sobriety.

2: Muscle Pain

Opiate medicines, such as heroin, Vicodin, OxyContin, and others, depress the central nervous system and are commonly used to treat pain. 

Opioid withdrawal can also promote muscular stiffness and enhance muscle tone. 

Addiction to these medications can actually cause increased muscular aches and discomfort, especially during the detox phase.

3: Nausea

During addiction, overproduction of certain hormones becomes the new normal for the brain. 

When a person quits drinking, their brain continues to produce additional chemicals, resulting in unpleasant alcohol withdrawal symptoms. 

The brain will recalibrate, but a person in withdrawal may feel a continuous need to throw up.

4: Sleeping Difficulties

When a person takes drugs regularly, he increases the risk of sleeplessness. 

This is because continuous drug usage impacts the neurochemical functioning of the brain. 

Furthermore, because sleep is crucial in consolidating new memories, a lack of quality sleep may make it more difficult to develop cognitive memory.

5: Headaches

People in recovery may remember these headaches, but splitting headaches are one of the most common withdrawal symptoms. 

Alcohol use has been linked to an increase in headache intensity or frequency. 

Alcohol is a diuretic, which causes the body to lose essential salts and minerals that allow it to operate, which gives rise to headaches.

6: Shivering

Alcohol tremors and shakes can be symptoms of a hangover. However, they are generally caused by dehydration rather than withdrawal. 

When you quit drugs, your body no longer receives the substance that affects these neurotransmitters. 

However, your body continues to overproduce glutamate, causing you to become hyperactive, which causes shivering.

7: Sweating

Night sweats are typical while someone is undergoing addiction recovery. 

Alcohol impacts the central nervous system, the circulatory system, and almost every other system in your body. 

Drinking might cause your heart rate to rise and blood vessels in your skin to dilate. This may cause sweating.

8: Fatigue

Glucose levels in patients in recovery might decline quickly. 

The brain and body seek particular things, and it becomes difficult for the body to process what is going on. 

This can involve mental fogginess and extreme exhaustion. 

9: Changes In Appetite

Dehydration is frequent throughout substance abuse treatment. 

It is essential to drink plenty of fluids both during and between meals. 

A person in recovery is more inclined to overeat, especially if they take stimulants.

10: Congestion

Tolerance to a drug implies that you need more significant and more frequent dosages to attain the intended benefits. 

Decongestants cause the blood arteries in your nasal passages to constrict. 

They swell up again after the medicine wears off. As a result, congestion becomes one immediate withdrawal symptom.

How To Cope With Withdrawal Symptoms?

Withdrawal management is a significant component of the medical detox procedure. It refers to the medical and psychological treatment of individuals suffering from withdrawal symptoms. You can apply these strategies to cope with withdrawal symptoms such as:

Ask For Help

It is critical to have social support whether you are dealing with withdrawal on your own or under the guidance of a doctor. Inform a trusted friend or family member so that they may check in on you and provide support during the procedure.

Eat Well

Consume healthful, well-balanced meals. Eating fried, greasy, or sugary meals may aggravate your symptoms.

Exercise

Make an effort to engage in some physical activity every day. Stretching, walking, swimming, and other activities may help you feel better.

Stress Management Activities

Yoga and meditation are two stress-reduction techniques that may help you cope with your withdrawal symptoms. However, if you are having difficulty coping, please contact your doctor.

Drink Plenty Of Water

It’s critical to keep hydrated during withdrawal, especially if you have flu-like symptoms like nausea and vomiting.

Use Counter Medications

If you have symptoms such as a headache, upset stomach, or diarrhea, use suitable OTC drugs in the indicated quantities.

Sleep

While withdrawal can occasionally cause sleeping problems, make an effort to get enough rest. Work on developing a regular sleep schedule and appropriate sleeping habits.

Conclusion

The intensity and duration of withdrawal from substance dependency are determined by various factors, including the amount of a drug consumed and the frequency with which it was used. 

Unfortunately, withdrawal from narcotics is frequently a profoundly unpleasant process that can impede or otherwise hamper recovery attempts. 

So, if you want to know more about it, ping us in the comment section below.