What Happens To Your Body During Drug Withdrawal
Jul 16, 2021 | Blog
Drug withdrawal is a term that describes a set of symptoms your body experiences after you suddenly stop or reduce chronic use of drugs or alcohol. Withdrawal symptoms can vary in type and severity level based on the substance being used, and on the lifespan of drug use.
Some symptoms can be dangerous and life threatening for those who attempt to withdraw from drugs on their own after becoming dependent and addicted. But drug rehab can help you experience a safe, comfortable withdrawal using treatments like medical detox and medication-assisted treatment.
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Come To Reality With Your Addiction And Decide To Take Action
In many cases, drug addiction happens as a result of trauma in your life. However, there are many other cases when it happens almost by accident. An example of this is athletes who get addicted to painkillers. Either way, the first step to coming out of an addiction is facing the truth.
It can be easy to tell yourself that you dont have a real problem or that its not causing any damage, but these lies actually deepen your addiction. Admitting that there is a problem and being willing to reach out for help is the first step to recovery. It takes courage and strength to admit this to yourself and to anyone else, so dont diminish the importance of this first step.
Here are a few more tips to help you come to terms with your addiction.
Reflect on How Drugs Impacted Your Life
Think about the first time you tried drugs and what you were feeling. Ask yourself these questions:
- Have I seen my family recently?
- Have I seen my friends recently?
- Does my drug use make me feel shame or guilt?
- Have I broken the law because of these habits?
- Have I tried to stop and failed?
- Are these habits taking my life in a direction that I want?
You cant outsmart your addiction. But these questions can help you think about the difference between the life that you want to have and the life that you will have because of drugs.
Think About the Positive Changes When You Quit
Reaching Out For Support
Talk to your doctor, health professional, counsellor or drug and alcohol service about your decision to quit. Be honest about your situation. Support from a friend or family member can also help.
You can talk to someone in confidence at Counselling Online see their website for more information and for the phone number for your region.
Addiction is also associated with depression and anxiety. Contact Beyond Blue 24 hours a day on 1300 224 636.
Your doctor can refer you to a treatment service. You can also contact some services directly. Call the Alcohol and Drug Foundation on 1300 85 85 84 to find out about these services.
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Help Others With Their Addiction
If You Are Struggling Today Trust Jesus To Deliver You
He said He did not come to condemn the world but to save it. He said He came to set the captives free. Yes, the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life.. And that doesnt just mean life in Heaven where there is no sin, it means having a victorious life on earth. It means we can break chains of addiction no matter what they are.
Yes, the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy but Jesus came to give us life and life in abundance . Abundant life is not struggling with sin. God has made it possible for us to be reconciled with Him, forgiven of our sin and empowered to break chains of addiction and live a victorious life.
Sin is like a deep ravine that separates us from God. In order to cross that vast divide, we need a bridge. Jesus is that bridge. As we accept Him as our Savior, we are empowered to live a new life in Christ, putting our past behind and embracing the freedom we can have in Jesus.
For those Christians who continue to struggle do not feel condemned. Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save it. The Bible also tells us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Repentance is the first step to break chains of addiction but there is much more we can do to walk in victory. Different Christian writers have different perspectives on how one can overcome, but I would like to share just five things that have worked in my life to break chains of addiction.
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Withdrawing From Alcohol Safely
When you drink heavily and frequently, your body becomes physically dependent on alcohol and goes through withdrawal if you suddenly stop drinking. The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal range from mild to severe, and include:
- Headache
- Trouble sleeping or concentrating
- Elevated heart rate and blood pressure
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually start within hours after you stop drinking, peak in a day or two, and improve within five days. But in some alcoholics, withdrawal is not just unpleasantit can be life threatening.
If youre a long-term, heavy drinker, you may need medically supervised detoxification. Detox can be done on an outpatient basis or in a hospital or alcohol treatment facility, where you may be prescribed medication to prevent medical complications and relieve withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor or an addiction specialist to learn more.
Seek emergency medical help if you experience any of the following withdrawal symptoms:
- severe vomiting
- extreme agitation
- seizures or convulsions
The symptoms listed above may be a sign of a severe form of alcohol withdrawal called delirium tremens, or DTs. This rare, emergency condition causes dangerous changes in the way your brain regulates your circulation and breathing, so its important to get to the hospital right away.
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What Is Drug Or Alcohol Withdrawal
Drug or alcohol withdrawal involves the physical, mental, and behavioral changes that can occur after suddenly cutting back on or stopping prolonged use of substances.1, 2, 3 The character and severity of withdrawal can vary in association with different substances, but symptoms may be quite pronounced when people are attempting to quit alcohol and other substances such as opioids, benzodiazepines, and sedatives.3
Substances like opioids, alcohol, and sedatives, can carry significant risks when going through withdrawal. These withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to potentially dangerous. Medical detox can be a safe way to help manage withdrawal under the care of treatment professionals.3, 4
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What Should Be Said During An Intervention
While a person is free to say anything they want during an intervention, its best to be prepared with a plan to keep things positive and on track. Blaming, accusing, causing guilt, threatening, or arguing isnt helpful.
Whatever is said during an intervention should be done so with the intention of helping the person accept help.
Bear in mind that setting boundaries such as I can no longer give you money if you continue to use drugs, is not the same as threatening a person with punishment.
Take One Day At A Time
Recovery is a process that takes time. It is very important to take things one day at a time and not get discouraged. By taking things one day at a time, you will be able to focus on your recovery and not on the past, as it is there for a reason. More importantly, by taking things one day at a time, you will be able to build a better future for yourself.
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The Difference Between Addiction And Dependence
Often the words addiction and dependence are misunderstood, or synonymously used. If there is some similarity, recognizing the vast gaps among the two is crucial. When anyone establishes a physical addiction for a drug, a dependency is established. When they avoid using the medication entirely, they will develop withdrawal symptoms.
On the side, an addiction arises after prolonged use of substances or alcohol has induced a shift in an individuals brain function. Addictions occur as uncontrollable cravings for drug consumption, including hurting oneself or others. The only way to surmount an illness is by medication.
Keep Yourself Occupied With Church Activities
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Join A Solid Support Group
If you dont already have a few committed and supportive friends and family, a support group will be even more important. Being with other people who understand exactly what you are dealing with is extremely important. These groups will also help you find the right resources and tools to deal with the ups and downs of recovering from a drug addiction.
Even if you have family and friends who help you through the recovery journey, finding a support group will still be vital. Eventually, you may even be able to encourage others in their own recovery. If and when you or your friends deal with relapses, support groups will help you get back on track instead of going deeper into your addiction.
Find New Meaning In Life
While getting sober is an important first step, it is only the beginning of your recovery from alcohol addiction or heavy drinking. Rehab or professional treatment can get you started on the road to recovery, but to stay alcohol-free for the long term, youll need to build a new, meaningful life where drinking no longer has a place.
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Indulge In Physical Activities
Drug addicts may have lots of energy, and they require ways to use their energy. They must incorporate physical activities in their routines as it helps them curb their urge to take drugs and gain self-control. Addicts may register for sports games, get a gym membership or make it a habit to walk, jog or ride a bike in the woods or a park. Moreover, nature has a healing effect and impacts people positively. Addicts must focus on their interests and channel their energy for some constructive things.
Get Medical Assistance If You Are Progressing Toward Delirium Tremens
Delirium tremens is a serious condition that some people coping with alcohol withdrawal go through. It is characterized by severe nausea, seizures, and hallucinations. If you begin to experience DT, you need to get immediate medical attention as it can be life-threatening.
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Evaluating The Costs And Benefits Of Drinking
Make a table like the one below, weighing the costs and benefits of drinking to the costs and benefits of quitting.
| Is drinking worth the cost? |
| Benefits of drinking |
|
Creating A Network Of Support
Addiction is difficult to overcome alone. Individual and group counselling can be effective treatment strategies for addiction because they provide support from knowledgeable, understanding therapists or other addicts at varying stages of recovery. Many addicts find it helpful to attend support groups because it shows them that there are other people who have struggled with similar problems and are overcoming them. Family therapy can also be useful for creating a strong support structure within the addict’s family. Some people even choose to join a therapeutic community living home, where people struggling with similar challenges tackle their addictions together.
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Why Is Sexual Addiction So Difficult To Overcome
Sexual addiction is one of the most challenging addictions to overcome.
With substance addictions, like alcoholism or drug addiction, it is possible to simply discontinue the use of the substance entirely. But with process addictions like sexual addiction and eating disorders, its impossible to just give up food or sex for life. They are interwoven into the fabric of our being and so the goal is to integrate them into our lives in a healthier way.
But because sexual addiction and compulsive sexual behaviour is just the mechanism that numbs out the difficult emotions that addicts are unwilling to face and heal their way through, the most sustainable way that a sex addict can overcome their addiction is to work through their underlying emotional turmoil that keeps them stuck.
How Divine Love Can Heal Addictions
My good friend and colleague, Robert Fritchie, Founder of The World Service Institute, has helped many people overcome addictions using Divine Love healing energy. In fact, he helped a well-known rock star who had a cocaine addiction and didnt want to risk media exposure by entering rehab!
Divine Love healing uses the Creators Love to facilitate healing. Using a Divine Love petition in which you direct your energy toward your healing, you are able to bring the Creators Love to you. It works for everyone because we are all made of energy that is influenced by our experiences and our thoughts. So just as our energy can manifest as disease, including addiction, it can be influenced to heal. Divine Love petitions give you the power to readjust your energy to maximize your health.
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The Skills Needed To Overcome Addiction
Recovering from addiction is about more than just finding the right treatment methods it also takes a lot of work from the inside, so to speak. Theres plenty of information out there about the best options for treatment, but what about the resources someone will need to have within themselves?
This isnt to say that the typical advice for breaking out of addiction isnt helpful either. Structured support programs are vital to keeping newly sober individuals on track, and inpatient treatment centers such as Lincoln Recovery are meant to help people build new lives as they recover physically and mentally from drug addiction.
Even so, its possible that not enough attention is paid to the more personal components that are necessary for overcoming addiction. In fact, someone might already have many of the characteristics mentioned below and not even realize it. Simply knowing that they already have some of the tools to begin recovery could help them take the first step, which is why this is a topic worthy of discussion.
Avoid Triggers And Keep Cravings In Check
Knowing your triggers is a vital part of recovering from any addiction. It may take some creativity, but avoiding the things that make it too hard to stay away from drugs will make all the difference.
Its important to continue avoiding your triggers even after you have been sober for a while. It can be easy to get overconfident and believe you will never go back to your old habits. However, this is a trap many people fall into. If youre in a support group, youll probably see this happen at least once.
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God Is Still Here For You During Addiction
Addiction is like a black hole. It pulls in everything good and only leaves feelings of hopelessness and loneliness. Like a void growing larger and larger, the struggle of overcoming a substance usedisorder can feel like an impossible task to achieve.
Its hard to say how your addiction grew to such proportions. It started as a recreational habit, helping you unwind after a hard day or loosen up in social circles. Over time, this seemingly harmless habit evolved into something more dark and sinister.
At this point, you may feel as if all hope is lost. The walls are closing in around you, leaving no options other than to perpetuate the vicious addictive cycle.
You might think that God has forsaken you, withdrawn all support and left you to fend for yourself. But this could not be further from the truth.
Psalm 50:15 reminds us that God asks us to call on Him in our times of trouble.
He promises to deliver us from the darkness of our sinful decisions and forgive our transgressions. All we need to do is ask and He will be there for us. Taking refuge in His loving embrace can be your greatest source of strength.
