Drug Addiction Treatment

Archive for the ‘Drug Addiction Withdrawal’ Category

This post contributed by Ryan Rivera

Stopping drug use is not the entire gauge for recovery or success. It is having the ability to build a meaningful and productive life after. It is about moving forward and completely avoiding the things that brought trouble in your previous life. It is about knowing how to face and manage future situations that will bring in moments of anxiety and depression. This is very significant because withdrawing from addiction would mean having to deal with bouts of anxiousness and depressive feelings along the way, constantly.

Withdrawal happens as soon as you attempt to put a stop to your addiction to drugs. It is like depriving a child of toys that he has learned to sleep with, eat with and play with. Scientifically speaking, it is similar to a paper weight that holds back the brain from producing neurotransmitters. When you decide to remove this paper weight, your brain bounces back with the sudden flow of adrenaline. This causes the symptoms for withdrawal. Withdrawal comes in two forms, depending on the drug used: physical and emotional.

Physical Withdrawal – This is brought by substances such as tranquilizers, opiates and alcohol. People with this condition suffer from sweating, difficulty in breathing, muscle tension, heart palpitation, vomiting, chest pain, nausea and others. But these are minor physical withdrawal symptoms. There are these so-called dangerous and severe physical withdrawal symptoms. These pertain to patients who decide to stop taking tranquilizers and alcohol and face the risks of having strokes, heart attacks, grand mal seizures, hallucinations and Derilium Tremens or DTs.

Emotional Withdrawal – This happens even with or without minor physical withdrawal. It is caused by the use of marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy. People who have emotional withdrawal undergo anxiety, poor concentration, irritability, insomnia, social isolation, restlessness and others.

Withdrawal also comes in two stages: acute and post-acute. Acute withdrawal gears toward the physical symptoms, which the patients experience for several weeks. Post-acute withdrawal is more of the emotional withdrawal. It happens right at the moment when the chemistry of the brain is about to get back to normal but experiences fluctuations as it moves closer to stability. This stage of withdrawal takes two years, with every episode lasting for a few days.

To enable complete recovery, you have to avoid situations that will make you want the substance all the more. Do not allow yourself to experience hunger, anger, loneliness and tiredness. These are typical instances that can lead you back to where you once before.

To avoid hunger, eat a hearty meal before you leave home. Have something to eat inside your bag, like crackers in case you feel the need to have a bite. To prevent you from feeling isolated, make it a point to always be in a group or have someone you can talk to anytime. When angry, perform a relaxation technique, like breathing or mediation. Close your eyes. Let go of all the frustrations and disappointments. Take deep breaths. Release all tension. Do these until you are fully relaxed. To avoid being tired, always take a break from a long activity. Get enough sleep so you’ll have energy to perform your activities the following day.

It is very important to remove all the alcohol in the house, including drug paraphernalia. Forget about your drinking buddies and your favorite hang outs. Buy books or watch movies that will inspire you more about your new life. If you are ready, talk to a group in your community that also deals with drug addiction withdrawal. In programs like AA, you are given a sponsor. This sponsor is someone who beats the odds and has achieved complete recovery. The sponsor will guide you through the process. It’s very helpful if there is someone who understands what you’re going through.

Coping skills need practice. It’s not an overnight thing. Do not think that you can immediately overcome all the difficulties of drug withdrawal just because you know all the techniques. It takes time. It also takes commitment and dedication. Relapse is likely to happen if you do not put your mind and heart into the journey to full recovery.
Dishonesty is expected in the early stages. But as much as you can, tell the truth—what you feel and how you feel about the treatment. Be honest about thinking about buying drugs and hiding them in your room. Your doctors, family and friends can offer you help to address this. Do not be ashamed of your situation. Face the fact that you need guidance. Read the rest of this entry »