All drugs are different and because they are different, the withdrawal symptom of each drug that a person has stopped taking varies as to whether it is emotional or physical.  Some drugs like alcohol, opiates and tranquilizers have significant physical withdrawals along with emotional withdrawal, whereas drugs like cocaine, marijuana and ecstasy have emotional withdrawal and some people could experience very little withdrawal despite the drug in use.

The symptoms that could occur with emotional withdrawal are anxiety, insomnia, headaches, a lack of concentration, depression and social isolation.

The symptoms of physical withdrawal are sweating, palpitations, muscle tension, breathing difficulties, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Alcohol and tranquilizers emit the most dangerous physical withdrawal because stopping to use alcohol or tranquilizer abruptly can lead to seizures or heart attack in high risk patients.  Going through a medically administered detox program can limit some withdrawal symptoms and reduce risky complications.

Withdrawal from heroin and oxycontin could be very uncomfortable but has no danger unless mixed with other drugs.

Two stages of withdrawal occurs, the first stage is the acute stage which last a few weeks, during this stage, physical symptoms may be experienced but this all depends on each person’s reaction to the symptoms, and the second stage is called the post acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS).

Post acute withdrawal takes place because it is now that your brain chemistry is gradually returning to normal and as the level fluctuates it is reaching a new equilibrium, at this point in the withdrawal process, most people experiences the same symptoms.

The post acute withdrawal symptoms are mood swings, anxiety, tiredness, high and low energy, low zest, high and low concentration and disturbed sleep.

When the post acute withdrawal begins symptoms will change from minute to minute and hour to hour, you might feel like a wreck, feeling good one minute and feeling terrible the next, and then at times it will disappear for months only to return again, but as you hold on and continue, it will get better and better, don’t try to rush the process because there will be a high possibility of relapse, which you do not want to happen.

These withdrawal symptoms are very uncomfortable but just go with the flow, the more you resent them the worse they will seem, so when you have those off days, relax and give yourself a break because you understand why your day is off, you know it’s off because you are going through a process that takes time and a process where the end result will suffice.

Remember that post acute withdrawal symptoms are a sign that your brain is recovering and your brain chemistry is steadily going back to normal.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites