When you use alcohol and opioids for a long time, your brain will adapt to the presence of the drugs in your system. If you attempt to cut back on the drugs in your body, your body will fight back, and you will develop mental and physical problems. If you drink a couple of times over a long time, you are least likely to develop withdrawal symptoms. If you are trying to live a drug-free life, it could be prudent to find a Malibu addiction counselor who will help you through the detox journey.
What Causes Drug Withdrawal Symptoms?
Alcohol and opioids hurt the body and brain functions, and they result in declined physical functions and a slow functioning brain. The body would react to the presence of alcohol in the system by working hard to keep the brain active. The nervous system stays alert at all times to improve the speed of the nervous system and brain functions. When you try to reduce the presence of the drugs in your system, the body will react through a physical and mental breakdown. The symptoms of drug withdrawal can be attributed to the new uptake, which results from the high presence of drugs in the body.
Symptoms of Drug Withdrawal
The symptoms of drug withdrawal depend on how much of the drug you have taken and for how long. The symptoms could range from mild to severe and varies from one person to another. Some of these drug withdrawal symptoms could occur as soon as 6 hours after the last drug dose, and they include:
· Anxiety
· Shaky hands
· Headaches
· Nausea
· Vomiting
· Insomnia
· Hallucination and seizures
· Racing heart and high blood pressure
How Your Medical Practitioner Can Diagnose Withdrawal Symptoms
Your doctor should ask you about your drinking history and the period you have been on drugs and how recently you have been drug-free. It would help if you informed your doctor whether you have gone without drugs in the past and how you felt. They would discuss the symptoms you have, which could be related to drug addiction. They would also look for other medical conditions that could be blamed for the symptoms other than drug withdrawal.
Drug Withdrawal Treatment
Your doctor will guide you on the treatments that will work best for your condition, and they will discuss how to take care of yourself if you have an underlying condition. You will need to have supporting environments that can help you go through the treatment, especially in a hospital such as:
· A quiet place
· Soft lighting
· Limiting your contact with people
· Positive and supporting environment
· Healthy food and drinking fluids
Your doctor may recommend therapy, such as aromatherapy, exercising, and yoga. If your condition does not improve, they could resort to nerve-blocking drugs that prevent your body from processing the drugs ingested. You should have supporting family or friends who can help you overcome addiction.
The Bottom Line
When you decide to live a drug-free life after an addiction, there is a high chance that you could experience withdrawal symptoms. Drug withdrawal symptoms are due to the body’s increased functions to curb the effects of drugs when you stop taking the drugs; it suddenly affects the body’s normal functioning. It would be prudent if you saw a counselor who will help you manage your drug addiction problems.