How Your Body Reacts During Drug Addiction Withdrawal: Experts Talk

As a person’s mind and body become more dependent on alcohol and drugs, it becomes more difficult for them to quit using these substances.

Over prolonged exposure to addictive substances, the body changes function to match with the addictive substances. So, when a person tries to suddenly stop using drugs or alcohol, the body may react and experience withdrawal symptoms.

Today, we are here to share with you what happens to your body during the withdrawal phase and how you can prevent the withdrawal symptoms.

Understanding Drug Withdrawal

Withdrawal – as the term suggests – stopping yourself from alcohol and drug use. Although it might sound easy, it can be a dangerous process if done on your own, which is why you need medical detoxification.

When you want to stop your addiction, the first step is medical detoxification. No matter what addiction you have, the detoxification phase is mandatory.

The detoxification process involves removing toxic material from the body. While the patient is going through the medical detox, they experience withdrawal symptoms. 

Withdrawal from addiction can bring symptoms like agitation, sweating, insomnia, unstable blood pressure. Visiting a detox centre will offer professional expertise and help cure withdrawal symptoms. To know more, click https://www.gallusdetox.com/locations/texas/san-antonio-detox-center/.

What Happens To Your Body During Drug Withdrawal?

As you become physically dependent on drugs, your body gets accustomed to that substance being present inside the system for normal functioning. As a result, the body starts treating the addictive substance as a friendly element and restructures body activities.

But when you abruptly stop using drugs or alcohol after long-term use, your body cannot take the sudden change. It becomes violently ill and starts showing withdrawal symptoms.

To better explain how it affects your body, here is an example.

Opioids like heroin and cocaine affect your brain’s neurotransmitters and stimulate them to secret dopamine. The domine creates a feeling of extreme happiness and Euphoria.

When your brain is exposed to the addictive elements, it stops producing dopamine and needs external stimulants for effect.

So, when people stop using addictive elements, the brain releases very little to no dopamine. This results in the individual experiencing anxiety and stress.

Drug Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms will depend on the type of drug you have become dependent on. In general, withdrawal symptoms are the exact opposite of what you experience while under the influence.

You must understand that not all addictive elements are the same, and not all people are the same. In addition, different drugs affect people in different ways. 

There are various factors that determine the person’s withdrawal symptoms. These factors include:

  • Type of drug.
  • Amount of drugs consumed.
  • Length of time using drugs.
  • Exposure to multiple addictive elements.
  • Mental and physical health conditions.

Apart from all the factors mentioned above, you must also consider the severity of the withdrawal symptom.

Here are a few common symptoms that most patients experience.

1. Physical

Withdrawal symptoms are quite clear if they are related to anything physical. For instance, people going through detoxification start experiencing fatigue and lethargy as the toxin starts leaving their body.

Here are a few physical symptoms that people experience:

  • Sweating
  • Trembling
  • Clammy skin
  • Feeling cold
  • Muscle pain

2. Gastrointestinal

As we have already said, body activity is normalized by the substance being in the system. So, when the body cannot find the substance in the system, it affects how the body performs. This also includes your digestive system. In fact, this process is the first that is affected.

Appetite is affected, which disturbs the body’s nutritional value resulting in nausea, stomach cramps, and vomiting.

3. Behavioral

Behavioural changes start to surface as withdrawal symptoms. Individuals suffering from withdrawal symptoms change their interaction with others. People become agitated for no reason, frustrated at every small thing, and show sudden outbursts of bad behaviour.

4. Insomnia

Sleeping problems are expected from the individual going through the withdrawal symptoms. The body is used to sleeping with the substance in the system but when the body cannot find the substance in the system, it makes the body crave for it. Hence, the person is unable to sleep.

5. Cognition

Cognition symptoms are related to thinking, processing information, and making decisions. When a person is suffering from drug addiction, his cognitive abilities are affected and when trying to quit things get worse before they get better.

Confusion and disorientation thoughts are the common cognition symptoms. People find it difficult to concentrate during this phase and experience a slowed thought process. 

6. Psychological

Psychological symptoms are the effects of drugs on your mood. Much like agitation and irritability, anxiety and nervousness are frequently seen.

People start hallucinating, hearing weird noises, and feeling things that are not there. Paranoia and delirium are also part of the psychological symptoms.

Dangers Of Drug Withdrawal

Sometimes withdrawal symptoms are not just mild discomfort of insomnia but can become life-threatening. When someone’s body becomes more reliant on a particular substance for normal function, the backlash of suddenly stopping using that substance can be more dangerous than anticipated.

Powerful addictions like opioids, cocaine, heroin, and alcohol can lead to some of the most life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.

People might go through extreme delusion, hallucination during the withdrawal phase, which can instigate the person to harm themselves.

The severity of withdrawal also increases when the person is on a heavy dose for a long time. 

Prevent Drug Withdrawal From Happening

Drug withdrawal can be a scary process that can be not only painful but also life-threatening. Fortunately, a detox method can help you prevent withdrawal symptoms.

If you or anyone you love is suffering from addiction, seek professional help and start addiction treatment today.

Author Bio
Mashum Mollah is a Freelance medical and health Writer, and Blogger with 9 years of experience. He contributes to many blogs such as Medium, Mippin, Piczasso.