Can Quitting An Addiction Cause Withdrawal Symptoms?

Why Does Withdrawal Occur?

When your body is exposed to any type of substance for a regular period of time, the substance throws off your body’s natural balance or homeostasis.

When you regularly take a substance for a period of time, your body may build a tolerance and dependence on that substance. Tolerance means that it takes larger doses of the substance to achieve the same effects that you initially experienced, while dependence means that your body requires the substance in order to avoid experiencing withdrawal effects.

If you abruptly stop or decrease your intake of the substance, your body is once again thrown off balance and symptoms of withdrawal may result. Such symptoms are often both physical and mental, and can potentially be dangerous depending on the type of drug.

Withdrawal symptoms are often the opposite of the effects of the substance. For example, alcohol is a depressant, so if you suddenly stop consuming alcohol, you might experience symptoms of overstimulation such as anxiety or restlessness.

How does it feel to have withdrawal symptoms from drugs?

Although some people only experience mild discomfort after stopping a drug, others may experience dangerous or life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, depending on the substance and their level of dependence. To avoid or at least minimise some of these symptoms, doctors and addiction experts recommend gradually tapering off of a substance and sometimes stopping it altogether through a medically supervised detox program. Withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on the substance. Plus, not everyone will experience symptoms the same way. For example, someone who uses drugs or alcohol for several years may have more severe symptoms than someone who is a newcomer to substance use.

Withdrawal symptoms can take shape in two ways: physically and mentally (which includes behaviorally, psychologically, and cognitively). They can also seem barely noticeable or feel like they’re invading every part of your body and mind, including thinking, concentration, and frequency and intensity of emotions.

Drug Withdrawal Timelines: How Long Does Withdrawal Last?

How do you deal with withdrawal symptoms?

Withdrawal from which drugs can be fatal?

A common question about drug and alcohol rehab and detox focuses on whether or not the withdrawal process can cause death.

There’s a lot of conflicting information on the Internet about what types of substances can bring dangerous or deadly withdrawal symptoms. Often, individuals struggling with addiction and their loved ones are either manipulated through fear or lulled into complacency by a lack of accurate information on the dangers and risks of drug withdrawal.

The truth of the matter is somewhat in between, depending on the situation, and it is true that withdrawal from some substances can be deadly. Still, with professional treatment through a medical detox and other supporting therapies, the risks of withdrawal can be controlled to keep individuals safe and largely comfortable through the detox process.

How do you prevent post acute withdrawal syndrome?

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