Alcohol and Drug Withdrawal in Durham, NC – (919) 267-1662

Although the addiction withdrawal process usually only lasts a few days at most, many addicts view it with fear. It can, after all, be painful, especially if it is attempted without the help of a medical detox professional. However, alcohol and drug withdrawal is a necessary part of the addiction treatment process, and it is the first step toward living without a physical dependence on an illicit substance.  

What is Withdrawal?

If you have ever experienced a hangover after an evening of drinking too much, then you have experienced withdrawal. When a substance enters your body, whether through drinking, smoking, snorting, or injecting, your body and brain have to make adjustments to compensate for the intrusion. As the substance leaves and the effect of the high wears off, a number of physical symptoms can occur as your body attempts to cope with the adjustments it has just had to make. A single use of a drug usually produces extremely mild withdrawal symptoms, if any at all, but long-term use can make the alcohol or drug withdrawal process very painful, and sometimes even fatal without medical assistance.

Physical Symptoms of Withdrawal

Your body can adjust to changes remarkably well, so withdrawal even from long-term use of a substance usually only shows physical symptoms for a few days at most. These symptoms can be compounded by other physical problems that are often associated with drug use, such as dehydration after long bouts of drinking or extreme hunger after addiction to an appetite suppressing stimulant. Although the exact symptoms that you may experience during withdrawal will vary depending on the drug used, the length of use, and your body’s own physiology, some of the most common physical symptoms for many drugs include:

  • High or low blood pressure
  • High or low heart rate
  • Increased or decreased breathing
  • Body aches and pains
  • Stomach aches
  • Headaches
  • Muscle cramps
  • Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
  • Sensitivity to light and sound
  • Extreme fatigue

Mental Symptoms of Withdrawal

While the physical symptoms of withdrawal usually go away within a short amount of time, the mental symptoms can last for weeks, months, or even years for some long-term users. This is because drug use literally changes the way your brain works, interfering with the memory and learning parts of your brain and, even more disturbing, the pleasure receptors in your brain. In the most severe cases, pleasure receptors can become so damaged that an addict is nearly incapable of feeling happy even years after recovery, but this is rare. The more common mental symptoms of withdrawal include:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Unexplained anger or frustration
  • Development or worsening of a co-existing disorder

You Don’t Have to Withdraw Alone

A quality addiction treatment program will offer medical detox as the first step toward beating a physical dependence and breaking free of your addiction. Durham Drug Rehab Centers offers just that, with natural detox available in some cases and a holistic approach to treatment at the core of our addiction treatment philosophy. Contact us today at (919) 267-1662 to find a new hope for your future.