According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drug use has been rising every year. In fact, in the year 2013, nearly 25 million Americans used illicit drugs quite frequently every month. While it is easy to get addicted to substances, it can be infinitely harder to wean yourself off of them. The same goes for helping someone else sober up.
No matter what substance caused the addiction, sobering up is difficult and will entail many challenges for the person going through the process. Perhaps the hardest parts to overcome are the withdrawal symptoms that a patient will inevitably have to fight against. This article will discuss some of the withdrawal symptoms one may experience during detox, as well as how to combat them.
Examples of Withdrawal Symptoms
While not an exhaustive list, these are but some of the effects that somebody may experience during a period of withdrawal:
Physical Symptoms
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Nausea
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Headaches
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Insomnia
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A lack of appetite
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Lack of energy
Mental Symptoms
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Hallucinations
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Depression
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Restlessness
If you are unsure whether something you are experiencing is due to drug withdrawal or not, you can consult a Malibu recovery center for answers.
How to Treat Withdrawal Symptoms
Though the obvious solution would be to complete the detox treatment, it can feel nearly impossible to reach that point while struggling with the negative impact of drug withdrawal. Here are some things you can do in the meantime, either for yourself or for a patient you are looking out for:
Drink lots of water. Choose drinks with electrolytes if possible. This helps keep you from getting dizzy or tired.
Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Put more fruits and vegetables into your daily meals. However, avoid alcohol, as it can harm your liver.
Try taking some medications. Some examples that can help are benzodiazeprine and disulfram, among many others.
