About Withdrawal

As a general rule of thumb withdrawal symptoms tend to be the opposite of the effect of the substance being used. Withdrawal from a stimulant such as cocaine would be opposite of the sense of omnipotence and excitement experienced during a cocaine high. Withdrawal from a depressent such as heroin would tend to be opposite of the euphoric, ultra relaxed experience of a heroin "nod". The following descriptions will prepare you for withdrawal, but intense counselling in order to keep motivated and encouraged is always a good idea. It may be helpful to seek medical help during this time.

Withdrawal symptoms will also be experienced as you make efforts to overcome process addictions such as gambling, sex, pornography, relationships, shopping, and so on. While the symptoms will be mainly psychological in nature, such as anxiety and restlessness, they can also be physiological, particularly with addictions to sex and/or pornography. All addictions are an effort to cope with underlying issues of pain, anxiety, or helplessness, but they also include certain habits or "rituals" that become part of the addictive process. Turning all this around is never just a matter of "pulling up your bootstraps." Your willingness to "go through the pain" of withdrawal, with help, will be a key ingredient to experience full recovery.

So, keep in mind that this is not meant to be done alone. You may be tempted to return to your previous way of thinking of "going it alone", but it is during this time more than any other that you will need to connect with resources and people who will support you.

If you are needing help to develop motivation and resliency as you follow through on your plans to adopt a new lifestyle, please call Recovery Centre for Addictions, Trauma and Families at 204-956-5502, or make contact through e-mail This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

You will be empowered to design and act on an action plan that is unique for your circumstances and who you are as an individual.

"Nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37

SEE BELOW REGARDING EFFECTS FOR:

• Alcohol
• Cocaine
• Crack Cocaine
• Chrystal Meth
• Heroin
• Marijauna/Cannibas
• Nicotine

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Alcohol Withdrawal

People who drink Alcohol on a regular basis become tolerant to many of the unpleasant effects, and thus are able to drink more before suffering these effects. Yet even with increased consumption, many such drinkers don't appear intoxicated. Because they continue to work and socialize reasonably well, their deteriorating physical condition may go unrecognized by others until severe damage develops - or until they are hospitalized for other reasons and suddenly experience alcohol Withdrawal symptoms.

Psychological addiction to alcohol may occur with regular use of even relatively moderate daily amounts. It may also occur in people who consume alcohol only under certain conditions, such as before and during social occasions. This form of addiction refers to a craving for alcohol's psychological effects, although not necessarily in amounts that produce serious intoxication. For psychologically addicted drinkers, the lack of alcohol tends to make them anxious and, in some cases, panicky.

Physical addiction to alcohol occurs in consistently heavy drinkers. Since their bodies have adapted to the presence of alcohol, they suffer alcohol Withdrawal if they suddenly stop drinking. Alcohol Withdrawal symptoms range from jumpiness, sleeplessness, sweating, and poor appetite, to tremors (the "shakes"), convulsions, hallucinations, and sometimes death.

Alcohol Withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:

• Sweating or Rapid Pulse

• Increased Hand Tremor

• Insomnia

• Nausea or Vomiting

• Physical Agitation

• Anxiety

• Transient Visual, Tactile or Auditory Hallucinations or Illusions

• Grand Mal Seizures

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Cocaine Withdrawal

Cocaine addiction can occur very quickly and be very difficult to break. Animal studies have shown that animals will work very hard (press a bar over 10,000 times) for a single injection of cocaine, choose cocaine over food and water, and take cocaine even when this behavior is punished. Animals must have their access to cocaine limited in order not to take toxic or even lethal doses. People addicted to cocaine behave similarly. They will go to great lengths to get cocaine and continue to take it even when it hurts their school or job performance and their relationships with loved ones.

Regular use of cocaine can lead to strong psychological dependence (addiction). Those who abruptly stop their cocaine use can experience cocaine Withdrawal symptoms as they readjust to functioning without the drug. The length of cocaine Withdrawal varies from person to person and on the amount and frequency of use.

Cocaine withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:

• agitation

• depression

• intense craving for the drug

• extreme fatigue

• anxiety

• angry outbursts

• lack of motivation

• nausea/vomiting

• shaking

• irritability

• muscle pain

• disturbed sleep

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Crack Cocaine Withdrawal

The chemical cocaine hydrochloride is commonly known as crack. Some users chemically process cocaine in order to remove the hydrochloride. This process is called "freebasing" and makes the drug more potent. Users who become addicted will "crave" more of the drug as soon as the intoxicating effects wear off, if they do not get their regular dose.

Both cocaine and crack users bear witness to never quite being able to achieve again the intensity of their first few "highs". This leads to the phenomenon known as "chasing" in which the main motivation for using becomes reaching that particular state again. The lifestyle becomes increasingly frustrating, depressive, and desparate.

Because crack is an extremely powerful drug, crack addiction is inevitable. Once an individual has tried crack they may be unable to predict or control the extent to which they will continue to use. Crack is probably the most addictive substance yet devised. Crack users need more and more crack to attain the same high and avoid the intense "crash" or depression that follows their high. They become physically and psychologically dependent on crack , which often is a result of only a few doses taken within a few days. This dependence on crack leads to crack addiction. To balance off the intense lows, crack users often use other drugs, such as alcohol, hash or marijuana in addition to crack.

Crack cocaine withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:

• agitation

• depression

• intense craving for the drug

• extreme fatigue

• anxiety

• angry outbursts

• lack of motivation

• nausea/vomiting

• shaking

• irritability

• muscle pain

• disturbed sleep

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Chrystal Meth Withdrawal

Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug chemically related to amphetamine but with stronger effects on the central nervous system. Street names for the drug include "speed," "meth," "crystal," and "crank." Methamphetamine is used in pill form, or in powdered form by snorting or injecting. Crystallized methamphetamine known as "ice," "crystal," or "glass," is a smokable and more powerful form of the drug.

Methamphetamine addiction has three patterns: low intensity, binge, and high intensity. Low-intensity addiction describes a user who does not have psychological addiction to the meth but uses methamphetamine on a casual basis by swallowing or snorting it. Binge and high-intensity abusers have a psychological addiction to meth and prefer to smoke or inject methamphetamine to achieve a faster and stronger high. Binge abusers use methamphetamine more than individuals with low-intensity meth addiction but less than individuals with a high-intensity meth addiction.

Long-term heavy use of amphetamines may lead to malnutrition, skin disorders, ulcers and diseases resulting from vitamin deficiencies. Regular use may contribute to lack of sleep and weight loss. Intravenous users are at risk for serious, life-threatening diseases such as AIDS, lung and heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases.

Frequent use of large amounts of amphetamines may eventually result in mental illness, suicide and violent death. Amphetamine-induced psychosis is a paranoid state that may develop after ingestion or the injection of large doses of amphetamines.

Other Long-Term Methamphetamine Effects

• hallucinations
• disorganized lifestyle
• violent and aggressive behavior
• ongoing, long term psychological problems
• behavior resembling paranoid schizophrenia
• poor coping abilities
• disturbance of personality development
• lowered resistance to illnesses
• possible brain damage and deteriation
  

Meth Withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:

• fatigue

• long, disturbed periods of sleep

• irritability

• intense hunger

• moderate to severe depression

• psychotic reactions

• anxiety

Meth withdrawal, length and severity of depression is related to how much and how often Meth was used. Withdrawal symptoms including, cravings, exhaustion, depression, mental confusion, restlessness, insomnia, deep or disturbed sleep, may last up to 48 hours.

The harmful effects of the drug on the brain and body could remain for years without proper psychological care and treatment.

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Heroin Withdrawal

Heroin Withdrawal symptoms are some of the nastiest an addict can experience compared to Withdrawal from any other drug. The individual who has become physically as well as psychologically dependent on heroin will experience heroin Withdrawal with an abrupt discontinuation of use or even a decrease in their daily amount of heroin taken. The onset of heroin Withdrawal symptoms begin six to eight hours after the last dose is administrated. Major heroin withdrawal symptoms peak between 48 and 72 hours after the last dose of heroin and subdue after about one week. The symptoms of heroin withdrawal produced are similar to a bad case of the flu.

Symptoms of Heroin withdrawal include but are not limited to:

• dilated pupils

• piloerection (goose bumps)

• watery eyes

• runny nose

• yawning

• loss of appetite

• tremors

• panic

• chills

• nausea

• muscle cramps

• insomnia

• stomach cramps

• diarrhea

• vomiting

• shaking

• chills or profuse sweating

• irritability

• jitteriness

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Marijuana Withdrawal

Marijuana is a green or gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). It is the most often used illegal drug in this country. All forms of cannabis are mind-altering (psychoactive) drugs; they all contain THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the main active chemical in marijuana. There are about 400 chemicals in a cannabis plant, but THC is the one that affects the brain the most.

Marijuana addiction is a phenomenon experienced by more than 150,000 individuals each year who enter treatment for their proclaimed addiction to marijuana. Marijuana addiction is characterized as compulsive, often uncontrollable marijuana craving, seeking, and use, even when the individual knows that marijuana use is not in his best interest. Marijuana addiction could be defined as chronically making the firm decision not to use marijuana followed shortly by a relapse due to experiencing overwhelming compulsive urges to use marijuana despite the firm decision not to. This contradiction is characteristic of an addiction problem.

Marijuana Withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:

• irritability

• anxiety

• physical tension

• decreases in appetite and mood

Symptoms of marijuana withdrawal first appear in chronic users within 24 hours. Marijuana withdrawal is most pronounced for the first 10 days and can last up to 28 days.

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Nicotine Withdrawal

Physical withdrawal from nicotine is a temporary condition, but it can cause a fair amount of discomfort while it lasts. The nickname of having "quitter's flu" has been given to this phase of cessation because the symptoms of withdrawal often mimic having a cold or a mild case of the flu. Understanding what to expect and following the pointers for coping will help you move through this stage more easily.

The following list are commonly reported symptoms. Most people have some of these, but rarely all of them. While each person will go through this process a little differently, for most people, these discomforts are short-lived. It's always a good idea to check in with your doctor if you're concerned about any physical reaction you're having to cessation, or if the symptoms persist.

Symptoms of Physical Withdrawal:

• Cravings

• Irritable, cranky

• Insomnia

• Fatigue

• Inability to Concentrate

• Headache

• Cough

• Sore throat

• Constipation, gas, stomach pain

• Dry mouth

• Sore tongue and/or gums

• Postnasal drip

• Tightness in the chest

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If you are needing help to develop motivation and resliency as you follow through on your plans to adopt a new lifestyle, please call Recovery Centre for Addictions, Trauma and Families at 204-956-5502, or make contact through e-mail This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

You will be empowered to design and act on an action plan that is unique for your circumstances and who you are as an individual.