Detox is the process of removing alcohol and drugs from your body. The process involves reducing the amount of a substance in your body and eventually eliminating it. During this process, you will experience withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawal symptoms will depend on the substance you use, the quantity, frequency, genetics, and more.
Withdrawal symptoms make drug detox very uncomfortable and sometimes painful. Therefore, it would help to know how to cope with the withdrawal symptoms for a successful detox. Some of the key ways to cope with detox include getting professional help, maintain a healthy, mindful meditation, and communicate with your family and therapist for support.
Common Drug Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms make drug detox almost unbearable. They can get very intense because your body has become dependent on the drug. Therefore, your body needs the drugs to feel ‘normal’ and will portray withdrawal symptoms without them.
Withdrawal symptoms usually vary with the drug, the quantity you use, and the individual. However, Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include:
- Cravings
- Hallucinations
- Dehydration
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Aches
- Nausea
- Runny nose
- Changing moods
- Depression
How To Cope With Drug Detox
The following steps will help you cope with drug detox, complete it successfully, and advance to other treatments.
Professional Help vs. Self Detox
You can use either detox cold-turkey by yourself or with the help of a professional. Cold-turkey means stopping the use of a drug immediately. It is a risky approach because the withdrawal could have some painful symptoms, and you can easily relapse.
Thus, it would be best to get the help of a professional. They will use appropriate detox techniques and medication to make withdrawal more bearable. The medication they use depends on the drug and severity of the substance abuse. For example, they may use opioid withdrawal medication like methadone to taper off opioids from your body.
Moreover, professional detox may include ultra-rapid detox, which helps the patient avoid the pain and discomfort of withdrawal symptoms.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Individuals struggling with addiction lack essential nutrients and vitamins. Due to lifestyle changes that lead to poor diet, or the substance could affect your body. A healthy diet will help to restore your body functions to normal.
Studies show that it would help eat foods rich in vitamin A, C, D, E or nutrients like iron. Try to avoid foods and drinks with caffeine, refined sugars, processed oils and foods, and saturated fats.
Hydrate Often
Dehydration is a common drug withdrawal symptom. Moreover, we may experience drug cravings as a result of hunger or thirst. Therefore, you can reduce cravings if you stay hydrated. Furthermore, water facilitates important functions in our bodies.
Get Plenty Of Exercise
Research shows that exercise can reduce cravings, compulsive drug use, and the risk of relapse. Exercise triggers the brain to release endorphins which are happy hormones. They also help to restore the chemical balance in your brain.
Moreover, exercise can reduce tension and stress, which can easily trigger a relapse. You will also sleep better if you exercise often. Some of the useful exercises include walks, runs, aerobics, and more.
Observe a Structured Sleep Schedule
Almost 70% of detox patients struggle with sleep problems. Proper sleep is important for addiction recovery and your mental wellness. You need to be well-rested to control your cravings, mood swings and think clearly. It would help to adopt a sleeping schedule with a constant time for waking up and going to sleep.
Moreover, it would be best to avoid stimulating activities like watching TV or exercising right before you sleep. Try to be relaxed right before you go to bed for better sleep.
Mindful Meditation and Relaxation Techniques
Anxiety, depression, and physical pain are common withdrawal symptoms during detox. Studies show that you can alleviate them through various holistic treatments like mindfulness meditation and relaxation. Mindfulness meditation can help strengthen the bond between your body, mind, and spirit. Moreover, it can relieve muscle pain, tension and stimulate blood flow and circulation. It would also help to consider yoga to help with your meditation and relaxation.
Get Appropriate support
You need various levels of support to cope with drug detox. The support will help you address various challenges you encounter during detox and your recovery journey. You will come across various personal challenges. It would help to talk to a therapist to help you overcome them to stay sober.
Moreover, many people in detox and recovery have family issues. It would help to communicate with them on various matters. In case there are many differences, you can go for family therapy to help with reconciliation.
We also have peers and other individuals undergoing similar challenges in detox and recovery. You can join various support groups to give and receive support. Some of these groups include 12-step groups like Alcoholic Anonymous and more.
Conclusion
Withdrawal symptoms make drug detox very challenging. Many people relapse during detox because the symptoms become uncomfortable or painful. The withdrawal symptoms usually vary with the substance of abuse, the severity of abuse, an individual’s genetics, and more.
However, there are some general drug withdrawal symptoms. They include cravings, hallucinations, dehydration, irritability, insomnia, fatigue, aches, nausea, and more. There are various ways to cope with drug detox. They include getting professional help, maintaining a healthy diet, staying hydrated, often exercising, setting a proper sleep schedule, mindful meditation and relaxation, and getting the appropriate support.
Do You Need An Effective and Safe Drug Detox in California?
You can get effective and safe detox services in California from Coastline Behavioral Health in Orange County, CA. We use a personalized approach to detox and addiction treatment. It helps us address your individual needs in treatment for an effective recovery.
We address substance abuse and mental health issues like codependency, dual diagnosis, and more. Our treatment programs include inpatient rehab, intensive outpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, luxury rehab, executive rehab, and therapy services. Call us today at (714)841-2260 to get detox and additional treatment for you or a loved one.
Prescription drugs are drugs that you should strictly use according to the doctor’s instructions. However, there is a huge misconception that prescription drugs are not harmful. Therefore, people will use prescription medication contrary to the doctor’s instructions. A 2017 study shows that over 18 million Americans abused prescription medicines in the past year.
There are three main classes of the most addictive prescription drugs. Each of these classes has some similarities. The most addictive prescription drug groups include:
- Opioids. They attach to the same brain receptors as heroin. They cause effects like constipation, nausea, drowsiness, and slowed breathing. Examples include oxycodone, codeine, fentanyl, and Demerol.
- Stimulants. These are medicines that stimulate your central nervous system. They have effects similar to cocaine. Some of their effects include high body temperature, paranoia, and an irregular heartbeat. Examples of stimulants include Amphetamine (Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin)
- Depressants. Chronic use can cause fatigue, disorientation, shallow breathing, and lack of coordination. Examples of depressants include Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium.
Addiction is a disease, and it would be best to get professional medical attention to overcome addiction to illegal and prescription drugs. If abuse and minor addiction are left untreated, it can lead to severe addiction, overdose, fatalities, or other consequences.
Let’s take a look at the most addictive prescription drugs in detail.
1. Opioids
Opioids are medications that doctors prescribe for pain. Opioids have a high risk of abuse and addiction. Moreover, they are dangerous and have lead to many overdose fatalities. In 2010 alone, 60% of drug overdose deaths were associated with prescription opioids. Some of the symptoms of prescription opioid abuse include:
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Euphoria
- Lethargy
- Change in personality or behavior
- Difficulty breathing
- Seizures
- Headaches
Some of the most commonly abused prescription opioids include:
Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a useful yet dangerous synthetic opioid. Doctors usually prescribe it for chronic pain, especially for cancer patients. Fentanyl gives the user euphoria and relaxed feelings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that it is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine as a painkiller.
However, its traits make people use it and manufacture it for recreational purposes. Some manufacturers mix fentanyl with cocaine, heroin, or both. According to a 2017 report from the CDC, fentanyl was responsible for more than 50% of opioid overdose deaths in 10 states.
Oxycodone (OxyContin)
Oxycodone is a painkiller that also gives you euphoria and a sedating effect. These effects are similar to heroin’s effects. Oxycodone is commonly available under the brand Oxycontin. Some manufacturers mix it with acetaminophen to form a product with the brand name Percocet. Research shows that oxycodone is a major contributor to the opioid crisis because there was an increase of almost 900% in oxycontin sales between 1997 and 2007.
Codeine
Doctors usually prescribe codeine for mild and moderate pain. Codeine also features alongside other medications to treat cold and flu symptoms. A common mix that contains codeine is cough syrup. High quantities of cough syrup with codeine can cause a sedative effect and altered levels of consciousness.
Moreover, people add soda or candy to cough syrup with codeine to form an illicit concoction known as ‘lean,’ ‘purple drank,’ or ‘sizzurp.’
Meperidine (Demerol)
Meperidine is a synthetic opioid that doctors prescribe for moderate to severe pain. It is commonly available under the brand name Demerol. Meperidine usually causes euphoria, just like other opioids.
2. Stimulants
Stimulants are prescription medications that increase your brain activity, energy levels, and alertness. Some common signs of abuse of stimulants include:
- Euphoria
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Weight loss
- Reduced appetite
- Hostility or aggressiveness
- Nausea
- Changes in vision
- Dilated pupils
- Headache
- Changes in behavior or personality
Some commonly abused stimulants include:
Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Methylphenidate is a stimulant doctors prescribe for ADHD and narcolepsy. It helps with attention by increasing the levels of dopamine in your brain. Methylphenidate is commonly available under the brand name Ritalin. A report by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) shows that doctors gave about 20 million methylphenidate prescriptions between 2016 and 2017. Ritalin and other stimulants are commonly abused because of their availability. You may experience effects like trouble sleeping and agitation if you misuse methylphenidate.
Amphetamine (Adderall)
Amphetamine is also known as speed. Doctors also prescribe it for ADHD and narcolepsy. People abuse amphetamine for its energizing effects. It can mix with dextroamphetamine to form a product known ad Adderall. Most people who use it have sleep deprivation. Examples include college students working on deadlines, shift workers, and drivers.
Misuse of amphetamine has the following symptoms on top of the common signs of stimulant misuse:
- Rapid breathing
- Increased body temperature
- Increased alertness and energy
- Increased blood pressure
3. Depressants
Depressants or central nervous system (CNS) depressants are medications that have a calming effect on users. They are also known as tranquilizers. Some symptoms of depressants misuse include:
- Confusion
- Lethargy
- Dizziness
- Memory problems
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Changes in behavior or personality
CNS depressants can be categorized into benzodiazepines and barbiturates. Some of the most abused prescription depressants include:
Alprazolam (Xanax)
Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine usually available under the Xanax brand. It helps with panic disorders and anxiety. People mainly abuse alprazolam because of its sedating effects. Additional signs of alprazolam misuse include tremors, trouble sleeping, and swelling of the hands or feet. Studies suggest that benzodiazepines have a high overdose risk, especially when mixed with opioids. There was a four times increase in overdose cases between 2002 and 2015.
Clonazepam (Klonopin) and Diazepam (Valium)
Diazepam and clonazepam are benzodiazepines doctors prescribe for seizures, panic disorders, and anxiety. They are usually on sale under the brand names Valium and Klonopin, respectively. They are also known to have effects similar to alcohol. People experience feelings of relaxation, drunkenness, and talkativeness.
Conclusion
Prescription drugs are medications that you should take only under the doctor’s instructions. Many people believe they are harmless, which exposes them to great risk. You can easily get addicted, especially prescription opioids, build a tolerance for drugs, and overdose. Prescription drugs can also be addictive, and you need to get the best addiction help if you feel you are becoming overly dependent on prescription drugs. Some of the most addictive prescription drugs include opioids like codeine, stimulants like amphetamine, and depressants like alprazolam.
You can get help for any addiction, including addiction to prescription drugs, at Coastline Behavioral Health in Orange County, CA. We offer various drug treatment programs to help overcome various forms of addiction. They include detox, inpatient rehab, intensive outpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, executive rehab, and luxury rehab. Call us today at (741)841-2260 to get addiction treatment for you or a loved one.
Drug And Alcohol Counselor Help
Many people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol go through a detoxification to cleanse their body. Though this first step is crucial, a drug and alcohol counselor can help you through the real work of rehabilitation. The benefits of counseling do not provide a magic cure for substance abuse, but they can help you overcome your destructive thoughts and habits that led you to rehab initially. A drug and alcohol counselor can help you learn coping skills through individual or group sessions that assist you in maintaining your sobriety and leading a life that is positive and healthy.
Increase Your Motivation
One of the biggest challenges faced by rehab patients is finding the motivation to fight against their addiction. Most times, your substance abuse is obvious to your family and friends, but you may believe you can quit at any time or that you are not really addicted.
During early rehab, one of the most important therapeutic techniques is motivational interviewing. With motivational interviewing, the addiction therapist takes on the role of a collaborative partner or coach and encourages you to find your source of motivation to quit your addiction. This can help you overcome the fear of getting clean.
Changing Your Behaviors
You may feel completely out of control of your addiction. You have likely done many self-destructive things because of your need for drugs that have hurt your relationships, self-esteem, and health. Your counselor will help you identify the thoughts, habits, and behaviors that surround your drug use during your sessions. During the process known as CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, you will learn how to replace the compulsive behaviors with approaches that are more constructive and healthier.
Relapse Prevention
It is very common for a recovering addict to relapse. You will likely feel compelled to go back to drugs at some point in your life, whether it’s months or years after you stop using. Despite all your hard work at recovery, many people return to substance abuse because of personal hardships, social cues, stress, and emotional pressures. A drug and alcohol counselor can help you prevent relapse by:
- Helping you recognize relapse warning signs.
- Helping you learn coping strategies.
- Helping you develop networks for social support.
- Providing you with the resources you need to overcome a small slip up.
Whether you have been clean from drugs or alcohol for a short while or a long time, the urge to relapse tends to come from nowhere. There are several warning signs you can look for, though, such as isolation, lack of planning, fear of the future, depression, and faltering self-confidence. A drug and alcohol counselor can help you recognize these warning signs so you can prevent a relapse.
Create Relationships that are Stronger
Addiction can take a toll on relationships with family and friends. One of the most valuable benefits of counseling is rebuilding those broken relationships. Most rehab facilities provide opportunities for families to participate in counseling. Your drug and alcohol counselor can walk you through steps to mend relationships damaged through your addiction.
The addiction specialists at Coastline Behavioral Health understand the vital role counseling plays in your journey of healing. Give us a call today to start your process towards recovery.