What is withdrawal syndrome and how to overcome it

What is withdrawal syndrome and where does it come from

Withdrawal Syndrome The withdrawal state is always associated with an established addiction. At some point, a person decides (or is forced) to abandon the usual dose of this or that substance, on which for weeks, months, or even years of use, his brain has become addicted, and the organ begins to panic. However, not from scratch.

Psychoactive substances change how the brain works. For example, they increase the activity of some receptors, which increases the production of hormones - the same "pleasure hormone" dopamine or excitatory adrenaline. Also, the level of certain neurotransmitters is growing - excitatory or, conversely, relaxing. All this in combination with other reactions leads to a simple thing: the brain, which receives constant replenishment of a psychoactive substance, stops regulating the adequate amount of hormones and neurotransmitters on its own.

Well, really, why bother? After all, the owner will drink or take a pill - and with hormones everything will be fine by itself.

When the time for regular intake of a psychoactive substance comes, and the coveted powder (conditionally) is not there, everything becomes bad. The body needs the usual doses of hormones and neurotransmitters. But the brain is unable to produce them. This extreme imbalance between "want" and "can" leads to a variety of physical and emotional consequences.

What substances cause withdrawal symptoms

These are not only drugs, although where without them. The five most addictive substances are:

Heroin and other opiates.
Cocaine.
Nicotine.
Barbiturates are barbituric acid-based sedatives and hypnotics.
Alcohol. By the way, it is named Development of a rational scale to assess the harm of drugs of potential misuse the most dangerous drug in the world - based on the rate of addiction, and on the effect on the body as a whole, and on the severity of withdrawal, which occurs when trying to refuse alcohol abuse.

This list, of course, is not complete. Some antidepressants, psychostimulants, antipsychotic drugs, tranquilizers from the benzodiazepine group, as well as "harmless" drugs such as marijuana and ecstasy also cause addiction, fraught with withdrawal syndrome.

How to recognize withdrawal symptoms

Withdrawal Syndrome's symptoms differ depending on which substance the body is lacking. Avoiding certain medications causes severe physical discomfort. The lack of others makes itself felt not so much physically as mentally.

In general, there are 10 most common signs of Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal withdrawal.

Withdrawal Mental Symptoms:

Anxiety. This includes anxiety, irritability, and panic attacks.
Depressed mood. A person suffering from abstinence wants only one thing: to be left behind. It is impossible to cheer him up. He is constantly “too tired”.
Sleep problems. Any: insomnia, nightmares, need to sleep all day long.
Cognitive impairment. Memory impairment, inability to concentrate.

Withdrawal physical symptoms:

Dizziness, headache.
Chest tightness, shortness of breath.
Heart rhythm disturbances, fast or uneven heartbeat.
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain.
Muscle tension. Including cramps, tremors (tremors) of the limbs, muscle pain, like with the flu.
Sweating, numbness, and tingling of the skin of the hands and feet.

Why is withdrawal syndrome dangerous?

Sometimes - nothing but a few days (sometimes weeks) of physical ailment and psychological discomfort. For example, this is how antidepressant withdrawal manifests itself: Is there such a thing? or smoking. But in some cases, withdrawal symptoms can be so powerful that they pose a real threat to life.

The most dangerous Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal physical symptoms appear with a sharp refusal from alcohol and tranquilizers, which were previously taken regularly and in large doses. It can lead to seizures, stroke or heart attack, and in the case of alcohol, even to the development of metal-alcohol psychosis, better known as delirium tremens.

How to overcome withdrawal symptoms

Considering the possible consequences, the refusal from the addictive drug, as well as body movements such as “quit smoking” should be coordinated with your doctor or at least with a therapist. The doctor will tell you how to get through the withdrawal period with minimal discomfort.

If you don't have serious health problems, What Is Alcohol Withdrawal will most likely help? just a comfortable environment:

a quiet, calm bedroom where you can lie down while your body recovers;
soft dim lighting;
limited contact with people;
support from loved ones;
healthy food and plenty of fluids.

But at the same time, you need to be sensitive to your well-being. If blood pressure rises during the withdrawal period, tachycardia (accelerated, uneven heartbeat) is observed, body temperature rises and, moreover, convulsions and hallucinations appear, call an ambulance. Treatment may be required Federal clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of withdrawal symptoms in a hospital setting.