Signs and Symptoms of Withdrawal
Signs and Symptoms of Withdrawal
There are visible signs of someone withdrawing from drugs that you should know about if you live or close to someone you suspect is doing drugs. The same can be said about alcohol; there are clear signs of alcohol withdrawal that can be observed and acted upon if need be. First off, one must know that there are many types of drugs available, and each will have their specific signs and symptoms of withdrawal. There is also a set of general signs that someone is withdrawing from some drug.
For instance, the most obvious sign is a lack of energy, feeling down, depressed, no “get up and go” sort of speak. This symptom is one of the first to show up because the drugs begin to wear off the depleted nutrition from the body; vitamins, proteins, and minerals burn up, leaving the person with an exhausted look. If the individual doesn’t get another dose, you will see signs of agitation, anxiety, nervousness with possible twitching. As it continues, the person will begin to be dazed, not there, attention elsewhere, they start to go “zombielike.” You can ask them a question, and they may look at you with a blank stare. It is usually due to the attention that is now fixated on finding ways to get more drugs.
Depending on the drug, on the second or third day, the signs begin to be more pronounced; they will try to manipulate and lie to attempt getting what they need. They may even start to steal from their parents, family or friends. By this time, no one is safe, and the addict cannot be trusted in any way, he or she will go to great length to fulfill their need. In all cases, this is a rough rapid spiral of withdrawal signs and symptoms.
List of Withdrawal Symptoms
Many drugs will add to the above with:
- Rapid heart rate
- Sweating
- Shaking
- Diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Vomiting
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Cramps even severe at times, in the legs, arms, back.
With alcohol addiction, mainly with heavy drinkers, you can expect:
- Delirium tremens
- Shaking
- Seizures just the same as someone having an opiate addiction.
In either case of drugs or alcohol, the side effects of stopping these are unpleasant, to say the least. Don’t be left with any options, be informed about the signs and symptoms of withdrawing from drugs or alcohol and learn what you can do about it. If you know someone with a substance abuse problem, call us for assistance in resolving their addiction.
