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Trying to stop can be hard for those who struggle with addiction and dependence. No matter how badly you want to stop using, your body and brain may make it nearly impossible. Why is this happening? How can you break through it?

You are likely experiencing withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can make it very hard for you to resist the use of the substances you’re using because your body is trying to demand them. These symptoms will continue until your brain re-learns to function without there.

At Addiction Recovery Centers, our goal is to ensure you have the right tools and resources available to you so you can overcome these symptoms and begin to heal. To do that, though, you need to understand what you’re up against.

What Are Withdrawal Symptoms?

A person with dependence is likely to experience these symptoms. Most drugs alter the function of the brain by changing the way neurotransmitters, which are chemical messages, move through your brain and communicate. When you use drugs, the pleasure center of your brain is triggered because the experience feels good. Your brain is pre-programmed to seek out enjoyable activities. Therefore, when it experiences the positive feelings of euphoria created by drugs, and this happens on a consistent basis, it’s likely that your brain will continue to seek out those substances.

Over time, the brain needs those substances. When it does not have them, it creates intense cravings for them. Your body is reliant on them too. That’s why you feel physically ill or have muscle and bone pain.

How Long Do Symptoms of Withdrawal Last?

Many factors play a role in this. Most often, intense symptoms last for 3 to 7 days, depending at their highest point. Then, they begin to wind down over the next few days and weeks. If you’ve used drugs for a long time, it may take longer for these symptoms to improve. Your body is dependent so much so, and for so long, it takes a long time to revert back to a healthy level.

It’s also likely that your symptoms will continue if you are using a lot of the substance or using on a constant basis. However, you may feel symptoms even if you only use a small amount over time. Every person’s outcome is a bit different.

For most cases, such as alcohol withdrawal symptoms, you can expect them to peak within 24 to 72 hours. For opioids, this can be twice as long. Drug addiction withdrawal can continue on for some time, but your cravings should start to slow.

What Can Be Done to Reduce Those Symptoms?

A big question that many people have is how they are going to get through that period. The good news is you don’t have to go through them in many cases. Depending on the type of drugs you use, there are medications that can trick the brain into believing it has the substances it desires. These drugs work over time to also teach the brain that the substance is no longer pleasurable. Soon after that, you don’t have to use them any longer because your dependence improves.

There are various other ways to control drug addiction withdrawal symptoms as well. Holistic measures can help you overcome many of the physical ailments brought on by withdrawal. In treatment, you’ll have a lot of help to get through these complications.

Do You Need a Detox?

It’s very important not to try to stop using drugs and alcohol alone. Detoxing at home isn’t safe. It can lead to complicated side effects and life-threatening complications in some individuals depending on the type of drug you’re using. Keep in mind that in a drug detox center, there’s also help available to get you through the intense pain and discomfort you feel. You don’t have to worry about the risks.

If you’ve used drugs for a long time and feel like you cannot stop without this type of pain, allow our team to offer support and guidance to you. At Addiction Recovery Centers, we’re proud to provide you with exceptional support so you can get through addiction withdrawal quickly and without pain.