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Cocaine Withdrawal

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Achieving sobriety from a drug like cocaine isn’t as easy as it might seem. People must remove all traces of the drug from their homes, of course, and they may want to notify their dealers that they won’t be making any more purchases of the drug. Those steps are obvious. But people who have abused the drug for a long period of time are also required to live through the withdrawal process. This is when people allow their bodies to adjust to the lack of cocaine. It can be a slow and uncomfortable process, but moving through it is absolutely vital for anyone who wants to stay sober for good.

An Emotional Process

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, there are no physical symptoms that take hold during cocaine withdrawal. People don’t typically sweat, feel nauseated, or otherwise seem physically ill when their brain cells are adjusting to the loss of cocaine. But people who are going through cocaine withdrawal do tend to experience an emotional and psychological withdrawal that’s both intense and difficult to ignore. Research from an Australian government study has suggested that withdrawal moves through three distinct phases. In the first phase, people experience:

  • Irritability
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Exhaustion
  • Ravenous appetite
  • Cravings for drugs

This crash phase is followed by a long-lasting feeling of irritability and lethargy, paired with an increased need for cocaine. People in this phase, which can last for up to 10 weeks, feel absolutely miserable, and they’re desperate to get their hands on the drugs they think might provide them with relief. In the final phase of the withdrawal process, people have intermittent cravings for cocaine, which are triggered by some cue or memory of drugs. This extinction phase could go on for years, researchers say.

How Treatment Helps

There are no medications or therapies that can remove withdrawal symptoms in people who have abused cocaine. It’s a process the body must work through, and in time, the symptoms do fade. But leaving withdrawal symptoms like this in place can mean leaving people exposed to terrible risks. They might feel so desperate for drugs that they relapse, or in some cases, people feel so low and sad during withdrawal that they feel willing to take their own lives in order to get relief. In a treatment program, there’s a smaller chance of relapse, as there is no cocaine available on the grounds of the facility. Placing people in an inpatient facility during phases one and two of detox could allow them to move through their intense cravings in relative safety, so they won’t be drawn back into drugs. Therapy can also help people to understand that their sensations are normal and part of the healing process, so they won’t be panicked by the process and tempted to do something dramatic. In time, they may learn how to control their cravings without using cocaine at all. If you’re ready to start on your path to healing, we hope you’ll consider Skywood Recovery. We offer comprehensive care for cocaine addiction, and we can assist you with both detox and rehab. We accept most insurance plans, and we have openings right now. Please call 269.280.4673 to talk with one of our admissions coordinators and find out more.