Physical dependence on drugs or alcohol is one of the most difficult parts to get through in addiction recovery. Depending on your substance of choice, the symptoms of withdrawal can vary, and they can be fairly harsh. So harsh, in fact, that the compulsion to return to substance use to feel “normal” again can be strong. Many people fighting addiction have gone through withdrawal, so you’re not alone in your situation. The problem is that the symptoms of withdrawal can leave you feeling extremely hopeless in your addiction. That’s probably because you’re trying to break that physical dependence on your own without the help of trained professionals at an addiction treatment center.
If you want to know more about ending your addiction, call us today at 866.262.0531. We can help you.
How Does Physical Dependence Develop?
The body is extremely complex. In fact, the brain is constantly trying to create balance within the body. Introducing substances can cause a problem. Since these substances have chemicals that the body doesn’t normally have, large amounts change the balance. In order to compensate, the body starts adjusting to the drugs or alcohol, which creates a new normal. That new normal is the real reason it can be so difficult to break your physical dependence.
As the drugs or alcohol begin to metabolize in the body, the symptoms of withdrawal begin to occur. Different parts of the body go into a state of shock and don’t know what to do without the presence of the substance. The symptoms of withdrawal that you’re experiencing are the body’s way of trying to get you to use. It’s at that point that some people give in to the body’s demands. However, that doesn’t have to be the result. Although it may feel like these symptoms of withdrawal will go on forever while you’re going through it, they do not last forever. To make the entire process safer and more comfortable, professional addiction programs can help.
Addiction Treatment for Physical Dependence
Detoxification is often the first level of care when you’re ready to get addiction treatment. While Crestview Recovery doesn’t provide detox, we work closely with local detox facilities we trust. They will help you with the symptoms of withdrawal and get you stable enough to begin the rehab treatment process. Detoxification can be medical as well as holistic, depending on your preferences for the process.
Detox at a qualified facility greatly helps you during this difficult early stage of recovery. The staff at the detox facility is there to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible throughout the process. Different substances can have different symptoms of withdrawal, so you want to make sure that you’re in good hands.
Depending on your substance of choice, some of the symptoms you may experience can include:
- Hallucinations
- Anxiety
- Aches and pains
- Nausea
- Flu-like symptoms
The most dangerous part of physical dependence is the amount of stress your body is under. Some of this depends on the type of addiction you’re suffering from. Alcohol withdrawal, for example, can be difficult. Additional symptoms can include irregular heartbeat, increase in blood pressure and more. Some people who are ending addictions to alcohol or benzodiazepines are also at risk of seizures. This is why you should have a medical staff near you throughout your detoxification. At all times, you want to feel that you have others caring for you and keeping you safe.
Transitioning to Treatment
Once detox is complete, you can begin treatment at Crestview Recovery here in Portland, Oregon. We’ll provide you with various types of addiction therapy services to help you learn how to overcome addiction. Through individual and group therapy, you’ll begin to get some answers as to why you haven’t been able to stop. Understanding and surrendering to the fact that you suffer from addiction is just the first step on the road to recovery.
Through therapy, you’ll find out what triggers your cravings to use so we can begin to work on the root problems. Crestview Recovery specializes in dual diagnosis treatment as well since addiction is often a result of mental illness. One of your biggest triggers may be your symptoms of anxiety, depression or another disorder. We’re here to help you identify these symptoms and learn how to work through them.
Don’t let physical dependence take over your life. Give Crestview Recovery a call today at 866.262.0531 to verify your insurance and get started on your journey to recovery.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
