A new life you deserve. What is it like to withdraw from substances? 

Jacob Spellis here… 

I am currently the CEO of Vital Health. I wanted to talk about the process of getting off drugs completely. In the treatment world we call this detox. If you’re reading this right now our providers at Vital Health believe in you. But it is not that easy.

There’s no denying that people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol feel much happier when they quit. But this comes with a cost.  However, there is always a very painful period before you start to feel better, which occurs shortly after you quit. This is referred to as withdrawal.  

From the view of someone else who has not experienced this fun process you would just say, “just don’t do drugs”. If it was this easy I would not have a career. Here below of some of the symptoms that might occur: 

Symptoms of Withdrawal

• Changes in appetite.
• Changes in mood.
• Chills or shivering.
• Congestion.
• Depression.
• Fatigue.
• Irritability.
• Muscle pain.  

Next question would be how can I do this? You are not alone, there are many resources out there to help you in your journey in recovery. Here some tips on how to start your journey. 

1. Check in with a professional. 

Quitting drugs  on your own isn’t safe or recommended. Some drugs, including heroin and opioids, can cause severe withdrawal symptoms. Alcoholism puts people at risk of deadly seizures during drug detox. You can first start with your primary care doctors office to see if they recommend any facilities. But coming off drugs we typically never have everything in place. You can look into facilities on the internet. Find a facility that is there to help you and take your efforts seriously. This is a new stage in your life. 

2. Increase your water intake and take care of your body.

Water flushes away drug toxins to withdraw faster. Plenty of fluids are needed to keep your organs, especially your liver, detoxifying. Drug withdrawal will throw your whole digestive system off. Being nauseous, throwing up, and having diarrhea is common. During drug detox, you may want to curl up in a fetal position and cry. It’s a tough process, but you can do it! When you are using drugs fitness is not typically on your mind. But the beautiful part of recovery is you get a new life. Rock bottom is when you stop digging. Studies have proved that this can increase your chance of successfully getting drugs. Check it out! 

3. Practice breathing exercises and mindfulness

Hold your breath for seven seconds and push it out for eight seconds. Practice deep breaths for 10 minutes before bedtime to sleep better.

4. Lean on your sober support team

There’s no shame in needing help but it can be hard when our love ones do not support us. Detox employees who try to console you are doing their job. It can be hard receiving help when we have done so much damage. Some people go to church, some people go to 12 step meetings and some patients get all the support from the treatment center. Vital Health prides it self on our commitment to each and every patient.  

5. Set high goals!  

Most people in early recovery are discouraged from saying their dreams, but here is your chance to prove yourself. No one will believe you but that is ok because this is your life. This is a time to find a new hobby and find the new YOU.

Jacob Spellis MSW LSW 

PS. If you ever need professional help please check out Vital Health for your treatment provider. Your health is vital to US!!!