You would expect to go through opiate withdrawal at a detox center. But more and more individuals realize that they’re dealing with it at home now, too. And for most, the experience is hellish. What happened and is there help?
Why Am I Feeling Bad After Taking Painkillers?
You’re suffering from chronic pain or another condition that resulted in an opioid painkiller prescription. At some point, you stop taking them, or your doctor changes medications for you. Suddenly, you feel like you’re coming down with the flu—only worse. You might be going through opiate withdrawal.
This situation means that your body has formed a dependence on the substance. Adding insult to injury, your body will only stop reacting to the withdrawal if you give it more opiates. At this point, you’ve got a decision to make. Most will choose to ask for more painkillers. The resulting vicious cycle easily evolves into a substance abuse problem.
Others may notice early signs of withdrawal when a doctor cuts their dosage. They may have come to like the way the opioids make them feel. Rather than going through detox and weaning themselves off the drugs, they might lie to get more. Still other patients resort to doctor shopping, or pill crushing and snorting.
Drugs Typically Associated with Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms
On the illicit side, many individuals commonly associate opiate withdrawal with heroin addiction. Among the prescription medications causing this reaction, there are codeine, morphine, and oxycodone. You’ll also notice withdrawal when taking any derivatives of these drugs. Some unwittingly combine multiple derivative drugs that make the detox experience worse.
Perhaps the most frustrating part of this addiction scenario is the fact that most patients feel blindsided. Their doctors prescribed opioids but didn’t explain dependence and withdrawal. Some may have touched on it but didn’t go into detail. Now, you may be struggling with substance abuse and have no idea what to do about it.
Early Symptoms (and Beyond)
The initial stages of opiate withdrawal feel like a bad case of the flu. Add to that, sudden bouts of depression, uncontrollable shaking of the limbs and sensations of being hot or cold within seconds. Next, you may suffer from gastrointestinal upset and cramping. In a medically supervised detox facility, you get help for the physical discomfort.
If you go through the detox at home, particularly when you don’t initially realize that it’s happening, you suffer. The next problem you have to deal with is the dependence on the substance. Your body has become accustomed to the drug and it’s incorporated the daily administration of chemicals into its overall functioning.
Some users report that they cannot figure out how to live life without the drugs after experiencing opiate withdrawal.
Understanding the Dynamics of Pain Medications, Addiction, and Opiate Withdrawal
Opiates are powerful painkillers. They create feelings of euphoria by acting directly on the dopamine release mechanism of the brain. They also numb the body, which is very comfortable for people who suffer from any type of pain. Combined with even a slight euphoric high, the drugs provide the ultimate sensation of feeling good.
Before long, a tolerance sets in. To achieve the same effects of the medication, you need to increase the dose. At this time, some may attempt to boost the high even further by combining opioids with other drugs. They also visit multiple doctors with carefully rehearsed medical maladies to receive the painkillers they want.
Now, use spirals out of control. You form a physical dependence on the substance. Your body may not release dopamine any longer unless you prompt it with chemicals. Developing a psychological dependence comes next.
Getting Off Opiates in a Nurturing Setting
When you’re seeking help for opiate withdrawal, you probably experience the addiction portion of the dependence. Uncontrollable cravings turn your world upside down. But there’s help. In fact, experts now understand that psychological addiction links directly to emotional pain.
Most people think of an opioid addiction as little more than a habit they want to stop. It’s not until later that they see the addictive patterns of their lives. Unless these process addictions receive treatment, too, you’ll be right back where you started in a short period of time. For some, the lack of therapy results in a cycle of opiate withdrawal, sensations of physical pain, medication, and rehab.
Getting to the “why” of the need to numb yourself successfully breaks the cycle. Doing so at a facility which specializes in the individualized treatment works well. Expect to participate in therapies such as:
- Compassionate trauma treatment approaches
- Dual diagnosis assessment and subsequent treatment via an integrated addiction model
- The functional living wellness program that focuses on restoring the chemical balance of the body through nutrition and experiential activities
- Family programs that include group and couples counseling, as well as therapeutic family weekends.
- Cognitive and/or dialectical behavioral therapies
12 Steps Approach to Recovery
Remember that the goal is not to fix you. Too often, rehab facilities try to “fix” individuals. In some cases, doing so accomplishes little and may do more harm than good. Instead, people struggling with an addiction need empowerment to build coping strategies that allow them to process traumatic experiences.
The goal is to break the cycle of substance abuse. Developing the right coping skills helps in that fight. In many cases, recognizing a co-occurring mental health problem can also be key. During recovery at Healing Spring Ranch relapse prevention skills are addressed so that sobriety is ongoing after treatment.
Getting this level of care is possible at Healings Springs Ranch. Our unique Integrative Addictions Model has proven to be effective in helping people overcome an opiate painkiller addiction. It’s intensive and focuses on the participant as a whole person rather than just as a substance abuse victim. This setting also provides complete therapy customization, which makes the treatment uniquely yours.
By walking away from the theoretical patient model of literature and seminars, each set of procedures benefits you directly. It takes you from where you are to where you want to be. Doing so is far more effective than starting at a point that literature claims you might find yourself at. In fact, discussing your involvement in a long-term residential treatment program could be the necessary first step.
At that time, you work together with an intake counselor to put together a treatment approach for your needs. But don’t worry if you later determine that you want to adjust the plan. Part of the program’s overall success is its flexibility and ability to adapt to your needs at any given time.
Call Healing Springs Ranch for Help Now
Was it embarrassing to experience opiate withdrawal without knowing it? Then again, did you anticipate it but were still shocked when it actually happened? End the vicious cycle of drug dependence while you still can. Simply call 866-656-8384 today and connect with a friendly, knowledgeable counselor now!