How Withdrawal Works

• When an individual abuses drugs or alcohol, the brain's natural ability to produce the chemicals responsible for communicating information is suppressed. The body and brain have been altered to depend on the drug, so when the individual ceases using drugs, the brain retaliates by producing withdrawal symptoms. Drugs such as alcohol, opiates and tranquilizers produce mostly physical withdrawal symptoms; others such as marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy produce mostly emotional symptoms. If an individual exhibits limited physical withdrawal symptoms, this does not mean that he is not addicted. It may simply mean that his withdrawal symptoms are more emotional than physical.
  
  

Emotional and Physical Withdrawal

• All drugs produce withdrawal symptoms. Emotional withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, irritability, restlessness, insomnia, headaches, difficulty concentrating, depression and isolation from the outside world. Physical withdrawal symptoms include perspiration, racing heart and palpitations, labored breathing, shaking, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches and chest tightness.
  
  

Dangerous Symptoms

• The abuse of alcohol and tranquilizers such as Valium and Xanax has the gravest withdrawal symptoms. Individuals who stop using these drugs suddenly risk suffering seizures, strokes or heart attacks. Medically assisted detox is generally recommended so that the dosage can be reduced gradually by a physician. Dangerous symptoms of alcohol and tranquilizer withdrawal also include epileptic seizures, hallucinations and delusions.
  
  

Post-Acute Withdrawal

• The acute stage is the first phase of the withdrawal process. It may produce physical withdrawal symptoms and typically lasts for a few weeks. Thereafter, the individual undergoes the post-acute stage. During the post-acute stage, the brain begins to adjust to normality. The individual will have fewer physical withdrawal symptoms but more emotional and psychological ones. The symptoms fluctuate, changing every minute and every hour. As recovery progresses, the symptoms disappear, only to reappear weeks or months later. Each post-acute withdrawal episode tends to last for a few days, while complete post-acute withdrawal lasts for two years. Symptoms of post-acute withdrawal include anxiety, mood swings, irritability, fatigue, disrupted sleeping pattern, fluctuating concentration and energy levels, and reduced enthusiasm.
  
  

Anxiety and Depression

• Anxiety and depression are often associated with drug addiction. They can cause an individual to become addicted to drugs, or drug addiction can be the reason the individual undergoes these feelings. Individuals suffering from drug addiction plus anxiety and depression are classified as "dual diagnosis." These individuals often suffer relapses because although they may manage to stay clean for a while, they soon become depressed.