7 Ways to Deal with Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

Opioids are pain relievers that have outstanding benefits in making patients feel better. They are considered to be one of the most effective and beneficial pain relievers in the world.

However, as with any drug, they have negative side effects and one of the biggest problems associated with opioid use is addiction. It occurs when people abuse the drug and is also known as substance abuse.

Symptoms start when you can't stop taking the medication or when you need to get more than your doctor has prescribed. Opioid addiction affects your life and leads to health, relationship, and even death if overdosed.

Realizing that you are suffering from substance abuse is the hardest step and it won't be easy to overcome and one of the hardest parts is dealing with withdrawal symptoms.

This article will focus on what opioid withdrawal symptoms are and what you can do to feel better about yourself.

What is Opioid Withdrawal?

First, we need to understand how opioids work in your body. They bind to opioid receptors in different parts of your brain and release elevated levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that gives you pleasure and is one of the main drivers of addiction.

If you take them for too long you will start to build tolerance and you will need a higher dose to get the same effects as you used to and then you will become drug addicts.

If you stop taking the drug, withdrawal symptoms will occur as your body is used to the effects of the opioids.

Some of the symptoms you would notice are anxiety, sweating, high blood pressure, diarrhea, increased heart rate, body aches and pains, hallucinations, seizures, and others that are very uncomfortable and make it difficult for you to go through the recovery process.

Symptoms start within 12 hours after you stop taking the drug and last up to 2 weeks.

Here are some tips to help you overcome this difficult step and get your life back.

1st exercise

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There is no doubt that exercise is good for your mental and physical health, it helps you release endorphins that bring you pleasure, reduces your anxiety, and helps you deal with joint pain, all of which are withdrawal symptoms.

This is an inexpensive and easy way to improve your symptoms. No need to join a gym or hire a professional trainer, it is enough to just run 30 minutes a day while listening to your favorite music to feel better.

2. Eat healthy snacks

When you are dealing with an addiction you tend to stop taking care of yourself, you don't exercise or care about healthy eating, you get used to junk food, or you don't eat at all.

When you experience withdrawal symptoms, you tend to eat more or less than usual, and part of the wellbeing involves taking care of yourself, which includes better nutrition. Start adding more vegetables, fruits, and healthy protein to your diet.

Your body will have more energy to deal with these tough times and it will improve many symptoms such as fatigue, high blood pressure, and diarrhea.

3. Drink lots of water

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When you stop using opioids, your body goes through a detoxification process to get rid of the high levels of drugs in your blood and return your body to a healthy state.

Vomiting and diarrhea are common symptoms that lead to dehydration. It is important that you drink plenty of water. These days, you can buy water bottles with motivational messages and the exact amount of water you need to drink so you can check your progress. It helps you prepare your body for opioid withdrawal.

4. Meditation

You don't have to be a spiritual person to practice meditation and enjoy all of its benefits. Often times, when you are recovering from your withdrawal addiction, you will feel like you want to quit and it is easier to go back on the medication, you will lose motivation and forget why you are doing all this.

Meditation is an excellent way to connect with yourself, find inner strength and motivation, and gain self-love. It helps you relax your body to reduce anxiety and high levels of stress.

You can schedule private or group classes, or if you have money to spend, there are thousands of videos on the internet by experts who will guide you through the process, even if you are a beginner.

5. Find a hobby

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Are you just thinking about your withdrawal symptoms and how bad you are feeling?

Something that can help with this is finding a hobby, doing something you love, and it will help take your mind off negative thoughts, reduce your anxiety, and focus on something you love.

It can be anything from learning a new language to playing a musical instrument to practicing a sport or starting dance classes.

6. Use of over-the-counter medications

You can use acetaminophen and ibuprofen for joint pain and body aches and loperamide for diarrhea. These are OCT drugs that won't slow your recovery process and will make it easier to deal with withdrawal symptoms.

Just make sure you never use it in amounts that exceed the recommended dosage. If you feel that they are not helping, contact your doctor.

7. Find support

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Recovering from an addiction should never be something you do yourself, it is dangerous and your chances of success are slim.

You should always work with a team of professionals who are qualified and licensed to help you as best they can. You can find a support group by going to a detox center.

The MAT Texas website has a great article on the benefits of a treatment program. Give it a try and learn how it can help you improve your life. You have already taken the hardest step, the decision to change.

About the author:

Kendrick Sonnemann is a recent college graduate from Texas A&M University who has developed a passion for writing and bringing ideas to life. As a freelance writer in the Dallas, TX area, he has written countless articles to promote his personal writing mark.