Individuals who are using illicit drugs often do not know the severity of their problem until they decide they want to stop using drugs. It is at that point that they may come to the painful realization that they are physically, mentally, and emotionally dependent on their substance of choice. One of the first manifestations of this dependency is the feeling that individual will get when they try to remove the drug from their system. This process that occurs at the beginning of sobriety is specific to the kind of drug that the individual was using. In some instances, it is called cocaine withdrawal.
Cocaine withdrawal is marked by drastic and sometimes severe physiological, mental, and emotional symptoms. Individuals who have been using or abusing this drug have often risen to the more intensive state of dependency or addiction, and at this point, they have come to rely on the substance to perform their everyday functions. Their body may find it difficult to function normally without the drug, and will likely react negatively to its absence. Physical side effects may include shaking, nausea, or insomnia.
The symptoms of cocaine withdrawal can be mental or emotional, as well. An individual who is trying to go forward with his or her life without having the drug to rely on will often experience stress, anxiety, or even panic. He or she may feel that they can’t face the other people in their lives or handle difficult situations at work without the drug. This can lead the individual to self-doubt, a lack of confidence, and may cause him or her to retreat into a solitary existence.
Although the physical, mental, and emotional symptoms of cocaine withdrawal are difficult to experience, individuals who are committed to ending a life of substance abuse, dependency, or addiction can overcome them. Cocaine withdrawal is a necessary step along the road to recovery. Once that first and most challenging step has been taken, the individual should be heartened by their achievement, and will be more likely to continue to pursue the goal of sobriety. And individuals who are trying to end substance use, abuse, dependency, or addiction don’t have to struggle alone; they can and should seek treatment or counseling to help them along their way.
