Some of the most difficult and most common drugs to withdraw from are opiates. The withdrawal is a short but incredibly uncomfortable experience, but if you are determined enough, you can undertake your withdrawal at home. The physical withdrawal from any opiate is usually a three-day experience. Although there will be many times during these days that giving up and getting There are obstacles in an addict’s life once they’ve decided to get clean. One that was particularly difficult for me, after I had made the decision to stop using drugs, was how to go to my family and honestly ask for the help that I needed. By the time you are ready to take this step you have gotten so used to lying and shutting loved ones out, that coming out with this problem feels terrifying. However, this is an important first step in recovery and in rebuilding the trusting relationships with your family and friends. It takes several steps.
Step one: Realize that this “secret” you believe you’ve been hiding isn’t always as big of a secret as you think. People who have known you your whole life have probably seen a big change in you throughout the time that you’ve been using. Even if you have lied to them in the past about your drug addiction, now is your time to tell the truth. Choose a day to gather your family together and make sure to stick to that day.
Step two: Have a written plan for your family. Have an exact date that you plan to enter rehab. Keep in mind that just saying that you plan to get clean “someday” or that you are “completely done with drugs” are things that your family may have heard you say to them before and never followed through with. Let your family say what they feel like they need to say and do your best not to become defensive.
Step three: After discussing your plan and listening to your family’s input, this will be the time to follow through with whatever decisions have been made. It is important for your family to see action and willingness to stay true to your word. Though it may seem like your drug use has only affected you, in reality, it has affected all of your loved ones.
Every situation and every family dynamic is unique. For me, having my family be involved in my recovery was important. Not everyone wanted to be involved, and although that was painful for me, I had to remember that each person heals at their own pace. I had hurt some more than I realized at the time. My family’s decision and my own was for me to go to rehab. I have been clean and have repaired many relationships but all of this started with an honest conversation. You can, too.high will seem like the easiest option, try to keep in mind that it is only three days and you can do it! Many others have.
Day 1: The morning of day one is a mental obstacle. Before any physical symptoms begin, the best thing you can do is prepare for them. Find a safe place to be for the next three days. Get someone to stay with you, as they can be incredibly helpful. This person needs to be completely drug free and not in the habit of enabling your addiction. Delete all numbers for your drug dealers or drug buddies from your phone. It will be much easier for you to stick this process out if you can’t just make a quick phone call to get high. As the day passes into night you will start to feel some withdrawal symptoms. Cold sweats, restlessness and anxiety are common at this time.
Day 2: You made it through day one and are in full physical withdrawal. The steadily increasing cold sweats and restlessness will now be accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, leg spasms, and allover muscle aches. Remind yourself that this will likely be your hardest day. The best thing you can do now is to treat the symptoms as they come. You can use Imodium for diarrhea and Ibuprofen for muscle aches and leg spasms. It is important to stay hydrated because of the vomiting and sweating. Pick a Gatorade flavor you enjoy and keep it by your side. Also, as strange as this sounds, I found that eating chocolate helped ease some symptoms. Having gone through all of these things during the day, it will seem like you should be tired by evening, however, don’t expect to sleep much the second night. It’s going to be rough, but try to find comfort in knowing the worst will soon be over.
Day 3: Coming into day three, your symptoms will have begun to subside. Continue treating any lingering symptoms you are experiencing. Start trying to introduce normal things back into your routine. A long hot shower and a good meal will help more than you can imagine. After your shower, I suggest changing your bed sheets, grabbing some comfortable clothes and taking a much needed, and well-deserved nap.
From this point forward, your physical withdrawal symptoms will continue to decrease. Remember that getting through the physical withdrawal process is only the first step, one that you should be proud of. It is important now to seek out a plan for your long-term sobriety.
Step one: Realize that this “secret” you believe you’ve been hiding isn’t always as big of a secret as you think. People who have known you your whole life have probably seen a big change in you throughout the time that you’ve been using. Even if you have lied to them in the past about your drug addiction, now is your time to tell the truth. Choose a day to gather your family together and make sure to stick to that day.
Step two: Have a written plan for your family. Have an exact date that you plan to enter rehab. Keep in mind that just saying that you plan to get clean “someday” or that you are “completely done with drugs” are things that your family may have heard you say to them before and never followed through with. Let your family say what they feel like they need to say and do your best not to become defensive.
Step three: After discussing your plan and listening to your family’s input, this will be the time to follow through with whatever decisions have been made. It is important for your family to see action and willingness to stay true to your word. Though it may seem like your drug use has only affected you, in reality, it has affected all of your loved ones.
Every situation and every family dynamic is unique. For me, having my family be involved in my recovery was important. Not everyone wanted to be involved, and although that was painful for me, I had to remember that each person heals at their own pace. I had hurt some more than I realized at the time. My family’s decision and my own was for me to go to rehab. I have been clean and have repaired many relationships but all of this started with an honest conversation. You can, too.high will seem like the easiest option, try to keep in mind that it is only three days and you can do it! Many others have.
Day 1: The morning of day one is a mental obstacle. Before any physical symptoms begin, the best thing you can do is prepare for them. Find a safe place to be for the next three days. Get someone to stay with you, as they can be incredibly helpful. This person needs to be completely drug free and not in the habit of enabling your addiction. Delete all numbers for your drug dealers or drug buddies from your phone. It will be much easier for you to stick this process out if you can’t just make a quick phone call to get high. As the day passes into night you will start to feel some withdrawal symptoms. Cold sweats, restlessness and anxiety are common at this time.
Day 2: You made it through day one and are in full physical withdrawal. The steadily increasing cold sweats and restlessness will now be accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, leg spasms, and allover muscle aches. Remind yourself that this will likely be your hardest day. The best thing you can do now is to treat the symptoms as they come. You can use Imodium for diarrhea and Ibuprofen for muscle aches and leg spasms. It is important to stay hydrated because of the vomiting and sweating. Pick a Gatorade flavor you enjoy and keep it by your side. Also, as strange as this sounds, I found that eating chocolate helped ease some symptoms. Having gone through all of these things during the day, it will seem like you should be tired by evening, however, don’t expect to sleep much the second night. It’s going to be rough, but try to find comfort in knowing the worst will soon be over.
Day 3: Coming into day three, your symptoms will have begun to subside. Continue treating any lingering symptoms you are experiencing. Start trying to introduce normal things back into your routine. A long hot shower and a good meal will help more than you can imagine. After your shower, I suggest changing your bed sheets, grabbing some comfortable clothes and taking a much needed, and well-deserved nap.
From this point forward, your physical withdrawal symptoms will continue to decrease. Remember that getting through the physical withdrawal process is only the first step, one that you should be proud of. It is important now to seek out a plan for your long-term sobriety.
