Once you start using cocaine, it can make you feel good because of the increase of a chemical known as dopamine in your brain. However, cocaine is a highly addictive drug and you can develop a tolerance to its euphoric effects. As a result, your brain may need this drug to produce more dopamine, which can lead to withdrawal symptoms when you finally stop using it.
No wonder, many people who try to stop abusing cocaine continue using it just to prevent these side effects. This post will explain some of the withdrawal symptoms and what you can do to overcome them.
The withdrawal symptoms
If you’re addicted to cocaine or have become dependent on it, you can experience some withdrawal symptoms once you quit. Unfortunately, these withdrawal symptoms can sometimes be severe, especially after heavy use of cocaine.
Thankfully, despite these symptoms being intense, they are not permanent. The symptoms vary in time and intensity and can take just a couple of hours to days. Some users can experience these withdrawal symptoms for weeks or months. This is the reason why you need drug & alcohol rehabilitation to overcome these withdrawal symptoms. Below are some of the cocaine withdrawal symptoms:
Cocaine cravings
Many people who try to quit from cocaine have a strong desire to keep taking it. These feelings are called cravings and are common symptoms among users withdrawing from various addictive substances. Cravings come because you desire to reduce cocaine symptoms after withdrawal and a wish to re-experience the pleasure of getting high.
Mood changes
This is another withdrawal symptom that is related to a feeling of depression, anxiousness, or irritability. These feelings can be intense, though they tend to pass when the withdrawal phase is over.
Fatigue
Fatigue is also a normal symptom of cocaine withdrawal. Besides the feeling of exhaustion that you get after the stimulating effects of this drug, you can also get tired due to lack of sleep while you were high on cocaine.
Keep in mind that cocaine can hide the discomfort that you may feel while you’re overactive. This can make things worse when you get tired once the effects of the drug wear off.
Sleeping problems
Sleeping problems are perhaps one of the frustrating withdrawal symptoms that many people experience during cocaine withdrawal. In most cases, sleeping problems are due to insomnia, hypersomnia, and unpleasant dreams.
Long-term treatment
The first stage of cocaine withdrawal is usually known as the crash and it usually goes away within a couple of days. However, some people can still experience symptoms such as cravings, low energy levels, and irritability for a few weeks.
Cocaine use can cause lasting changes in your brain, making it hard to overcome addiction. This is the reason why you need a long-term treatment that focuses on individual counseling. With this treatment, you can learn new skills to help you to overcome cocaine cravings by changing underlying behavior and thoughts.
Another treatment option is known as contingency management that uses motivational incentives to encourage you to avoid cocaine use. When you abstain from the use of cocaine, you can get vouchers that you can exchange for items that encourage healthy living, such as dinners at local restaurants and gym membership.