Do you desperately want to end your drug addiction but can’t seem to stop using it? Perhaps you experience physical or psychological withdrawal symptoms whenever you try to stop? If you struggle to quit using drugs or alcohol because you feel your body may be physically dependent on these substances, it’s likely time to enter a drug detox program. Below, the experts at Pines Recovery Life Detox discuss five telltale signs that enrolling in drug detox is in your best interest.
You Don’t Feel Normal Without Using Drugs
When you use drugs, they immediately enter your bloodstream and travel to your brain. When those chemicals interact with your brain, they stimulate the release of large quantities of feel-good brain chemicals, also known as neurotransmitters. Those brain chemicals drive a physical and psychological “reward” response within the body.
Over time, as addiction sets in, your body begins to crave that reward response because it develops an unnaturally high tolerance for those feel-good brain chemicals. It then drives you to continue seeking out and using those substances to reproduce the euphoric sensations it experiences under the influence of drugs.
Because drug addiction affects your brain in this unfavorable manner, it can cause you to feel abnormal when you’re not under the influence of drugs. If you feel physical, mental, or emotional changes when you try to stop using drugs, it’s time to consider enrolling in drug detox seriously.
Your Drug Addiction Causes Severe Mood Swings or Personality Changes
Substance abuse disorders often cause significant mood swings and even personality changes due to their profoundly negative effects on the brain. When your brain and body experience a decrease in the number of drugs in your system, you may experience unusual emotional and mental shifts.
These changes are uncharacteristic of your normal, sober personality, but over time, they can become your “new normal.” If friends or loved ones have commented that you seem to be acting differently (and not in a good way), enrolling in a drug detox program is likely in your best interest.
You Experience Physical Withdrawal Symptoms When You Try to Stop Using
One of the hallmark signs of severe drug addiction is physical withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of drug use. These withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:
- Difficulty sleeping despite severe fatigue
- Nausea, diarrhea, or flu-like symptoms
- Diarrhea, stomach upset, or cramping
- Excessive sweating, clammy skin, or goosebumps
- Body aches, muscle cramps
- Hallucinations or delirium
- Tremors or seizures
If you’ve tried to stop using but experienced noticeable withdrawal symptoms within hours or a few days after your last dose, you’ve developed a physical drug addiction. Because quitting cold turkey or detoxing by yourself can be life-threatening, you must undergo supervised drug detox as soon as you can.
Your Physical Condition and Hygiene Are Suffering
Do you neglect your normal daily responsibilities so you can use drugs? Has your physical health taken a turn for the worse? Do you forget to take care of your hygiene? If so, it’s time to consider enrolling in a drug detox program.
It’s not uncommon for someone who struggles with a substance use disorder to forego their responsibilities so that they can get high. This isn’t necessarily because they don’t want to take care of themselves. Rather, it’s because their brain is so focused on getting that reward response they let everything else in their life slide.
You’ve Lost Interest in Activities You Once Enjoyed
Do you find yourself avoiding activities you once loved? Perhaps you don’t do it deliberately, but now, you find that your interests sway more toward acquiring and using drugs? If you’ve given up historically pleasurable activities because your body craves a drug to feel good, chances are you’ve developed a physical drug addiction. For your psychological and physical well-being, it’s in your best interest to undergo supervised drug detox as soon as you can.
Drug Detox Programs at Pines Recovery Life Detox
If you’re struggling with a substance use disorder, quitting on your own can threaten your life. That’s why you must undergo supervised drug detox with a knowledgeable and experienced medical team. At Pines Recovery Life Detox, we offer a variety of programs designed to meet your needs, including:
- Opiate detox
- Heroin detox
- Alcohol detox
- Benzo detox
- Cocaine detox
- Prescription drug detox
- Innovative wellness programs
If you think it’s time to seek professional help for your drug addiction, our compassionate team is ready to help. Please don’t hesitate to get help — your life may depend on it.
Looking for Drug Detox? Contact Pines Recovery Life Detox Today
At Pines Recovery Life Detox, we deeply understand the far-reaching physical and psychological repercussions of drug addiction. If you struggle with a substance use disorder, please know you never have to work through the problem alone. We have a full medical staff onsite 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for the help you need. To learn more or schedule a consultation with our team, feel free to call us today at 800.263.3869 or reach out to us online.
