5 Tips to Beat Drug Withdrawal Symptoms

Detoxing can be one of the most difficult things you have to do in your life. If you or someone you love is suffering from drug addiction, it might help to have some tips on how to manage the withdrawal symptoms from drug detox. Here are 5 tips that will help you make it through the process in one piece and hopefully beat the addiction to your drug of choice once and for all.

1) Remind yourself it will get better

It’s no secret that dealing with drug addiction withdrawal symptoms can be difficult, but there are a number of ways you can manage them. Remind yourself how far you’ve come by making a list of all your accomplishments so far. Chances are, you’re already feeling better than when you started treatment! Also, try to spend time with friends and family who have been supportive throughout your recovery process. Having someone around who understands what you’re going through will help make things easier.

2) Practice breathing exercises

One of withdrawal’s most common symptoms is panic attacks; in order to calm down, you’ll need breathing exercises. If you feel your heart racing or as if you can’t breathe, try holding your breath for as long as possible and then releasing it slowly. Practise slow breathing until you are able to breathe normally again.

3) Stay physically active

There are three physical activities that can help you feel better during the detoxification

 process – aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercises and stretching. Aerobic exercise is a physical activity that requires large volumes of oxygen to sustain it (running or cycling are great examples). Anaerobic exercises are those that don’t require oxygen but increase breathing rate (examples: weight lifting, pushups). Stretching will help your body relax.

4) Keep distractions at bay

The drug detox process often involves a lot of discomforts and pains, but keeping yourself distracted is key in maintaining your motivation during detox. For one, you can watch movies or listen to music; these activities help take your mind off your physical pain and make it easier for you to relax during the recovery period. It’s also important that you avoid things like using your cell phone, drinking coffee, and watching TV while going through withdrawal.

5) Try alternating cold and hot showers

Cold showers help you release endorphins, which will keep your mood up during a rough withdrawal. Hot showers have been said to help ease muscle aches and joint pain caused by drug withdrawals. Mixing them together can alleviate multiple symptoms at once. However, if you feel more comfortable with only one type of shower, that’s fine too. Just make sure you are able to get in some form of hot or cold shower every day for best results.