Cocaine Detox
You'll feel like you'll never be happy again, and when depression and anxiety partner up with such incredible cravings...it can be pretty tough to make it through a cocaine detox. But you can, you may need some help, but you can get off and never use again.
The Very Real Pains of Cocaine Detox
Although addicts enduring cocaine detox do not show visibly with a syndrome of withdrawal, they do suffer through detox, and because of the overwhelming cravings experienced during a cocaine detox it can be extremely difficult to resist the temptations to further use.
A detox off of cocaine does not cause physically dangerous symptoms such as those experienced by alcoholics in detox, but internalized symptoms of cocaine detox are very real, very unpleasant, and do present a major obstacle to recovery.
Symptoms of Cocaine Detox
Although lingering brain changes do persist with the end of active cocaine use, the symptoms of cocaine detox are far more psychological than physical, and due to a lack of externally visible symptoms of detox, people have in the past minimized the legitimacy and challenges of a cocaine detox.
Symptoms Often Associated with a Cessation of Cocaine Use are:
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Deep depression
- Increased appetite
- Extreme fatigue
- Nightmares and unpleasant dreams
- Lethargy
- A greatly increased risk of suicide
- Very strong cravings to use cocaine
Cocaine addicts self report incredible and all-consuming cravings to use during their period of initial withdrawal, and when these powerful temptations are combined with a deep depression and an inability to experience any form of pleasure, few people can resist further use of the drug.
Additionally, the depressive symptoms associated with cocaine withdrawal are very real and can be quite severe, and because of this deep dysphoria the risks of suicidal ideations and even attempted suicides rise dramatically during the initial weeks of withdrawal.
Residential detox and treatment away from access to cocaine or other drugs of self medication offers recovering cocaine addicts the best likelihood of a successful detox. Additionally, as cocaine addicts in withdrawal can exhibit aggressive or suicidal behaviors, constant medical monitoring during this initial period ensures the safety of the recovering addict.
Treatment
Although promising drugs against cocaine cravings are in the initial testing phases, as of yet cocaine addicts have no anti cravings medications at their disposal. The cravings and negative symptoms of withdrawal do diminish with time, and every increasing day of sobriety will ease the severity of experienced symptoms.
Because recovering addicts experience lingering depression, the selective use of certain anxiolitics and anti depressant mediations can offer some symptoms relief. These psychiatric medications reduce the psychiatric discomfort of withdrawal, and by doing so, increase treatment compliance and eventual sobriety rates.
Treatment Can’t End With a Successful Detox
An entrenched cocaine addiction threatens any achieved sobriety for months and even years after abstinence is achieved. The psychological addiction to the pleasures of a cocaine high induce potent cravings, and these cravings do not end even with the completion of a successful detox.
For the best chance at lasting sobriety, recovering cocaine addicts must learn effective cravings management strategies, and learn also what causes them to seek out intoxication in the first place. Therapies that have proven effective in the battle against cocaine relapse include group support therapy, individual counseling, cognitive educational seminars and a continuing participation in aftercare programs such as NA.
Recovering cocaine addicts need to stay vigilant against triggers to use, be ready to deal with temptations that do arise, and learn the strategies to relapse avoidance that have helped so many thousands before overcome difficult addictions to cocaine.
A life free from cocaine abuse and pain starts the day you walk into a cocaine detox. It won’t be easy, but with professional help, medications and therapies you'll get past the initial weeks of extreme cravings, and learn the tools you'll need to stay sober for life.
