When you experience heroin withdrawal symptoms, you will feel a lot of physical and emotional pain. The intensity of these symptoms often creates a trap. This trap is one that can feel impossible from which to escape. As a result, you need to consider treatment at the best heroin addiction treatment center Northern VA has to offer. Doing so minimizes your withdrawal symptoms and helps you stay healthy.
A Timeline of Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal is a painful and intense experience that occurs after you quit taking heroin. You won’t experience any issues right away, however. Typically, you have to wait at least 12 hours before you notice any changes. That said, withdrawal occurrence can be unpredictable and may occur sooner.
In a standard withdrawal time, you’ll experience some minor symptoms 12-48 hours after your last dose. These include tiredness, sweating, a runny nose, watery eyes, and some stomach pain. Many people get to this point and think they are in the clear. Unfortunately, worse symptoms occur after 72 hours have passed. These include:
- Intense body aches
- Cramps throughout the stomach
- Loss of appetite
- Sudden and intense drug cravings
- Anxiety and depression
- Restlessness and irritability
- Hallucinations and extreme confusion
These heroin withdrawal symptoms increase in intensity during the next few days. However, your body should adjust after around 96 hours. The signs will decrease in strength, and you’ll feel more stable. Getting through these symptoms, however, can be an enormous challenge. Many people continue to use rather than face them.
Variables That Affect Heroin Withdrawal Signs
Heroin withdrawal symptoms vary heavily from person to person. This variability occurs due to a few factors. Everybody has a different body that reacts differently to heroin. You may know someone who didn’t experience any withdrawal symptoms. However, your symptoms produce massive pain, and you don’t understand why. Fully understanding the variables can help improve your treatment:
- Length of use – The longer that you abuse heroin, the more intense your withdrawal
- Physical size – Smaller people often experience higher withdrawal pain
- Dose size – Larger doses typically produce worse withdrawal pain
- Metabolism – Some people metabolize heroin more quickly, which causes higher pain
- Pain tolerance – Pain that doesn’t bother some people much will devastate others
Whatever your situation, heroin withdrawal signs must be avoided. Thankfully, treatment is available for this problem. All heroin addiction programs utilize withdrawal management. Doing so helps many people like you fight through their treatment fear. The ultimate goal is to help a person stabilize their physical health before the emotional demands of rehabilitation.
Treatment Can Minimize This Danger
The dangers of heroin withdrawal symptoms shouldn’t be ignored. And yet, you’re afraid to get treatment. Like many in your situation, you are worried about being judged. We understand this fear and empathize. It can be hard to admit that you have a problem and to seek help. However, we believe that you have the strength necessary to overcome addiction for good.
Withdrawal treatment starts with managed detoxification. Replacement medicines minimize your symptoms and keep your body free from pain. Dosages slowly decrease during detox to help clean the body of these chemicals. After the process is over, you will be free of heroin and able to face a sober life. Your heroin withdrawal signs will have been as minimal as possible.
This treatment option helps you to get clean of heroin and avoid withdrawal. Then, you can go through other care options to manage your addiction triggers. For example, dual-diagnosis treats any underlying factors that contribute to addiction. Holistic care options like this treat you as a full person, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. As a result, you can walk away addiction-free and clean.
Getting the Care That You Need
If you suffer from heroin withdrawal symptoms, please contact us at Sagebrush Treatment Centers today. We focus on holistic care in a small and intimate setting. Our facility includes residential, outpatient, and gender-based care. Dual-diagnosis, experiential, and individualized attention are our main components. Please call 866.488.1156 to learn more about rehab insurance coverage and to get your life back on track.
