Most people know how devastating the opioid epidemic is in the United States. Not only is our country affected by it, but our communities and families are too. Many people know someone who is impacted by the pain of addiction. Heroin is one opioid that has ravaged the lives of many. Some people who are in the midst of using this drug may want to quit but are unsure of what to expect.
The fear of heroin withdrawal symptoms may hold them back. We fear what we do not understand, and withdrawals are uncomfortable. In fact, it can be dangerous to undergo this without proper medical supervision from Renaissance Recovery. To learn about our heroin addiction treatment options, contact us today at 866.330.9449.
Physical Effects of Heroin
Heroin binds to and activates opioid receptors in the brain. Our bodies contain natural chemicals called neurotransmitters that ordinarily adhere to these receptors throughout the brain and body. These will regulate pain, hormone releases, and your feelings of well-being.
These powerful effects of heroin on the body serve to reinforce the brain’s reward center. It encourages the brain to continue taking the drug because it gets a reward, even though it’s detrimental to your health.
After a while, your body and brain will start to rely on heroin to feel normal throughout the day. That’s when addiction begins, and withdrawal will start if you stop taking it.
Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms
Stopping heroin without the treatment of a qualified detox center will cause a drastic interruption in your brain’s functioning. Some of the heroin withdrawal symptoms include:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Anxiety
- Moodiness
- Stomach upset, including nausea and diarrhea
- Excessive yawning
- Runny nose or sniffling
- Flu-like body aches and pains
- Headaches
- Drowsiness
- General feelings of being unwell
Everyone’s experiences are different. Some go through the withdrawal with very intense symptoms, while others may have more moderate signs.
How to Cope During Withdrawal
If you can find ways to cope while you transition from heroin withdrawal symptoms to feeling well again, you’ll get through the process much better. Here are some coping tips:
- Enlist a support system for comfort during this time
- Use over the counter medications to help with some of the symptoms, such as headaches and nausea
- Find a mental exercise to do when you feel the cravings coming on. For example, you could meditate, pray, or read an encouraging piece
- Attend a rehab treatment center for inpatient or outpatient therapy
- Enlist in drug detox treatment for more thorough medical support.
By participating in therapy and detox, you’ll be in a safe environment and have the care of professionals with you 24/7 while you recover. They can even give you medication to help stabilize you and make you more comfortable.
Find Help For Heroin Addiction At Renaissance Recovery
At Renaissance Recovery, you will find our rehab treatment facility just what you need to make it through this transition to a brighter future. We enlist trained and compassionate therapists to work one-on-one with our client. They will lead you through the heroin withdrawal symptoms and make sure you are comfortable. You will have support every step of the way.
Some of the treatment programs that we offer include:
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Intensive outpatient treatment program
- Outpatient treatment program
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program
- Men’s rehab treatment program
- Women’s rehab treatment program
Don’t let heroin addiction harm another day in your life. Now that you know the heroin withdrawal symptoms, you can overcome this by reaching out to a quality rehab center. Contact Renaissance Recovery at 866.330.9449 today, and we’ll get your loved one on the road to recovery.
Renaissance Recovery provides a structured, supportive, family-based environment for clients to grow and develop healthy habits and life skills. In addition, clients learn the coping mechanisms needed to lead and support a functional and successful lifestyle—sober. We are a long-term, solution-based addiction treatment center, where client recovery is our top priority. We provide a multitude of addiction treatment programs in California that provide the necessary support for long-term addiction recovery including:
