Why It’s So Hard to Quit Drugs Cold Turkey?

by

13 April 2021

Lifestyle

Quit Drugs Cold Turkey

The endurings of life in modern society have made it common for people to develop addictions to drugs and alcohol. It all starts with one drink, one puff, or one sniff to get over a bad mood or event. Before you know it, several months down the line you’ve lost everything.

Fortunately, a lot of people get to a point where they feel they’ve simply had enough of drug or alcohol abuse and are ready to make the changes needed for them to get over the addiction.

Some people choose to go cold turkey because they feel it will be easier to stop using their substance of choice rather than to get off it gradually. While ambition and dedication to recovering are powerful on their own, they are simply not enough to overcome withdrawal symptoms.

Quitting substance abuse cold turkey is very difficult and can impose significant risks if your body developed a certain level of dependence on the drug.

In this article, we look into the cold turkey approach of quitting, what it means, why it’s so hard, and the risks it poses to the addict. If you want to find a rehab center to help you quit using drugs, you can learn more here.

What does It mean to Quit Cold Turkey?

The term ‘cold turkey’ comes from one of the withdrawal symptoms of quitting substance use. Sometimes, a person may get goosebumps that look like the skin of a plucked turkey after they cut themselves off their drug of choice.

As such, quitting drugs ‘cold turkey’ means putting an abrupt stop to drugs and alcohol use.

Most approaches are done at home without medical assistance or intervention. People who use this technique do so in the belief that it will be easier to stop using the substance immediately. Some believe that if they disassociate themselves with the drug entirely, they will feel less compelled to start using again.

For others, detoxing at home is the most convenient method because they don’t have medical insurance and are unable to afford treatment services.

As painful and uncomfortable the experience might be, they believe they can do it on their own without the need for specialized drug addiction treatment. Another reason for going cold turkey is because the addict prefers to do it in a familiar environment where they can feel safer and supported by friends and family.

However, quitting cold turkey should not be mistaken for detoxification. Detox is a slow process of clearing drugs from the body in a safe and controlled setting. Detoxing allows the body enough time to purge physical cravings and the freedom to go through several uncomfortable feelings and changes brought about by the body breaking free of the drug.

Why Quitting Cold Turkey Is So Hard?

Why Quitting Cold Turkey Is So Hard

If you’re trying to quit drugs, cold turkey may seem like a fast and easy option at first. You get to go through the process privately at home without subjecting yourself to judgment or scrutiny from people.

However, the technique is very difficult to do. Factors that make it hard include:

  • Withdrawal symptoms.
  • Intense cravings.
  • The drug of choice.
  • The level of addiction.
  • Co-occurring mental health conditions.

If you’re addicted to alcohol or a particular drug, your body has likely developed an undesirable mental and physical dependency on the substance. At this point, both your brain and body need those chemicals to sustain a level of equilibrium.

Once you go cold turkey, your body begins to try and go back to its non-addicted state by purging itself of the drug or alcohol substances. This purging process produces intense withdrawal symptoms and physical cravings that can affect you emotionally, physically, and psychologically.

Examples of highly common physical and mental withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, nausea, depression, seizures, hallucinations, vomiting, mood imbalances, agitation, mental fog, insomnia, irregular heart rate, and changes in blood pressure.

The type of drug involved also makes it hard for the addict to recover from their addiction through the technique. The drug your body is dependent on will determine the withdrawal symptoms you experience and the degree of severity.

Drugs such as heroin and benzos are highly addictive and experts recommend that addicts of these drugs refrain from using the approach since they can lead to highly dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

The co-occurring mental health condition of the addict can also complicate drug withdrawal and can lead to a highly unpredictable behavioral response from the addict.

The severity of the addiction also makes it difficult for addicts to achieve success from the method. The degree of dependence on a drug as well as the amount of time you use the drug will determine how your body and brain will respond to being cut off.

Simply put, the more severe the addiction, the more intense the withdrawal symptoms will be.

Is It Safe to Quit Cold Turkey?

Quitting cold turkey may not be the safest or most effective approach to staying sober, especially for people who have developed a dependency on a particular substance. Quitting too soon can cause uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and a strong urge to resume substance abuse.

In certain cases, the withdrawal symptoms can be so severe that they cause life-threatening medical conditions such as seizures and heart problems as explained earlier in this article. Even substances that pose a low risk of addiction such as nicotine can cause highly unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

This is not to say that quitting cold turkey cannot be successful. The technique can be highly effective with the right support system and the rate at which the addict can overcome the withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms last for varying lengths and some people can get past the withdrawal period faster than those who decide to quit gradually. But if a person is addicted to potentially harmful drugs such as meth or heroin, cold turkey may not be the best idea.

Drug Addiction Treatment:

Drug Addiction Treatment

Recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction is not an easy thing to do. But this doesn’t deter people from going cold turkey without any external help or medical intervention.

While it may seem like a fast and easy solution, a medically managed drug addiction treatment approach is highly recommended. Drug addiction treatment centers are equipped with professionally trained staff who are committed to helping addicts recover and live a life of sobriety.

If you or someone you care about needs help with their addiction, get in touch with a professional drug addiction treatment facility to help you achieve a successful recovery altogether.

Read Also:

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

valentine's day gift

Unpredictable Valentine’s Day Gift to Surprise Your Lover

Valentine’s Day is just about to appear and if you are still thinking about gifting your beloved some surprise gift then plan some different. If you really love your Valentine and want to surprise him/her then choose some unpredictable Valentine’s Day gift and make Valentine’s Day 2020 memorable for them. Who does not like surprises and especially if it from the most important person of your life. This year choose your valentine’s Day Gift very wisely before you present it.  In our concept of ‘Love’ and ‘Valentine’s Day’ Valentine’s gifts seem to be the most precious ones which would depict the kind of royalty and loyalty you have towards your Valentine. But have you ever thought that something that is not countable and tangible could me most precious and would help you express your love? You will not have to spend unnecessarily to gift something special to your beloved. All it takes is some clever tips about Valentine’s Day gifts.   Valentine’s Day Gifting History Over the years all young and old couples have celebrated Valentine’s day all across the world without even know why is the day celebrated. Have you ever thought why is Valentine’s Day celebrated and why do we give gifts on Valentine’s day? Why do we need a special day to celebrate our love give gifts on Valentine’s Day?   What is the Origin of Valentine’s Day? Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the memory of St. Valentine who was a Saint and was full of mystery. The month of February has always been celebrated overwhelmingly over the ages not knowing the reality. St. Valentine was a priest in Rome during the 3rd century, the then emperor was Emperor Claudius who announced that single men are better fighter than married men and he overruled the ritual of marriage among young men and women. St. Valentine, the priest was against this law set by Claudius II. He gradually started helping these young men get married secretly which got exposed to Claudius II. When Claudius got to know about this disobey of his law he ordered for the death of St. Valentine.  In order to remember St. Valentine after his death, all lovers have started offering gifts to their beloveds on Valentine’s Day comparing their love to St. Valentine. The ritual of exchanging gifts is a symbol of remembering St. Valentine’s ever since his love. This day has been henceforth considered to be a “Day of Romance”. Now if this day is so important for the lovers then you must also know how can you make your ‘Love’ feel special because on this day in the past someone was killed because he wanted to celebrate love.  Valentine’s Day that You Never Thought Of Everyone presents something or the other to their lovers on Valentine’s Day but why to count yourself in ‘Everyone’? Be different. Think differently. Plan something unique. Since Valentine’s Day is all about ‘Celebrating Love’ then gift something that your Valentine loves. Valentine’s Day gifts should be such that your lover must remember it for the rest of life. Money can buy you any expensive gifts but that happiness will be related to the gift item that you would give.    A Valentine’s Gift  as a Weekend Trip Valentine’s day is all about you and your love together. What could be a better idea than celebrating the Valentine’s Day away from work and city-life? You can gift your Valentine a small trip to some weekend destination and spend some quality time with your love. Try to find out their choice of place, make a plan and arrange everything beforehand.   A Valentine’s Day Gift as a Food Trip No one will know him/her better than you. If your Valentine is a food lover then celebrate your Valentine’s Day with their favorite food. Make a plan what all dishes they like, take them to their favorite food stall or food-stop and enjoy both of your favorite food. Food is something everyone loves what could be better than you gifting your lover’s favorite dish to make them happy.   A Valentine’s Day Gift as a Road Trip If you know your partner loves to travel and have not got any chance for long to go for a road trip then you can exclusively arrange for a Road Trip for your Lover. They will love your surprise Valentine’s Gift and you will never regret seeing the happiness and the smile on their face. The happiness you both will have is actually priceless.  A Valentine’s Day Gift as a Pet Therapy If all you know about your Valentine is that he/she is a pet lover, get their favorite pet home as Valentine’s Day gift. This could not suppress any other thing they would have wanted more in life. They will definitely love pet therapy with their favorite animal and their love together. In Pet therapy, gifting a dog therapy would be incomparable to any other Valentine’s day Love.  A Valentine’s Day Gift as a Car-Light Dinner This is something very sweet and cute way of making your love feel special. Surprise them by arranging a special Valentine’s Night dinner inside your car. This is something very cozy and would be loved by your lover. Candlelight dinner is very common, do something different this time with a special car light dinner for your beloved.  Valentine’s Day is a tradition mostly driven by the economy, but make this Valentine’s Day memorable for the rest of your life with emotions and true feelings this year. You can never buy emotions even if you are a billionaire. This Valentine’s Day tries not to gift something materialistic, instead, give something that would heartwarming for your love after all it is all about celebrating your love.  Read Also: Best 5 Valentine Flowers for Your Special Someone A Fashion Gift Guide for Special Occasions

READ MOREDetails
Dating tips

5 Online Dating Tips For Men

Dating websites have emerged as one of the gateways to finding a relationship, at least for the younger generation. Quite several websites offer the opportunity of meeting someone on the Internet. Nowadays, it is just like meeting a stranger in a pub. Here we are going to tell you 5 Online Dating Tips which you must know. You must know a few things if you’re thinking about joining this ongoing trend or you’ve just started. Here are a few tips to help you stay gentlemanly as you foray into the online dating world. Here are 5 Online Dating Tips: 1. Avoid misrepresenting yourself It is important that are honest about yourself. Do not portray yourself as being something other than you are. You want to avoid the thought of “He looks completely different in person” in your date's mind. Dating or meeting people should not be about vanity. Make sure you don’t fall into the temptation of lying about your education, job, or anything else. If your date finds out that they are being lied to, they may take all you’ve been saying to them as a lie. So, keep it real and also remember that your date may not be entirely truthful either. Avoid deceiving yourself in your dating as this is one of our great dating tips. 2. Tone down on your expectation Bear it in mind that the Internet is only a means to meet people. It is only a channel and should not be mistaken for a way of really knowing them. After meeting them online, you need to meet them in person to properly get to know them. Always remember that their pictures may not present them as they are. So, it is not a crime to assume that their pictures are old, edited, or just present them in the best way possible. Click here to learn more first date tips for men. 3. Always lead the conversation Online dating platforms are a means of helping shy people since meeting people in person can prove awkward. You will do yourself a lot of good if you lead the conversation as much as you can. It will help in preparing you for when you eventually meet your date. Remember that it can take up to three dates for you to know if you connect with someone. 4. Be ready to accept rejection Remember that if you find a match, it simply means that you are mutually interested in each other. This does not mean you have started dating. In essence, if you get a “NO”, do not feel too bad about it and move on. Also, if she does not reply to your messages or tells you she’s not interested, don’t take it personally. 5. Do not be in a haste to avoid your date If your date is miles away from the mental picture you have created, make sure to be as polite as possible. There’s no harm to meeting someone new, so stay on your date regardless of how boring or terrible it is. Do not sneak off and keep them waiting. Stay on your date, at least for a little while. Online dating can be awkward, most especially for people who did not grow up using the Internet. It is worth giving a try if you are single and want to make things exciting. Read Also: Dating Versus Courtship: Which Is Right For You The Holy Commandments Of Dating In College Free Transgender Dating Tips For Those Who Want To Fall In Love Online And Offline

READ MOREDetails
Cheating

Are You Worried Your Boyfriend May be Cheating?

Many women who think they are insecure, long-term relationships are horrified to discover clues that indicate their partner may be cheating on them. If you suspect your boyfriend of cheating, it is only natural that you want to know definitively one way or the other what is going on. It can be very difficult to handle this sort of situation knowing that the trust in the relationship may have been shattered. However, it is far better to know than be left hanging. So, what can you do if you think your partner may be cheating, but you are not entirely sure? Well, there are various indicators that you can look out for, and this could give you a much better idea of what is going on. By familiarizing yourself with some of the possible signs that your boyfriend may be cheating, you will be better placed to determine if there is something going on or you are just being paranoid. In this article, we will look at some possible signs to look out for. Some Signs that Could Suggest He Is Cheating: There are various signs that could suggest he is cheating on you, so you need to ensure you keep an eye out for them to help you determine what is going on. One of the signs you may notice is a sudden influx in the number of calls he is receiving or making. Sometimes, he may pass these off as family members or friends. But, how do you know if this is really the case? If he acts oddly when he takes the calls, it could well be someone else. Running a simple phone number search online can help you to determine who has actually been calling. Another thing you can look at is how he is using social media, as many men use this platform to contact the person with whom they are cheating. If he acts cagily whenever you are around or shuts his laptop when you walk in, you may have cause for suspicion. Likewise, if he suddenly spends all his time on his smartphone engaging in secretive laughter, it could be another sign. If your boyfriend has always been pretty casual about the way he looks and dresses but has suddenly started to make a real effort, this could be another cause of concern. In addition, if he has started to go out a lot more on his own or works late at the office much more than before, there may be something going on. Any sudden changes in appearance or behaviors for no apparent reason will naturally trigger suspicion, and if he is also displaying some of the other signs, you may have your answer as to whether he is cheating. Move on with Your Life: Nobody wants to be with a partner they cannot trust If you do find out he has been cheating, you need to move on with your life rather than hoping he will change. Read Also: Taking A Break From Your Relationship Make Your Boyfriend Feel Extremely Loved With These Gifting Ideas

READ MOREDetails