Cocaine is a powerful and highly addictive substance that affects the body in many ways. After using cocaine, users may experience an intense comedown or withdrawal period. During this time, users often experience uncomfortable physical and psychological symptoms that can be hard to recognize. Knowing the signs of cocaine withdrawal can help you or a loved one identify when it’s time to seek professional help for addiction recovery.
Extreme fatigue
One of the most common withdrawal symptoms from cocaine is extreme fatigue. Those going through cocaine withdrawal often feel exhausted even after a full night’s sleep, and they may need multiple naps throughout the day to feel somewhat normal again.
Irritability and anxiety
It’s not uncommon for those in recovery from cocaine addiction to experience irritability and anxiety as they go through withdrawal. This can manifest as restlessness or difficulty concentrating on one task, among other things.
Depression
Many people who have gone through cocaine withdrawal report feeling depressed during this period, either due to the lack of dopamine or because they are missing their drug of choice. If left unchecked, depression can lead to more serious mental health issues like suicidal thoughts or feelings of hopelessness.
Insomnia
Insomnia is a common symptom that occurs during cocaine withdrawal, which can make the process even more difficult since lack of sleep only exacerbates other symptoms such as fatigue and depression.
Nightmares
Not only do many people in recovery from cocaine addiction suffer from insomnia, but some also experience nightmares while going through withdrawal, which can make it harder for them to get adequate rest at night and further worsen their physical state during this time period.
Intense cravings
One of the more obvious signs of cocaine withdrawal is intense cravings for the drug itself, which can make it harder for someone trying to quit using drugs to stay on track with their recovery plan without relapsing back into bad habits again.
Lack of appetite
A loss in appetite is another symptom commonly experienced by those going through cocaine withdrawal, which can further lead to malnutrition if left unchecked while recovering from addiction problems over an extended period of time.
Paranoia
Paranoia is an often-overlooked side effect experienced by many people in recovery from substance abuse issues including cocaine addiction; this paranoia may manifest as fearfulness or suspiciousness towards others around them, even loved ones who are trying their best to help support them through their struggles with addiction problems.
Physical pain
Physical aches and pains are another very real symptom associated with cocaine withdrawal, which might include headaches, muscle cramps, joint pain (especially in hands and feet), and nausea, among others. All of these contribute to overall discomfort while going through this difficult process of quitting drugs once and for all.
Increased blood pressure
The last major symptom related to quitting cocaine involves increased heart rate and blood pressure; both of which could potentially lead to long-term cardiac problems if not properly monitored by medical professionals during this time period (especially if someone has underlying heart conditions).
Final thoughts
Cocaine addiction is a serious issue that requires professional treatment in order for successful long-term recovery; understanding what types of withdrawal symptoms might occur during this process can help both those struggling with addiction problems themselves as well as caregivers/loved ones better prepare themselves when helping someone else manage these issues effectively over time.
Knowing how to recognise these signs early on will ensure that proper measures are taken quickly if any arise so that both physical and emotional damage can be minimised along the way towards living a healthy life free from substance abuse issues once again.
Robert Haynes, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
