Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms

Overcoming Opioid Withdrawals in a Safe Setting

You’ve never felt discomfort like the pain of fentanyl withdrawal symptoms. Having gone through it several times, I can easily say it was one of the worst physical experiences of my life. Interestingly enough, I had to go through that horrible pain in order to cure my addiction. Going to Icarus Behavioral Health in Nevada saved my life, and it could potentially save yours if you are in a situation similar to mine.

I used opiates for over five years. I dabbled with drugs and alcohol growing up, but my drug abuse spiraled out of control once I got hooked on opiates. I was prescribed opioid medication for a back injury, and although it was all legal at the time, it quickly became an illegal situation for me.

On top of selling my opioid pain medication for some extra cash, I abused it as well. Eventually, when my tolerance got higher, I couldn’t part with any of my pills. My opioid medications got me through the week, and I couldn’t afford to not have all of them for myself.

An opioid withdrawal can be extremely dangerous if not done in a proper setting. It can be just as much a mental hurdle as a physical one. Opioid withdrawal symptoms include depression, anxiety, stomach cramps, insomnia, and other major discomforts. Some addicts experience several withdrawal symptoms such as suicidal ideation.

Addiction Treatment for Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms

Because prescription drugs can be extremely expensive, a lot of addicts turn to drugs like heroin and fentanyl because they are cheaper and offer a similar high. I got addicted to fentanyl when I could no longer afford the opiates that I was taking. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is much more powerful and deadly than your average opiate. Fentanyl is usually only prescribed to those with severe chronic pain. I knew that it was very easy to overdose on fentanyl, my substance abuse was severe enough where I no longer cared.

Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms are very similar to the withdrawal symptoms associated with opioids, but there are some subtle differences. I experienced just about every withdrawal symptom you can. Sweating, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, body chills, and an intense craving for more fentanyl. The only thing that kept me going was the idea that I might one day be sober, and not have to continue dealing with such a painful, scary addiction.

Effective Methods of Opioid Withdrawal Management

Icarus Behavioral Health in Nevada has one of the best detox programs and they did a great job with my withdrawal management. They were able to lessen my symptoms of fentanyl withdrawal with medications like Suboxone. Going through a withdrawal like this is nearly impossible to do without medical supervision. I highly recommend not trying to detox on your own if possible.

Dealing With Mood Disturbances in Opioid Withdrawal

The mental aspect of severe withdrawal symptoms is one of the toughest things to navigate. The muscle aches, stomach cramps, and other physical symptoms are bad enough, but the game you must play within your own mind is extremely difficult. I wanted to leave and get high so badly. It took everything in me not to burst out the door and flee. Drug use is a mental struggle unlike any other.

Dealing with my mood swings was the hardest part. I went from being content in my withdrawal to utterly terrified. Even when I was almost through my detox, I still wanted to run away. There is an increased sensitivity in almost every area of your brain during a fentanyl withdrawal.

Medical Detox: Setting a Foundation for Sobriety

The only thing that kept me in detox was the thought of my impending death. I knew that if I went back to my fentanyl abuse, it would kill me sooner than later. Even though going through such a severe withdrawal was difficult to get through, I knew I needed to make it to the other side. If I could just do that, then I could worry about going through substance abuse treatment.

At Icarus, they made the fentanyl withdrawal timeline for detox as part of the program as smooth and comfortable as possible, even with my intense desire to leave. I knew if I made it past the detox, I would better be able to listen and find the resources I needed to keep going and get some clean time under my belt.

Emotional Support Through Support Groups

You can go to multiple treatment programs and get as much professional help as you want, but nothing has helped me the way going to support groups has. Talking to fellow addicts in recovery has been the most beneficial part of my substance abuse journey. These groups provide a safe space for recovering addicts to receive social support. These groups let me know that I can once again be a productive member of society.

Hearing from other addicts reduces my desire to go out and get high. I hear the horror stories, and it reminds me of my own drug abuse. You don’t just get sober and then go on with your life without thinking about your past. In fact, I learned that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) says that connections in sobriety make your chances at success leaps and bounds greater! Finding further forms of recovery support following that initial sobriety period is crucial.

There isn’t a doubt in my mind that I would have continued my opioid dependency if it weren’t for the support of group therapy. I go to as many meetings as I can and also seek individual therapy to deal with the past trauma that led me to begin abusing fentanyl in the first place. There are so many benefits to recovery if you go about it the right way.

Prevent Drug Abuse Relapse: Getting an Addiction Education

I learn as much as I can about addiction so that I have the correct tools to not succumb to a relapse. Not only does it help me, but it’s also something that I can give back as well. At a lot of the meetings I go to, I see people who are struggling. I encounter a lot of individuals who are newly sober and going through a rough patch. It’s important for me to let them know the tools they have at their disposal.

Just because you feel weak at certain times doesn’t mean you have to give up. Even if you do relapse, you can get back on the wagon. The trick is to forgive yourself and practice self-love. No one is perfect. It’s normal to feel weak or have an intense urge to use drugs again. It’s all a part of the recovery process. You can’t be hard on yourself when you have moments of weakness.

The Help of Sober Supports When Times Get Rough

I’ve only learned this because I’ve heard it from enough people in recovery. No one gets clean and then never gets urges. I still have dreams about getting high and waking up in a cold sweat thinking I threw it all away. I don’t let it get me down, and I try to let others know that it’s ok to have these moments. One great piece of advice that I got through my treatment is that we sometimes must experience bad times in order to fully appreciate the good times.

Visit Icarus in Nevada for Your Recovery Success Story

When I have weak moments, I imagine myself back in detox. I remember the withdrawal experience vividly. Those symptoms of withdrawal keep me on the right track. I never want to feel that way again. Should I relapse, I know that I got through it once, so I do have the power to do it again if necessary.

However, I remember how bad it got. I know for a fact that I don’t want to be there again. Icarus in Nevada did an amazing job helping me get clean, and they can do the same for you.