As I work with addicted people, the common thread to deciding that they finally want freedom from addiction is when they go into serious withdrawal. It’s sudden and it’s worse than cancer. In order to have a breakthrough, one must always have a breakdown. How unfortunate that there are those who have to get to that horrific place in order to let go and let God set them free. It’s the way it is and no amount of warnings, words, or help of any kind will change that. Interventions help only if the patient is willing; I’ve seen them save lives and be successful when done properly. The only part of this puzzle that doesn’t fit is that I have to watch people die because they felt just 10 pills a day wouldn’t hurt them. After all, they tell me, 10 pills don’t even get them high anymore, so they reason that it’s not hurting them. Next thing I know is they have died, leaving a mother, a father, a husband, a wife, a child. My heart breaks over and over and over again when that terrible day comes when their substance tells their body, “ok, it’s enough…it’s over”. Then, it’s too late. They die. Addiction takes hostages and is the most vile and unforgiving force on earth. Adults die. Kids die. Loved ones are abandoned and never stop asking, “why”. I’ve known some who have suddenly died after only 1 single pill they had taken for the very first time. Drugs are unpredictable and their effect varies with each person. No one escapes. No one.

Lord, I lift all who are addicted up to You.

To those of you who are not aware of withdrawal signs and symptoms, I’ve placed a link to a very brief review of what you need to know…both for yourself and someone you love who may be addicted.  Withdrawal happens to ALL people who are addicted to any drug;  however, because so very many become addicted by their doctor, you need to take a look at this.  People feel that because their doctor prescribed a medication, even though it’s very addictive, that they will never suffer serious side effects…especially not addition.  LIE!!!!!!!!  Doctors are the #1 cause of prescription drug addiction in our country.  So, please familiarize yourself with these basic facts. God to the link below…

http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dcw74mbg_0gxkbfc2p&autoStart=true&loop=true

Addiction Withdrawal is slightly different yet mostly similar for each person. It occurs one of two ways.

The first way withdrawal occurs is through abruptly stopping an addictive substance. This is most dangerous…sometimes, life threatening. You need to be closely moitored by a physician so that you don’t run into problems and so that you can be made as comfortable as is possible. You will need to be medically and properly “detoxed” either at home or in a facility such as a hospital or equipped rehab. Don’t do this yourself!

The second way withdrawal occurs is through being on addictive substances for a period of time (more than 3 months) and you’re body starts needing more in order to overcome feeling sick (“drug sick”). This is when you’re not getting the same high as you once were getting and you are finding that adding more of the drug helps prevent you from feeling drug sick. If you’re in this place, you kow exactly what I’m talking about. You add more in order to get the same high you once did. Time goes on and you are now taking hits in order to prevent withdrawal and your dosages start increasing and increasing and increasing. This is the point when people die of “Accidental Overdose”. You see the celebs on TV dying this way all the time; there are many more people who are not celebrities dying this way, each and every single day. It is “unexpected”. People don’t do this on purpose. It’s for a lack of knowledge that they die while just trying to avoid withdrawal (drug sickness). There are even kids who will try just “one” pill from mom’s medicine cabinet, only to be found dead by a family member soon after. It can only take one pill or one hit sometimes. Drugging is a game of roulette.

What am I trying to say? You can’t escape withdrawal. What you CAN do is have this short period of time properly managed professionally…by a doctor in order to minimize the symptoms and make you as camfortable as possible. It’s difficult, but definitely do-able and so worth the rewards of a clear mind and healthy body.

Some (there are many more) Common Symptoms of Withdrawal…A Sign to Get Help

• Sweating
• Racing heart
• Palpitations
• Muscle tension
• Tightness in the chest
• Difficulty breathing
• Tremor
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Crawling Skin
• Hallucinations
• Loss of Appetite
• Food Starts Tasting “Dead”
• Inability to Sleep
• Feeling as though your Heart is Pounding Hard in your Chest (Explosive)
• Diarrhea
• Vomitting
• Furry Tongue
• Flu Like Symptoms
• Seizures
• Heart attacks
• Stroke
• Delirium tremens (DT’s)