How To Quit Taking Drugs

How To Come Off Drugs

When younger, despite my 'Pollyanna' nature, I used to hang out with some crazy junkies, but never became a user of illicit drugs. The junkie-types were part of life in our town.

I tried not to judge their motives due to some of my own family themselves suffering toxic addictions. I had a fair understanding of what drugs could do to people from age
around 8. I swore I'd do all I could to understand these problems.

I was, however, addicted to diazepam (as a sufferer of anxiety and PTSD from age 13) but I did stop, and it wasn't as difficult as I'd anticipated.

I would have stopped taking them many years sooner but for, what I perceived as, fear-mongering about the withdrawals, that once understood, can be overcome the same way you would overcome the 'flu. Anger at drug companies is for a different page, personally, I am a fan of pain-killers for pain - and of other great medicines that the evil 'big pharma' also produce. Tranquillisers can be great if used properly.

Being addicted to something does not make you a horrible person. Everyone has numerous addictions or persistent habits. Drugs worry us all though, and people often react to them in very judgemental ways, due to fear and ignorance OR bad experience.

I once witnessed two young men carried off dead - from bad drugs. One woman at the scene said 'two less to worry about'. Her words made me feel sick, but at the same time, I understood what she meant, as she had probably been worried about them, and was now angry at their loss, they were very young men of age just 21.

Look at it objectively and without judgement or shame. Free up the guilt-time and start to practice building your confidence and self-esteem.

What do you need in order to stop taking drugs? What will happen? What are the benefits for you?

It IS bad. withdrawal can be as bad as a very bad flu,
but you DO recover, with help and preparation.

I took a silly step and flushed my diazepam down the toilet - along with my cigarettes, around eight years ago. I stopped drinking any alcohol too (for 9 months, now I like a glass of red now and then) surprisingly, it wasn't hard for me.

An advantage I had was that I did have a pretty good basic understanding of the dynamics of the mind-body connection and found that understanding the functions of the hormones and the thyroid too, helped me determine what was happening to me, as different symptoms emerged.

The thing is, we are all unique and you may react horribly to stopping drugs, whilst someone else, may have an easier time. Please see my articles on Trauma and Stress for more help.

I would recommend you invest in at least one consult with a holistic therapist before you start your withdrawal. (I had also taken up Reiki and Mindful Meditation, that helped a lot too)

Never stop the drugs if you have a known, physical disease. This is a reason why you need blood tests with your regular GP or doctor before you start to quit. Especially ensure there is no thyroid nor insulin problem (more common than most realise)

Prepare for Withdrawal:

Expect to feel rough but BE in a positive-mind set, NOTE: NEVER stop any prescription medication when suffering from depression, without being under the care of a doctor or treat yourself for depression, in a holistic way, FIRST.

Top up the cupboards with all goods you may need - the same as if you were suffering a protracted period of a bad bout of the 'flu. You could feel a range of symptoms from extremely dizzy to sick to distraught and probably sleepless too.

Remember here is a good time to establish new and better habits. Keep as active as you can.

Let's begin with herbal teas in place of caffeine. If you stop imbibing caffeine before stopping the drug, it will show you a milder form of the withdrawal process. It's important to replace the caffeine with a healthier choice of beverage.

Herbal Tea is a whole new world, start sampling it, you won't be sorry.

The body, at withdrawal, has to adjust to your hormones 'awakening' and this can take a few weeks to achieve, although feedback states that you really should start to feel better at around, one week.

You will start to feel empowered. It's important to feel good about you, even if nobody else does.

If you can't manage to quit the first time, keep trying. Congratulate yourself for positive effort and re-plan to succeed. Always keep trying, no matter what. Never give up on you, you are your best pal.

How fast you recover depends on how well prepared you are and how much effort you want to put in to recovery.

Kelp can be tolerated for a couple of weeks, in order to provide support for your thyroid at this time and herbal supplements are an much easier addiction to handle than harder stuff.

BE COOL

Remember that we have a state of inflammation at this time of withdrawal and that our goal is to bring the body to a 'cool' state. That means making the blood 'cooler' and more alkaline. Plenty of water and green vegetables can help. I recommend a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement at this point.

Oats with Cinnamon can help a lot and removing sugar, helps too as does introducing whole-grain-only bread and pasta.

Generally though: Removing all white bread, pasta and rice and replacing with wholegrain, will help with their calming and natural B Vitamins, enzymes and other micronutrients.

Removing sugar and caffeine is easier than you think too. Sugar can make the blood 'spike' and can cause horrific symptoms. I'd recommend withdrawing from caffeine, processed grains as well as sugar too, before you attempt the really big one.

Experiment with audio-help, like Binauaral - beats and self-help tracks.

Elizabeth Lucye Robillard