Maybe you feel trapped, unable to escape a cycle of kratom use, hoping for a helping hand and a way to escape. Lucky for you, you are not alone. There are resources and locations available that can help you start your journey to recovery.
Chances are you are here because you worry about what to expect during kratom withdrawal, as well as how difficult it might be.
Below, we provide an honest view of what kratom detox looks like and what you can expect. While we will not hide the truth of how hard your journey will be, it is important that you understand it. This will prepare you with a realistic idea of what to expect during withdrawal.
So read on and start to think about how best to take your first steps with an experienced rehab center today.
Starting Your Kratom Withdrawal Journey
Recognizing that you have a kratom addiction is a very important step and will often act as the first of many in your journey. This realization can contextualize the rest of this process as necessary to ensure you move forward with your health in mind.
You should also understand before you start withdrawal that drug rehab and detox are not solely physical processes. You will need to prepare yourself for its mental challenges too. There will be times when you question your decision, and you need to keep going at those points so you end up all the better for it.
There are several withdrawal symptoms you will experience, which we detail later in the article. By working with a high-quality rehab center, though, you can have the best chance of success at remaining sober for longer.
If possible, try to gain the emotional support of others. These should be peers, friends, and family who can support you during this process. You may need to reveal to them that you have a problem, but being honest with them may give you someone to talk to about this.
Recognizing Kratom Dependence as a First Step to Recovery
We are guessing that one of the reasons for you visiting this page is that you are already considering detox due to kratom abuse. It is still important to understand the best reasons for undergoing it, though, so you know whether you are headed in the right direction.
We understand that you may have started kratom use due to a personal or medical need. There are many reasons people use it. Still, this is what can often push people into developing an addiction without realizing it is a possibility.
If you suspect a problem, though, the following are some of the symptoms that people with a kratom abuse problem might display.
Physical Signs of Kratom Dependence
The following are kratom symptoms that may suggest you have developed a dependence on the substance.
- Breathing problems
- Constipation
- Higher pain tolerance or a lack of pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Skin pigmentation changes
- Significantly increased or decreased energy
- Shakes or tremors
- Sleep problems
As you can see, there are several health impacts to kratom use that you may have come across. Please be aware, though, that this list as well as the one below are both non-exhaustive.
Behavioral Symptoms of Kratom Dependence
If you start abusing kratom, you may start to develop other habits or mental changes as a result of using the substance. They include:
- Cravings for more kratom
- Decreased sex drive
- Anxiety or panic
- Sudden increased or decreased focus
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
If you display even a small number of the above, you may have a kratom use problem. You should either discuss the issue with your preferred healthcare service or talk to a respected rehab facility.
A Step-By-Step Guide to Kratom Withdrawal
Knowing what is to come during kratom detox can help you as you begin. It can contextualize every stage and allow you to prepare for it.
Having a support system, such as friends and family, or a rehab center, will give you a much better chance of the detox helping. So, ensure you work with them from beginning to end.
Another thing you should do at each step is ensure you remain hydrated and well-nourished. This can alleviate many of the worst symptoms, though it can be hard to remember to eat and drink when distracted by such discomfort.
Early Withdrawal Symptoms
The onset of withdrawal usually comes alongside muscle aches and headaches. These can sometimes appear only a few hours after the previous dose, or depending on your specific circumstances may take longer.
In this early stage, you are also likely to start feeling a little more irritable. As your body starts to react to the absence of kratom, you can expect chemical changes to cause you to notice more minor frustrations. This is important to bear in mind as you continue with withdrawal, as lashing out can cause significant social issues later on.
During this time, you must ensure you continue talking to your support network. No matter whether this is friends, family, or professionals, they may be able to help you through the process. When future withdrawal symptoms start, it may be much harder for you to do, especially if you need to rebuild any bridges.
Intermediate Steps
At the peak of withdrawal, you are likely to feel as though something is very wrong with your body. Much like a person who has not eaten for a long time, your body will start to push you to fulfill what it now considers a basic need.
These cravings will be the most difficult in the middle of withdrawal, and you may need all the help you can get. Try to engage in light physical activity or yoga, as such things can distract you from the frustration and discomfort.
During this time, you may also start to suffer from significant feelings of anxiety, depression, or even feelings of dread. This can sometimes be exacerbated by the reality of your situation as you start to become more clear-minded towards the end.
Ensure you also stay in contact with healthcare professionals. These people will understand what you go through, and be able to offer holistic support at each step.
Ongoing Effects
As your body starts to recover from the lack of kratom in your system, you will start to see a slow reduction in physical symptoms. Mental health issues, though, may take longer, and as such it is worth continuing any therapy you have in this regard.
There may be some lingering feelings of self-doubt, and the cravings may come and go. You may also discover triggers you did not know existed, which are specific events that cause you to want to return to using kratom.
Some of these triggers could even be traumatic and may cause you undue stress. This is why working with a therapist can help you uncover these and ensure you develop methods for overcoming them.
At this stage, you can put some of the systems you planned for into action. If you work with a rehab center, you are likely to undergo comprehensive education in this regard. Make positive changes in your life, and build up healthy habits that will help you push forward.
Here, your support network will be able to not only help you celebrate the milestones you meet but also help you monitor yourself. It can often be hard to recognize issues as you continue your life, but if you know you have honest peers, you can allow them to prop you up. Listen to them if they have concerns, and make sure to be honest with both them and yourself if there is the possibility you are relapsing.
Recovery as a Journey
When you finish a period of rehab, it will start to become clear that recovery from an addiction like kratom does not end after withdrawals. It is a continuous process of self-awareness and self-improvement. You need to build up resilience to things that may push you toward re-using the substance and protect yourself from their influence.
Do not be put off by this fact, though. Addiction treatment involves rebuilding and reaffirming your life at this point. You can thus start to do things like:
Find new interests and hobbies
Re-engage with healthy hobbies you put aside
Enjoy activities you found more difficult while on kratom
Socialize without the need for substances
Each of these is a stepping stone to a better life. We understand that it sounds like a long way off, though, but with the right help, it becomes a much more reachable goal.
Overcoming Kratom Withdrawal
Remember that getting past kratom withdrawal to a place where you can find a form of normality again is more than enduring discomfort. It is about doing work to build a healthier future.
Here at Purpose Healing Center, we can not only help you achieve sobriety, but we also empower you to embrace decisions that will set you on a better path. So, contact us today and talk to one of our staff about what we can do for you. Wellness is a journey, so take your first steps with us.
480-579-3319