However, if you’re a regular drinker and also then decide to stop consuming alcohol then you can expect to see some of the following symptoms:
- Trembling hands
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Insomnia
- Mild to heavy sweating
Now that you have a better understanding of how these withdrawals impact the individual, we will look at some of the coping methods for when you reach the withdrawal stage if you don’t already suffer from withdrawals at this point. Two things to keep in mind here. The first one is that not everyone has the same coping mechanisms and the second is that these aren’t the only options available to you. If your withdrawals become too much to bear, visit our digital support group so we can help you cope even when you feel you can’t.
Some coping methods for Nicotine withdrawals include:
Exercise when you can
As we mentioned above, one of the symptoms of nicotine withdrawals includes depression. So if you’re feeling rather blue, we suggest doing at least 30 minutes of physical exercise a day. It is well known that when you do physical exercise that your body naturally releases ‘feel-good’ hormones and that exercise will help fight the feelings of fatigue and promotes a healthy sleeping routine. But might we suggest not exercising right before your bedtime, give your body at least three hours of downtime before going to bed?
Get enough Rest and Sleep
You might have recently noticed that you are very tired, and that’s normal. Withdrawals tend to increase fatigue thus leaving you feeling like you haven’t slept for a week even though your sleeping patterns have not changed. With it being lockdown you have more time during the day to take naps or simply going to bed earlier would aid tremendously in promoting a healthy sleep cycle.
Distract yourself from craving urges
In a lot of cases where people decide to stop smoking they tend to replace nicotine with food. The fear of weight gain might even play a role in the person not wanting to quit, but the idea is not replacing a bad habit with another one and should be refrained from. When you feel your cravings creeping up it’s best to distract yourself from those urges. That might be done by reading your favourite book or taking the dog for a walk, around the block. Try to keep yourself occupied for at least 15 minutes seeing as though the craving would roughly last that long.
Finding a new coping mechanism for stress
Most smokers can relate to using cigarettes as a coping mechanism for stress because that 10 minutes of puffing on a cigarette allows the brain to forget about the stress receptors firing off warnings. To beat the bug, you’ll have to find a new and healthy way of coping with everyday life stresses. These can be small things that add a touch of colour to your life such as playing with a pet or being creative. But when the burning sensation starts that come with nicotine withdrawals, we suggest doing a couple of breathing exercises that will help you remain calm and less agitated.
Reward yourself
But not with a cigarette. Congratulate yourself when you’ve broken through your barriers that you never thought you could. When you achieve your goals, it’s important to create some sort of reward system for yourself, which will keep you motivated and determined to see things through.
Some coping methods for Alcohol withdrawals include:
When it comes to alcohol withdrawals things work a little differently. The coping techniques that we discussed above would also be relevant to those of alcohol withdrawals however there’s still a difference in the way these withdrawal symptoms affect our bodies and mental state. Therefore, coping with withdrawals from alcohol is slightly different to those of nicotine withdrawals. Look at the suggestions below:
- A good start would be to replenish your electrolytes which would help with the fatigue and light-headedness that comes with alcohol withdrawals. So drink plenty of water which will also keep you well hydrated.
- The next step would be to balance your sugar levels with healthy fruits and vegetables.
- Create a support system for yourself by speaking to friends or family that reserve no judgement towards you. A safe space where you can openly talk to people that you love and vice versa would help wonders for the psychological effects and cravings that come with alcohol withdrawals.
- Start utilizing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises or mindful meditation.
- Last but not least. When you feel that your cravings are overpowering we suggest talking to a professional that’s trained to help you. Contact us today to get the support you urgently need.
Maintaining your Sobriety
Beating withdrawals both physically and mentally will take a lot of self-discipline and commitment from your side. To fully quit your addiction, you’ll need to re-assess your lifestyle choices. Some of the choices might be hard but remember that you are doing it for yourself and your family. Relapses might occur even if you intend to quit completely. If you feel like you can’t do it alone and that you need help, then we suggest getting in touch with us and joining our digital support group. Our promise to you is our full commitment towards providing you with the help that you need to get rid of your withdrawals.
At ZwavelStream Clinic we offer mixed therapeutic treatment programmes that consist of group sessions, individual sessions and Physical therapy all established around your individual needs. Contact us today to get the help that you deserve.
