What Is Withdrawal Syndrome?

Quitting bad habits takes a tremendous amount of willpower. But when you do it, the challenge isn’t just mental—your body also goes through significant stress. Traditionally, people have dealt with this by gritting their teeth and enduring until it passes. While this approach can work, there’s also a real risk of experiencing withdrawal syndrome. Here’s how to get through it—and, if possible, avoid it altogether.

How Withdrawal Syndrome Manifests

Withdrawal syndrome is a group of symptoms that occur when a person abruptly stops using substances their body has become accustomed to, such as alcohol, nicotine, or certain medications. When it comes to psychoactive substances, withdrawal syndrome is also known as abstinence syndrome, or more commonly, withdrawal.

Symptoms are divided into two groups: physiological and psychological. The severity and intensity of these symptoms can indicate the potential health risks involved.

Mild Withdrawal Syndrome

• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Nausea, moderate abdominal pain

Moderate Withdrawal Syndrome

• Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
• Excessive sweating
• Tremors
• High blood pressure
• Severe nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Severe Withdrawal Syndrome

• All of the above symptoms
• Fever
• Hallucinations

The intensity and duration of symptoms depend on the overall clinical picture, the individual’s psychological characteristics, and the “strength” of the substances being given up. For example, quitting nicotine or caffeine may only cause irritability and headaches, while quitting alcohol can range from mild to severe, sometimes involving hallucinations—commonly known as “delirium tremens.”

What Causes These Symptoms?

At first glance, it may seem like your body is just throwing a tantrum, threatening to self-destruct if it doesn’t get its usual fix of coffee, cigarettes, or antidepressants (or something even stronger). In reality, when you stop using a substance or medication, many of your body’s systems experience massive stress and have to relearn how to function on their own. They must start producing substances internally that they had been getting from outside sources.

Substances that cause physical dependence have natural counterparts that the human body can produce itself: hormones and neurotransmitters. External substances are called antagonists—they attach to the same receptors that hormones and neurotransmitters use to send signals, essentially “tricking” the brain.

For example, nicotine is equivalent to acetylcholine (which is responsible for muscle contraction), while euphoriants act on dopamine receptors (which control the reward and pleasure system) and endorphin receptors (which, in addition to pleasure, also raise the pain threshold).

Addiction and dependence develop when the brain compares the energy cost of producing its own neurotransmitters versus getting antagonists from outside. The body starts relying on a constant supply of external substances and, as a result, reduces its own production of neurotransmitters.

How to Overcome and Prevent Withdrawal Syndrome

In some cases, withdrawal syndrome can be managed by gradually reducing the dose of the substance. This strategy works for many prescription medications and is also the basis for products like nicotine patches. If you’re planning to abruptly stop a medication, you should consult your doctor first.

But if you do experience withdrawal syndrome, here are a few things that can help you get through it:

Comfort Zone

When your body is under stress, don’t expose it to even more irritation. You may need a physical comfort zone (like a bed to rest in) as well as an emotional one. Support from loved ones is more important than ever—it can be as simple as them not drinking coffee or smoking around you.

Proper Nutrition, Hydration, and Sleep

These will help your body recover faster and return to normal functioning. At the very least, you’ll get through tremors and nausea more quickly.

Distraction

This can help you avoid obsessive thoughts or anxiety. Watch movies, read books, scroll through social media, or listen to podcasts—whatever keeps your mind occupied.

If your withdrawal symptoms are extremely severe, you may need to consult a doctor or seek medical support. Don’t rely solely on willpower.