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Getting Sober Hurts!
The exact anatomy and chemistry of it is complex, but basically, your brain got used to being stimulated by the drugs you put in your body. So when you stopped using, you also stopped supplying your body with what it got real comfortable receiving: namely, chemicals that lock into cell receptor sites and that stimulate the pleasure centers of the brain. Since the drugs your were loading into yourself are no longer there, your brain (and the rest of your body) is reacting to the lack of chemical pleasure and stimulation. It is as if you checked into a detox center without realizing it. As your body adjusts to the lack of drug and you get rid of what’s left (toxins) from drugs you used, you feel symptoms that are not much fun, to say the least: Ø Headaches, sometimes ones that don’t seem to quit for days. Ø Problems sleeping: trouble falling and staying asleep, and feeling tried even after you do sleep. Ø Nightmares and dreams that can be scary or seem a little too real. Ø Anger and irritability, including rages and sudden outbursts that even you are surprised by. Ø Depression and all that comes with it, including feelings of sadness and emptiness. Ø Anxiety and stress, and sometimes just feeling jittery no matter what you do. Ø Problems concentrating and staying focused. Ø Up-and-down emotions, including crying for no reason. Ø Excessive sweating, especially at night. Ø Shakiness and tremors. Ø Changes in appetite (eating too little or too much). Ø Aches and pains, and just not feeling good. Ø Cravings to use that get stronger and stronger.
Ø Drink lots of fluids, especially water. Ø Eat foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and cereals, that are high in fiber and essential nutrients, and avoid too much fat in your diet (no Mickey-D’s for a while!). Ø Get moderate exercise each day. Ø Reduce the amount of caffeine you consume, such as in coffee and colas. Ø Practice stress busters, such as meditation and controlled breathing. Ø Talk to someone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or staff person, or make an appointment with Mental Health. Ø If you’re already in TEAP or in AA, NA, or another 12-Step group, go to all your meetings. These will help you get what you need to shorten the adjustment time, reduce how bad it feels, and get you feeling better so you can do what you came to Job Corps to do: SUCCEED! Want to learn more about getting & staying sober? Click on the links below for information you can use. “The Science Behind Drug Abuse”
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If
you’ve been a regular drug user (that means you used most days for
at least the past six months or so), and you stop using – even for
all the right reasons, like following Job Corps’ zero tolerance
policy – your body will react to the lack of drug in your system.
Within 24 hours of your last use, your brain starts looking for its
next re-supply of drugs. As it keeps looking each hour and day, it
gets more and more upset. 
The
initial process of your brain's getting used to being drug free can take six
to ten weeks, so if your symptoms are bad, don’t wait until you feel
so awful you act out and get in trouble. Even if you already are
in TEAP because you had a positive drug test, ask to see the TEAP
Specialist, Mental Health Consultant, or Center Physician. They
will work with you to help you feel better by using some of the
following common ways of dealing with the symptoms of withdrawal:
