Ever experience a caffeine headache? You know, that nagging pain you got when you were rushing out the door and forgot about your morning cup of coffee. We’ve all been there, but what you might not know is that the headache is a sign of caffeine withdrawal. That’s right, even skipping one morning coffee can lead to a mild withdrawal that typically shows in the form of a headache or general fatigue.
Why Do Withdrawals Happen?
Using drugs like opioids, alcohol, anxiety meds, or stimulants causes your brain to change how it works and reacts. Withdrawals happen because, as you keep using these substances, your body starts to rely on them for everyday functions, leading to dependence. When the substance is suddenly reduced or stopped, the body enters a state of withdrawal, initiating a battle to regain balance. Withdrawal from drugs is a hard battle for both the body and the mind, revealing just how hard they need to work to get back to normal.
How Does Withdrawal Work?
As painful and uncomfortable as it can be, withdrawal is a healing process. Drugs and alcohol affect every aspect of your body, which each needs to rebalance in different ways.
The brain must ramp up or ramp down the production of certain chemicals.
If someone is taking a substance that increases their dopamine levels, the body will decrease production of dopamine to regulate. Similarly, alcohol inhibits glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, leading the body to produce more to compensate. When alcohol is removed, the overabundance of glutamate can cause tremors, anxiety, or even seizures…