The withdrawal symptoms that occur when abruptly stopping cocaine can be unpleasant and difficult, so much so that many people give up and resume taking the drug. In order to successfully quit using cocaine, people should familiarize themselves with the possible symptoms of cocaine withdrawal before quitting and consider seeking assistance from a treatment center or substance abuse counselor to support them during the withdrawal process.
Craving
An intense psychological craving to use cocaine can be a powerful withdrawal symptom. It can seem like no one or nothing is as important as getting more cocaine into the body. Talking to a mental health professional, mentor, support group or friends about your feelings may minimize this symptom, suggests University of Michigan Health Systems.
Lack of Pleasure or Depression
Using cocaine can invoke feelings of intense pleasure and elation, says Penn State Hershey Medical Center, so stopping the drug can cause the opposite effect. It may seem as if nothing is "fun" anymore, and even activities that were once enjoyable no longer hold any interest. However, although these feelings have the potential to last for months, the longer a person goes without using, the more this symptom will diminish. Those feelings of pleasure will begin to resurface once the physical withdrawal process is completed.
Anxiety
Some people who stop using cocaine begin to feel anxious or frequently worry about things that might occur. Part of this is a physical reaction, but there can also be a situational component. Using cocaine typically diminishes feelings of anxiety, a situation which could result in the user procrastinating on undertaking important tasks and making decisions. When the drug is no longer in your system, the gravity of ignored problems can be overwhelming. This is another reason why quitting cocaine should be done with the help of a counselor or treatment center.
Irritability or Agitation
Going through the withdrawal process is difficult and tiring, and it is easy to become irritable and agitated by others who do not seem to understand what you are going through. It is wise to warn family and friends of this irritability, so that anything said when going through the withdrawal process is not taken personally.
Fatigue and Sleepiness
Extreme tiredness or fatigue often sets in when one stops using cocaine. It may seem as if it requires an enormous effort just to get out of bed or up off the couch. This symptom, like the other withdrawal symptoms, will begin to ease and dissipate with time, says Penn State Hershey Medical Center.
