A LIFE-SAVING ARTICLE: How To Tell If Your Loved One Is In Withdrawal

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2)

I am asking you to read this article in entirety. I have written this in phases. It’s important information that you need to know. If you have any questions, please go to my contact page and I will try to point you in the right direction. There are differences in withdrawal depending on the substance involved, so don’t try to be a doctor and diagnose it. When in doubt, get them to a hospital immediately!

Withdrawal is a vicious, out of control tsunami. When someone you love is going through it, it’s nearly impossible to understand what you’re seeing unless you’ve been through it yourself. So, you need some important information in order to be able to understand and help, without panic.

Maybe your son hasn’t eaten in days. Your sister won’t stop sweating and shaking. Your husband is curled up on the couch groaning in pain, swearing it’s the flu. In reality, it’s most probably witihdrawal. Something’s not right. Something is breaking.

So how can you tell if it’s withdrawal? More importantly, how do you walk in faith and truth, not fear?

Let’s break it down.

🔍 Withdrawal Is a Sign that your loved on could be in withdrawal

In Christian recovery, we know from Scripture, that addiction is a disease. We believe it’s a spiritual stronghold… a life hijacked by sin, pain, and misplaced dependency.

Withdrawal is one of the body’s first reactions when someone tries to step out of that bondage, which is why they are at the point where they are going to need some medical intervention for a week or two to detox.

Sometimes, a family member finds out their loved one is in an addiction for the first time, when withdrawal happens. Other times, the family will get them to an emergency room thinking it’s something else. The problem is that most emergency rooms are not trained to look for symptoms of withdrawal, as strange as that sounds.

⚠️ Common Physical Signs of Withdrawal

While withdrawal symptoms vary depending on the substance, here are some general indicators to look out for:

• Excessive sweating, chills, or hot flashes
• Shaking or tremors
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or severe constipation
• Muscle aches, cramps, or twitching
• Dilated pupils
• Fatigue or insomnia (they may be totally wired or desperately tired but unable to sleep)
• Yawning constantly or watery eyes
• Flu-like symptoms with no medical explanation

These symptoms often mimic illness, which is why many families are misled. This is something to be aware of.

😔 Emotional and Mental Signs

Don’t overlook what’s happening emotionally. Withdrawal doesn’t just hit the body. It shreds the mind and heart.

Watch for:

• Irritability or explosive anger
• Severe anxiety or panic attacks
• Depression, hopelessness, or emotional numbness
• Paranoia, hallucinations, or confusion (especially with alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines)
• Strong cravings for the substance
• Shame or attempts to isolate

You may feel like you’re walking on eggshells. One minute they’re crying. The next they’re yelling. Then they’re curled up in bed saying they’re dying.

It’s overwhelming; however, it extremely real.

🙏 What Can You Do?

1. Don’t panic, and don’t enable.
   • Withdrawal is a hard but it is a big part of addiction that needs a resolution. Don’t try to “rescue” them from discomfort with comfort items that ease them back into using. Don’t give them money so that they can purchase drugs or alcohol. And don’t allow them to give you a sob story why they need money.
   • Don’t abandon themr. Stay at their side. Be present. Be loving. Be calm.
2. Be discerning.
   • Ask yourself: Is this a pattern? Is their “sickness” always happening when they try to stop using? Is this a cycle?
   • Pray for discernment. God gives wisdom to those who ask. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
3. Encourage truth and responsibility.
   • “You’re not sick. You’re in withdrawal. You can’t do this alone, but you do have to choose to get help. Let me get you help right now.”
   • This is not about blame. It’s about clarity. When we speak the truth, the healing can begin.
4. Help them seek Christ-centered Biblical recovery.
   • FIRST, get them to a medicallyi supervised a detox center. Do NOT take any chances! Withdrawal can turn into a lethal overdose in moments, so get them to a hospital or call 911. Detox, depending on the substance, takes between a few days to two weeks. Once they’re home and detoxed, find a structured Christian recovery or a coaching process rooted in Scripture. They need help that treats the heart and soul, not just the symptoms.
   • Withdrawal is the first battle. The real war is spiritual.

✝️ Don’t Fear the Storm

You can’t fix them. You can’t carry them through withdrawal. But you can walk alongside them in love, armed with action, truth and calm.

Jesus never turned away from the hurting. And He won’t leave you or your loved one in this moment, either.

Withdrawal is ugly.

💀 Inside the Hell of Withdrawal

To the outside world, withdrawal might look like a bad flu or mental condition. On the inside it’s a living hell of a nightmare that feels like it will never end.

Every nerve screams. The skin crawls. Hot one second, frozen the next. The body is soaked in sweat, but the soul feels ice cold and hollow. Food tastes like death… even a bite of bread is repulsive. Water turns your stomach. Your mouth is dry, but you gag at the thought of swallowing. Your body rejects everything, and yet craves something it can no longer have.

Sleep becomes impossible. Eyes burn, thoughts race. The brain spins like a broken record with feelings of shame, panic, regret, craving, despair. All of this occurs on a continuous, repetitive loop. Every second drags like an hour. There’s a pounding terror in your chest, and you can’t tell if you’re dying or losing your mind. You wish you could pass out, but your body won’t let you. Instead, it tortures you relentlessly, minute after minute.

And through it all, a voice in your head screams louder and louder saying, “This will never end. You’ll never survive this without just one more hit, one more pill, or one more drink“, and it will stop.”! Right there is the trap. That’s the war zone. This is when you go for help or continue using.

Jesus came to heal. If you’re reading this, there’s still time to lead them toward Jesus Christ or back to Him. First, you need to get them immediate help, because the next step could be an overdose and death.

⚠️ The Danger Few Talk About: Overdose While in Withdrawal

One of the most terrifying realities of withdrawal is that it can easily lead to cardiac issues, seizures, irregular heart rhythm, stroke, or……. death!

After even just a brief time without using, a person’s tolerance drops drastically. So if they go back to using it can kill them fast. I can remember stories where someone wanted to just take one pill for a back ache or headache, and they overdosed and died from that one pill. If your loved one lives in your home, make sure you responsively get rid of all of the substances. This is one way how many lives are lost. It’s not at a party. It’s in the lonely, painful moments early in recovery. So, get a recovery coach to work with them and get them into a non-12 step support system.

🛡️ What You Can Do Right Now

1. Become Educated! Know the signs of overdose
   • Slow or stopped breathing
   • Blue lips or fingertips
   • Unconsciousness or inability to wake
   • Gurgling or choking sounds
   • Vomiting while unconscious
   • Seizures
2. Call emergency services immediately (911 in the U.S.)
   Don’t wait. Don’t second guess. Timing is everything. It’s better to be wrong than to watch them die!
3. Have Narcan (naloxone) on hand if opioids are involved
   It’s available over the counter in many places. It can save a life. Keep it accessible and learn how to use it. You may never need it, but if you do, it can prevent a death or bring them back.
4. Don’t let shame keep you silent
   God doesn’t call us to pretend. He calls us to protect, to intercede, and to fight for the ones we love. Speak up. Intervene. Even if they’re angry, and most will be angry. Even if they hate you… it will last only for a moment. That moment might be what gives them the chance to live.

“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” (Proverbs 24:11)

Withdrawal is a war. But you are not alone. God is with you as a born again believer. Exercise faith over fear!

Have a blessed rest of your day, knowing that you’re more informed than you were before. This can save a life.