The Comedown, Crash, or Rebound Effect of Drugs

The effects of prescription and illegal can be short-lived, causing an individual to experience a rollercoaster of emotions if such drugs are misused. A rebound effect, a crash, and a comedown are drug after-effects that cause different symptoms.

These effects play a role in the onset and maintenance of drug addiction. To avoid experiencing unpleasant effects, people sometimes continue using or taking more of a substance. This contributes to the cycle of addiction.

Keep reading to learn more about what rebound, comedown, and crash are and the role that they play in addictions. Also, explore strategies that can help you cope and treatments that can help you recover from drug addiction.

The Rebound Effect

Understanding the rebound effect explains why certain drugs, particularly those that have a quick and intense effect on the nervous system, are very addictive. One of the ironies of addiction is that the rebound effect causes the person taking the drug to experience the very same effects they were hoping to escape through drug use.

This is especially true if the person wants to maintain the state such as wishing to stay awake or alert for longer than the effects of the stimulant or trying to sleep or relax for longer than the effects of the depressant, sedative, or tranquilizer.

For example, when you take a sedative drug, which causes relaxation and drowsiness, a rebound effect of agitation will occur after the drug wears off, making you want to take more of the sedative drug in order to calm down.

Pain is also intensified during a rebound from a painkiller, such as an opioid medication, a phenomenon known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia. The pain can be physical, emotional, or a combination of the two. Physical and emotional pain often go hand-in-hand, so it is easy to see how painkiller addiction develops.

The Comedown

The experience varies depending on the person, the amount of drug taken, as well as how long and how often the person has been using the drug.

If the intoxication experience was too intense and made the person who took the drug feel uncomfortable, anxious, or delusional, the comedown can feel relatively mild, while for others, the comedown can be a disappointing sensation, signaling a return to reality and perhaps triggering further drug use.

Make sure you tell them what you have taken, how much, and when. It is better to get early intervention than suffer greater complications later on.

The Crash

It involves helping the body recover not only from the toxicity and effects of the drugs, but also from any overexertion, lack of sleep, injuries, or other harms that potentially occurred during intoxication.

This crash can last much longer than the original drug effects because the body needs longer to recover from the effects of the substance and other behaviors that may have affected the individual, such as lack of sleep.

Withdrawal Fatigue

If you stop taking a substance, you may experience withdrawal fatigue. Regardless of the substance taken, fatigue is a trademark symptom of withdrawal. Even if the substance was a relaxing substance, the inability to relax and sleep will lead to the person feeling more tired than usual.

Coping With Withdrawal Fatigue

Withdrawal fatigue is exhausting, but people often try and keep going at their usual pace. This is not a good idea, as it will take longer to restore energy and return to normal activities. Fatigue is your body's way of getting you to rest and recuperate.

Allow your body to recover by following these tips:

• Take a break. Take a break from your usual activities—don't go out socializing for a few days. Call in sick to work or school if you have to. Even if it is self-inflicted, you are not well enough to be up and about.
• Learn relaxation techniques. Practicing relaxation skills are very useful, and if you can, get enough sleep.
• Develop a relaxing bedtime routine. If you can't sleep, try and do restful activities during the night, and, unless you are fully asleep, get up, bathe, dress, and eat during the daytime. This will help reset your body clock, which may have been affected by you not sleeping and waking at the usual times while you were using drugs.
• Consume a healthy, well-balanced diet. Eating a balanced diet rich in fruit, vegetables, and protein, aids in the recovery process. If you don't have access to fresh food, talk to a pharmacist about the right amount of vitamin supplements. Vitamin C helps heal wounds, and vitamin B complex may help curb nicotine cravings.

If you don't start to feel your energy return after a week or so of rest, see your doctor. Many people who use alcohol and drugs often have an underlying depressive disorder or other mood disorders. Sometimes, by getting proper treatment for depression, people find that their substance use problems improve and they can quit.

An addiction specialist is the best person to diagnose and treat your condition, but if you don't have access to a specialist, talk it over with another healthcare provider.

Energy Recovery

Everyone's recovery experience is different. The good news is that most people who stop using drugs and alcohol regain energy, sometimes in as little as a few weeks.

Of course, how quickly you recover depends on many factors including:

• Your overall health
• The type of substance used
• How much and how often you were using the substance
• Lifestyle and emotional factors, such as whether you are living in a supportive environment, and whether you feel safe with the people around you

Social support can play an important role in addiction recovery. If you are not living with or near people who support you, it will be more difficult to recover.

If you are in an abusive relationship, it is unlikely you will feel alright until you get away from the abuser. No matter how much sleep you get, living with someone who hurts you emotionally or physically is exhausting.

If this is the case for you, reach out for help. There are many resources available to help you and your children to make a fresh start. In the long term, nothing will be better for your energy than a drug-free, anxiety-free lifestyle. Your doctor or local police can help you if you are living with or feel controlled by someone you are in a relationship with.

How to Get Help

If you are experiencing rebound effects, coming down, or crashing due to using a substance, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider. Your doctor can evaluate your condition and recommend treatments that can help you manage your symptoms and recover from addiction.

Other treatments for addiction often focus on:

Psychotherapy

Types of therapy that your doctor might recommend include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), contingency management, and motivational enhancement therapy. Such treatments may be provided on either an outpatient or inpatient basis, depending on your needs.

Medication

Your doctor may also prescribe medications that can help alleviate symptoms of withdrawal and prevent relapse. The type of medication your doctor prescribes will depend on the substance you have been taking and the type of symptoms you have been experiencing.

Mutual Support Groups

Support groups such as 12-step self-help programs can be a great way to get encouragement, information, and resources that can help you on your journey to recovery.