During recovery from opioid addiction, you may experience some withdrawal symptoms. Many patients find opioid withdrawal draining and need to find sources of energy. Many solutions involve adopting healthy habits, but in some cases, underlying medical conditions can be the cause of fatigue and other symptoms. Consider these energy boosters after withdrawal that can help during your recovery process.
Diet and Nutrition
Opioid addiction often impacts a person’s diet, making a lack of nutrition especially evident during withdrawal. Both food consumption and opioid addiction affect your brain’s neurotransmitters and your energy levels. When you eat a healthy diet during recovery, your body can better repair itself. Your treatment team can help you develop a diet that targets any nutritional deficiencies you have from addiction. You can also consider nutritional guidelines such as the USDA MyPlate to guide healthy eating.
Regular Exercise
By increasing your body’s natural endorphins, exercise can improve energy levels during withdrawal. If you feel like you don’t have enough energy to exercise, consider starting with light activity like walking, stretching or even yoga. As you keep exercising, you can build an association between exercise and energy and feel more motivated over time. Try physical activity that appeals to your interests such as sports or hiking.
Good Sleep Routine
Withdrawal symptoms can make it difficult to maintain a healthy sleep schedule. During the start of recovery, your body needs rest to adjust to the changes. You can work towards a better night’s sleep by adopting a few healthy habits. These strategies include limiting caffeine, taking only short naps and keeping a regular bedtime. If these tips don’t work, talk to your doctor about possible solutions.
Healthy Distractions
When opioid withdrawal causes a lack of energy, some patients unknowingly exacerbate their symptoms by fixating on opioids. Withdrawal symptoms like fatigue can make you feel the urge to use opioids again, and these thoughts can make you feel even more exhausted. Try creating healthy distractions by engaging in activities or spending time with people you love. You can also work with your addiction therapist to build coping skills for these situations.
Treatment for Underlying Health Conditions
In some situations, another health issue can cause additional energy problems for someone going through recovery. If you keep experiencing severely low energy levels, another condition may have a role to play. Physical conditions such as anemia or thyroid problems can result in chronic fatigue that requires treatment. Mental health conditions that can happen alongside addiction also have fatigue as a symptom. For example, depression can cause low energy and contribute to someone’s risk of opioid addiction. A primary care physician or other medical provider should be consulted to help identify any potential issues.
Change in Treatment
If you have severe withdrawal symptoms that don’t become better over time, you may need an adjustment in your opioid addiction treatment. Talk to your care team about your options.
Find Out More About Recovering From Opioid Addiction
To learn more about opioid addiction and recovery, contact BAART Programs online or call us at 844-341-4040.
