What are withdrawal symptoms?

Withdrawal symptoms refer to the physical or mental symptoms that occur when an individual reduces or stops the use of a substance on which they have become dependent. When a person regularly consumes a substance, their body adapts to its effects, leading to the development of tolerance. However, if that substance is suddenly reduced or no longer used, the body can react negatively, manifesting these withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms can vary widely depending on the substance involved and the severity of the dependence. They may include anxiety, irritability, nausea, sweating, muscle aches, and other discomforts. This phenomenon results from the body's physiological changes and the brain's neurochemical adaptations to the continued presence of the substance.

Other options do not accurately define withdrawal symptoms. Signs of substance tolerance relate to the body's diminishing response to a substance over time, while emotional symptoms before starting a substance pertain to feelings that might lead one to use, not the reactions stemming from cessation. Lastly, psychological cravings for substances describe the desire to use a substance without necessarily involving the physiological symptoms associated with withdrawal.