(with-DRAWL) A term used to describe the physical and mental symptoms that a person has when they suddenly stop or cut back the use of an addictive substance, such as opiates and opioids, nicotine products, or alcohol.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), there are two types of withdrawal: acute withdrawal and protracted withdrawal.
Withdrawal is also known as detoxification or detox. It's when you quit , or cut back, on using alcohol or other drugs. You may have developed a physical or psychological dependence on a drug, or both.
You could experience withdrawal symptoms within a day or two after you stop drinking. If you chronically, heavily abused alcohol, withdrawal symptoms may begin only a few hours after your last drink. Mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms typically last a week or two.
Example Sentences
She made a withdrawal from her checking account. He underwent rehab to help him through his withdrawal from heroin. She experienced symptoms of nicotine withdrawal after she quit smoking.
Withdrawal is when you take something out, like making a withdrawal from your bank account.
: to move back or away : retire. : to draw back from a battlefield : retreat. : to remove oneself from participation. : to become socially or emotionally detached. had withdrawn farther and farther into herself Ethel Wilson.
Withdrawal usually means the course remains on the transcript with a “W” as a grade. It does not affect the student's GPA (grade point average). Although students may be reluctant to have a “W” on their transcript, sometimes “W” stands for Wisdom.
Physical effects
Withdrawal symptoms can affect how the body works. Fatigue and lethargy are typical symptoms caused by many addictive substances—so are clammy skin, feeling cold, shakes, sweats, and tingles or tremors. Muscle pains and spasms are particularly common when withdrawing from opiates or muscle relaxers.
Withdrawal Behaviors in the Workplace
Examples of these behaviors are absenteeism, lateness/tardiness, leaving the job, internal job transfer, and turnover.
Withdrawn behavior is avoiding or not seeking out social contact. People who withdraw may actively avoid spending time with other people. Or, they may not put any effort into seeking out social interactions. Some withdrawn people don't mind being with other people but don't feel particularly driven to seek out others.
Anxiety, Avoidance and Social Fears
People tend to avoid situations because they don't know how to cope with them and withdrawing helps minimize their anxiety. If they experience intense anxious feelings when they are at a party or talking with friends then they might choose to avoid those situations.
withdraw in American English
to remove from use, consideration, etc. to retract or recall (a statement, etc.)
The most common type of withdrawal by an owner from a business is the withdrawal of cash. When an owner withdraws cash from the business, the transaction affects both assets and owner's equity. A withdrawal is an expense.
In some cases, withdrawal itself may be a symptom of anxiety. Many people that deal with stress feel an overwhelming urge to be alone. What's interesting, however, is that being alone may actually make the anxiety worse.
Drugs and alcohol change the chemical makeup of the brain, and regular use of mind-altering substances can cause dependence to form. Brain circuitry and chemistry will attempt to regulate as drugs and/or alcohol process out of the body after dependence has formed, and this causes withdrawal symptoms.
And, if you've become dependent and then suddenly stop taking the drug, also known as going “cold turkey,” there's a good chance you'll experience withdrawal symptoms like fatigue, sweating, nervousness, nausea, mood swings, shaking, insomnia, and headaches, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
The withdrawal method of contraception (coitus interruptus) happens when you take the penis out of the vagina and ejaculate outside the vagina to try to prevent pregnancy. The goal of the withdrawal method — also called "pulling out" — is to keep sperm from entering the vagina.
Emotional withdrawal involves bottling up your emotions. It involves cutting out the people who could help us, because we're so used to rejection that we've learned to anticipate it. Because we've learned to disconnect from others, we develop other unhealthy coping mechanisms. Studies show what we're up against, too.
Generally speaking, everyone can expect to experience some form of withdrawal symptoms within two to three days of their last substance consumption. In movies, withdrawal is always excruciating, and while this can happen, it's essential to realize that there are varying levels of withdrawal.