What are withdrawal symptoms associated with discontinued use of drugs?

Withdrawal symptoms occur when a person who has been using drugs regularly suddenly stops or significantly reduces their intake. The body, having adapted to the presence of the substance, reacts negatively to its absence. The symptoms can vary significantly depending on the substance but often include physical and psychological manifestations.

The symptoms of shakes, profuse sweating, and agitation are classic signs of withdrawal. Shakes are often a result of the nervous system responding to the lack of the drug, which it has become accustomed to. Profuse sweating can occur due to changes in the body's regulatory functions and heightened anxiety. Agitation reflects a state of increased irritability and unrest, as the individual struggles with the physiological and psychological effects of withdrawal.

In contrast, the other options describe states typically associated with drug use rather than withdrawal. For instance, feeling relaxed and calm, increased energy and alertness, and improved focus and concentration are sensations often experienced during substance use or intoxication but not during withdrawal, when individuals tend to feel just the opposite: anxious, restless, and physically unwell. Therefore, the symptoms of withdrawal are indeed severe and challenging to manage, further emphasizing the distressing nature of discontinuing drug use.