Withdrawal occurs because the brain chemistry is changing back to the original setting. This causes a person to experience physical and mental hardship. As the neurological pathways hijacked by addiction become re-routed or cleaned, the body responds in adverse ways. After a short (yet torturous) time, the neurotransmitters readjust. Addiction goes much deeper than that, however. The feelings and memories created during addiction cannot go away “overnight.” This is why the post-acute stage can last up to two years. The memory of the feeling of addiction must be able to fade and be weakened.
