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What is Alcohol Withdrawal Like?

Alcohol addiction has the power to ruin a person’s life.  However, many people do not quit drinking because they want to avoid alcohol withdrawal.  Withdrawal and detox are known for being psychologically and physically challenging experiences.  If not supervised, alcohol withdrawal can become deadly.

A 2014 study conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) found that over 130 million adults were alcohol users.  Over 40% of those adults admitted to heavy alcohol use. And almost 40% of young adults (18-25) admitted to binge drinking.  It is alarming to consider that such a significant number of Americans have battled alcohol abuse.  Many do not struggle with perpetual alcohol addiction, but others are not as lucky.

The road to recovery for an alcoholic can be difficult during the withdrawal phase.  Relapse is another obstacle to recovery from alcoholism, and the risk of relapse increases during withdrawal. Addiction is considered by most experts to be a treatable, chronic disease, similar to asthma, hypertension, and diabetes.  When relapse occurs, treatment protocols should be reinstated or adjusted.

Alcohol addiction recovery is possible.  Even people who have suffered from alcoholism for many years, can live a productive life, free of addiction, with the help of proper, evidence-based treatment.

ADDICTION

Addiction is a complex condition.  It is a disease of the brain that is manifested by compulsive use of substances despite harmful consequences.  Addicts lose control over their lives as a result of fixation on their substance of choice. Abuse continues even though the addict recognizes the dangers of substance use.

There are effective treatments for addiction that help people recover and lead productive lives.

People who suffer from addiction also carry distorted body image, behavior, and thought processes.  They develop intense cravings for a substance because there are changes in the wiring in their brains that make it difficult to stop using..  Brain imaging studies done on addicts indicate changes in the regions of the brain that correspond to decision making, memory, judgment, behavior control, and learning.

Substance Abuse Symptoms

It can be useful to group the symptoms of substance abuse into categories:

  • Social Problems – Substance abuse can lead to failure to complete tasks at school, work, or home.  A consequence can be an addict’s choice to give less and less time to friends and loved ones, while also giving up on leisure activities.
  • Impaired Control – The addict is unable to stop use due to the cravings and strong urges.
  • Risky Use – Continued substance use, despite the knowledge of negative effects
  • Drug Effects – Including increased tolerance and withdrawal symptoms during down periods.

The Center on Addiction reports that 40 million Americans ages 12 and older abuse or are addicted to alcohol or other substances.  That is 1 in 7 Americans.  This number is more than the number of Americans with diabetes (26 million), heart conditions (27 million), and cancer (19 million).

Alcohol Use and Addiction

People drink alcohol for a variety of reasons:

  • Euphoric high
  • Stress Relief
  • Social Acceptance
  • Suppress emotions, feelings, or memories

Drinking, however, can lead to alcohol abuse.  Addicts build up a tolerance to alcohol. An alcoholic needs increasingly more alcohol to feel the same effects, due to that increased tolerance.

People who are addicted to alcohol may or may not be aware of their problem.  Eve those who are aware of an alcohol addiction can have difficulty stopping, due to the powerful draw of the addiction.  Addiction to alcohol often causes health problems, as well as issues with functioning in everyday life around work, family, and friends.  

Substances, such as alcohol, cause adverse brain functions.  These changes in how the brain functions can last a long time after the immediate effect of alcohol.  Symptoms of alcohol intoxication include:

  • Poor judgment
  • Slurred speech
  • Poor coordination
  • Mood changes
  • Behavior changes
  • Coma

Alcohol abuse is considered the #1 cause of preventable illness and premature death in the United States.

What Is Withdrawal?

Withdrawal is a syndrome that results from the abrupt removal or a rapid decrease in a regular dosage of an addictive substance. Withdrawal contains predictable signs and symptoms and can be severe and excruciating.  Symptoms usually begins between 4 to 72 hours after the last use of a substance. Symptoms of withdrawal are both emotional and physical.  Some of the more common symptoms include loss of appetite, profuse sweating, irritability, chills, jitters, shaking, panic, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, anxiety, seizures, and insomnia.

To lessen the effects of withdrawal, addicts should seek help from a treatment center that will taper them off of the abused substance gradually.  Tapering allows the brain to adapt slowly to each decrease. Going ‘cold turkey’ can lead to more extreme discomfort, and lead to a greater possibility of relapse.  

What Is Alcohol Withdrawal Like?

Alcohol addicts are heavy drinkers.  Alcoholism is often the result of heavy drinking over a period of weeks, months, or years.  When these people stop drinking or cut back on the amount of alcohol consumed they will likely face both physical and mental challenges.

Alcohol produces a depressive effect on your system, as it slows down brain function.  It also changes the manner in which the brain’s nerves send and receive messages.

The brain of an alcoholic is dependent on frequent alcohol use.  And, since alcohol has a sedative effect, the brain has to work harder to keep nerves communicating to one another as use continues.  When alcohol levels decrease, the brain remains in a heightened state. That decrease in alcohol is what causes withdrawal.

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can range from mild to extreme.  Usually the amount of alcohol consumed determines the severity of the symptoms.  Mild symptoms can occur just 6 hours after consumption of alcohol. Mild symptoms include:

  • Anxiety
  • Shaky hands
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Insomnia
  • Sweating

Alcohol withdrawal produces serious health issues.  Hallucinations can occur 12 to 24 hours after alcohol use has stopped.  Seizures can arise within the first two days of abstinence. Delirium tremens (DT) is the most severe health issue associated with alcohol withdrawal.  DT occurs after 48 to 72 hours of abstinence. DT symptoms include delusions and hallucinations. Only 5% of people experiencing alcohol withdrawal get DTs.  Some symptoms of DT include:

  •      Confusion
  •      Heart racing
  •      Fever
  •      High blood pressure
  •      Heavy sweating

Supervised Support

Only a physician or doctor can diagnose a person with alcohol withdrawal.

In order to successfully tackle withdrawal, most people need a supportive environment, such as a quiet place with soft lighting and limited contact with people.  Additionally, a person going through withdrawal will need healthy food and plenty of fluids to flush their system.

Alcohol withdrawal should be supervised, as it is more likely to result in death than opioid withdrawal.   Therefore, physicians suggest inpatient care or supervised drug treatment programs. Patients going through alcohol withdrawal experience a rise in pulse, blood pressure, and body temperature.  Hallucinations or seizures can also occur. Anxiety, seizures, and insomnia can be treated with medications such as benzodiazepine. Anti-seizure and antipsychotic medications are also administered.

Alcohol withdrawal is an inevitable short-term consequence of a stop in alcohol use.  The core of the problem is alcohol dependence and abuse. It is important to speak with a physician or doctor on how to stop drinking alcohol.

Coping with Alcohol Withdrawal

Quitting alcohol use is not easy.  There are an array of emotional, cognitive, and social factors that may have contributed to the addiction in the first place.  These factors can still weigh on a person, even after the addiction stops. Conquering withdrawal symptoms is the first step toward becoming alcohol-free in the long-term.

Medically assisted detox is one of the most effective ways to overcome addiction.  Additionally, there are other forms of coping methods and techniques to consider. People with milder cases of alcohol addiction and just coming out of detox still need help with psychological, emotional, and social factors.   The desire to drink alcohol may still be present, but using healthy coping strategies can help people free themselves from alcohol addiction.

Coping Strategies

Some positive coping strategies for dealing with alcohol withdrawal include:

  • Drinking Water and Replenishing Electrolytes – In order to ward off dizziness, vomiting, nausea, and fatigue it is necessary to drink water and replenish electrolytes.  This can also help with other health afflictions such as dehydration.
  • Balancing Blood Sugar Levels –   It is important to eat healthy fruits and vegetables to balance blood sugar levels.  Alcohol abuse causes liver damage. The liver metabolizes alcohol into sugar. Eating healthy helps people deal with the loss of alcohol and sugar in their system.
  • Creating a Support System –  It is important to create a support system of peers, friends, and family to help you talk about your emotions, cravings, and alcohol withdrawal recovery.
  • Rekindling an Old Hobby (or starting a new one) – Keep your mind and time occupied during alcohol withdrawal by rekindling an old hobby or starting a new one. Focusing your energy and time doing something productive and fulfilling eases the pain of withdrawal because you find a new passion in life or way to cope.
  • Riding out Cravings –   Do not fight or give into cravings, rather ride them out.  The gist of this idea is that cravings will subside quicker and you’ll learn to handle your cravings without them controlling you.
  • Avoiding Negative Influences – During alcohol withdrawal avoid negative influences and opportunities for drinking.  Keep temptation at bay by avoiding alcohol.
  • Taking Medication – Some medications such as disulfiram and benzodiazepine are used to ease symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal.
  • Utilizing Relaxation Techniques – Getting into the habit of using relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises can help balance the overall well being of a person suffering from withdrawal.
  • Creating Injunctions – Injunctions are put in place to prevent a person from relapsing.  An addict can tell their go-to drinking spots that they are in treatment and ask them to not sell them an alcohol – even if they demand it.  Injunctions come in many forms. An addict can write themselves notes or have their family write them notes and place them where they will see them.  Having positive messages as reinforcement will prevent an addict from relapsing when they feel weak.
  • Remembering Why You Quit Drnking – Coping with withdrawal is difficult.  Sometimes people forget the reasons why they stopped drinking.  It is important to remember why you decided to quit drinking, in order to keep on track.

Breaking Free Of Alcoholism

Alcohol addiction is a chronic disease that can be difficult to treat.  Treating chronic diseases such as addiction require a personalized combination of behavioral and medical interventions.  There is no single cure for alcohol addiction. Rather, there are a variety of evidence-based behavioral and medical treatments that can lead to sobriety and living a productive life.

An eight-year study of nearly 1,200 addicts founds that extended abstinence from alcohol indicates long-term recovery.  A third of recovering alcohol addicts remained abstinent for a year. The study also found that for those participants who achieved a year of sobriety, less than half of them relapsed.  Participants who made it to five years of sobriety, had less than a 15 percent chance of relapse.

It is important to stress that relapse is not failure.  Alcoholics who dedicate themselves to participate in treatment usually reach sobriety.  Sometimes patients relapse because an underlying cause of addiction such as PTSD or another disorder were overlooked during treatment.  In cases like this, treatment methodologies need to be adjusted.

Having a recovery plan, and sticking to it, makes a huge difference in a person’s ability to maintain alcohol abstinence or control over alcohol.  Alcohol withdrawal is not fun to experience, so it is important for former alcohol addicts to remain sober.

Wait no longer!  Get on the path to recovery and live a long, fulfilling life!  Get started by contacting us right away!

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Recovering Champions Is an accredited drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, that believes addiction treatment should not just address “how to stay sober” but needs to transform the life of the addict and empower him or her to create a more meaningful and positive life. We are dedicated to transforming the despair of addiction into a purposeful life of confidence, self-respect and happiness. We want to give recovering addicts the tools to return to the outside world completely substance-free and successful.

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