Can your body go through alcohol withdrawal?

Do you remember the first time you had a drink? You felt invincible and fancy with that glass of wine or beer. Fast forward to years later, and now you’re experiencing something entirely unexpected – alcohol withdrawal.

Alcohol withdrawals are no joke; they cause intense physical and emotional symptoms that can be dangerous if not treated properly. In this article, we will discuss in detail what alcohol withdrawal is, how it affects your body, what causes it, and ways to prevent it.

What is Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS)?

Have you ever heard about the holiday blues where people get depressed right after festivities? Similarly, AWS occurs when someone abruptly stops drinking alcohol after prolonged use. It’s estimated that 50 percent of people who experience AWS have gone unnoticed because they mistook its symptoms as hangovers from recent binge sessions.

The non-medical definition for AWS would be feeling like utter crap after a night out partying too hard or even just not having a drink for some time (imagine getting low on juice).

However, medically speaking:

  • Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome refers to various unpleasant symptoms experienced by individuals who stop consuming large amounts of alcohol suddenly.
  • This syndrome requires medical attention because its severe nature could lead to life-threatening complications such as seizures.

What Causes Alcohol Withdrawals?

Let me ask some questions here:

Do you turn to booze every time life gets complicated?
Did social confidence come only with liquid courage?
Are anxiety attacks heavily intertwined with chugging down liquor?

If yes was your answer then let us explain why;

After prolonged exposure to high levels of alcohol consumption over an extended period, the brain becomes dependent on ethanol, which is another term used for what we consider an alcoholic beverage found everywhere globally!

This dependency disrupts the central nervous system since ethanol depresses it severely due to specific receptors in certain parts of our brain. The receptors become more sensitive when facing consistent ethanol intake that leads to a new standard for them.

When dependency occurs, and the source of alcohol stops, these sensitivity markers begin overfiring due to lack of inhibition- hence causing many symptoms known as AWS.

Symptoms of AWS

Contrary to popular belief, hangovers are not the same as alcohol withdrawal syndrome; here is how you can differentiate between the two:

The signs and symptoms typically start within 5 hours after your last drink but could be delayed up to a day or even two days. They could also last up until 4 weeks in severe cases!

Here are some common examples below:

Physical Symptoms:
– Headaches (even migraines)
– Nausea
– Sensitivity to light and sound
– Trembling limbs

– Sweating

Mental/Behavioral Symptoms:
– Feelings of anxiety
– Confusion

– Restlessness

– Insomnia

Alcohol Withdrawals in Detail

AWS affects both physical and mental aspects of the body individually at times intensely mixing them both creating its unique personality with an aspect we like to call random. You might experience only one or multiple symptoms at once ranging from mild discomforts, hallucinations all across, seizures implicating serious health crises!

Anytime there was a risk factor such as liver disease or excessive abuse history; physicians advise hospitalization cause possible death can loom closer than what most people expect may seem unsettling, but it’s true.

Neurotransmitters: The Chemical Victims

Yes! Your neurotransmitters are very much involved on this fun journey I like to label ‘Let’s Mix Use With Dependency.’

Does dopamine ring any bells? It is linked with pleasure hormones, influencing motivation behavior in general through reward circuits throughout our brain regions responsible for emotions memory amongst other functions.

However, when we overload our brains regularly by drinking loads without focusing initially on the consequences of overuse, this could impair dopamine systems leading to something called Anhedonia it’s defined as the inability of feeling pleasure for once favorable activities.

Dopamine is just a single example; as you may have guessed many other neurotransmitters are being tortured along with depression and anxiety arising if not restored properly!

Dehydration And Nutrition Issues

Our dear bodies have a fantastic habit of adapting to many things! One essential need we require is hydration, which alcohol happens to disrupt severely.

Alcohol places pressure on your kidneys obliging them constantly at work making us urine more frequently than usual. Alcohol balances electrolytes intensely in the same manner juices help when you want strictly water but happen to be low on sodium content.

After abrupt cessation from drinking intensively, our bodies must rehydrate based on weight concentration vice versa delays healing processes massively affecting mood states negatively through dehydration influencing methanol levels responsible for hangovers creating compounded symptoms due to usage history though easily remedied by detoxification fasts providing organ clearance boosting nutrient uptake rebuilding body vitality.

Treating Alcohol Withdrawals

While every case differs vastly requiring individual attention here are some general treatments prescribed during AWS:

  • Benzodiazepines: The CNS effects driving such high anxiety after quitting indefinitely show effectiveness moderately with medical supervision based on dosage and length.

  • Fluid And Nutrient Replacement Upon Detoxification In A Clinical Setting

It would not hurt if one were to undergo an elongated program following 12-step models counseling focusing intensively idealizing on long-term results helping battle addiction medically guiding recovery paths through psychoeducation when conducted in personal consultation setting concerning differing risk-stratified data tailored uniquely!

Detox & Dangers

When treating AWS alone or other severe cases always seek safe clinical guidance no matter how familiar studying information beforehand happened post completing researching available options since death looms closer quickly conjuring symptoms ranging from mild discomfort strong seizures ultimately placing themselves in life-threatening scenarios needing medical attention immediately!

Tips For Preventing AWS

We understand desires; we are humans, after all! However, here are some effective tips putting prevention of alcohol withdrawal at the forefront:
– Cut Your Alcohol Intake Gradually If Large Dependency
– Hydration Is Key To Recovery
– Live A Balanced Life Away From Liquor Indulgence

Let’s face it; drinking is fun in moderation. Never forget the so apparent line ‘less is more’ when dealing with alcoholic beverages because no one wants to experience something as frightening and dangerous as AWS.

Conclusion

Don’t overestimate alcohol and how significantly dependence might impact your physical mental wellbeing the moment you stop indulging abruptly leading severely to perilous consequences such as seizures or death.

Thousands suffer from this illness annually due to its addictive nature becoming overshadowed by society’s nonchalant attitude towards excessive abuse like drinking! Our typical excuses mean nothing genuinely outweighing how little respect our bodies receive through constant exposure without reservations regularly.

Now that you know more about AWS take responsibility for yourself ensuring any warning signs addressed carefully leading active recoveries setting healthy boundaries simultaneously enjoying liquor moderately knowing prevention awareness leads self-preservation!

Sources: None Used

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