How to know if you have alcohol withdrawal?
It’s hard to know when you’ve had too much alcohol or crossed the line into dependency. But, if you’re experiencing symptoms like shakes, headaches, or anxiety after drinking heavily for a while and then suddenly stopping, chances are it could be alcohol withdrawal.
Alcohol has been around since humanity first began trying to get drunk on fermented fruit juice millennia ago. But over time we’ve learned that after binging on booze our body needs time to recover else we experience the harsh effects of what is called withdrawal syndrome.
We understand more about this than ever before – so let’s dive in and look at how you can tell if you are struggling with “the DTS”.
What Exactly Is Alcohol Withdrawal?
Withdrawal from alcohol occurs when someone who drinks excessively (usually daily) stops drinking suddenly. This sudden interruption in one’s drinking pattern causes significant changes in brain function as well as bodily systems regulated by it.
As your body adapts to excessive drinking habits over time, sudden abstinence can cause many uncomfortable physical symptoms such as tremors (shakes), nausea/vomiting & fever/chills among others – this is essentially because ethanol reduces neuronal activity through hyperpolarization but the neurons will start firing eventually (sounds complicated right? It only gets better 😉).
Even worse symptoms may develop like seizures/convulsions ranging from mild muscle tremors up until full-blown blackouts or even hallucinations depending on severity– things most drinkers would prefer avoiding altogether hopefully!
Signs And Symptoms Of Alcohol Withdrawal
What signs should I look out for?
While some folks considering cutting back their intake may read some of these symptoms and see no reason why they shouldn’t just ‘soldier through’ (more power to them!)-for many people taking drastic steps towards sobriety simply isn’t an option without a doctor present!.
If that’s you, here are a few common signs of alcohol withdrawal to watch out for (and maybe consider making an appointment – sitting in the waiting room is way better than another Saturday spent puking!)
Sweating/Loss Of Appetite/Tachycardia
These symptoms include sweating, loss of appetite, tachycardia (an abnormally high heart rate).
Headaches/Muscle Spasms
Headaches and muscle spasms can also appear as early warning indicators that your body has had enough wetting its whistle- keep those glasses full.
Insomnia/ Agitation
Insomnia and agitation may manifest themselves along with mild anxiety or shaking when somebody first gives up their boozy nights-& these problems gradually worsen over time if neglected!
What Are The Stages Of Alcohol Withdrawal?
Now let’s talk about what one might expect at each stage:
Stage 1: Mild To Moderate Symptoms
The first stage typically lasts from six hours to two days after drinking ends. Experience body tremors, headaches & sensitivity issues like increasing sound perception (you know it’s rough when even the neighbors’ lawnmower sounds painful!)
Stage 2: Seizures And Hallucinations
Stage two ranges from twenty-four hours to three days after stopping; seizures/hallucinatory episodes are possible during this phase warranting admission into medical facilities promptly.
Stage 3: Delirium Tremens
Delirium Tremens (DTS) develops between day three-five usually worsening until day seven unless treated appropriately – characterized primarily by confusion/rapid behavior changes e.g., paranoia/delusions/severe hallucinations indicative of seriously disrupted brain functioning which could ultimately kill the patient if not addressed immediately with prescribed compounds/effective care strategies-Tomorrow isn’t promised anyhow so get seen ASAP!
Obtaining A Diagnosis For Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
An experienced medical professional will utilize a standardized scale to obtain an accurate diagnosis of the severity and type of withdrawal syndrome one is dealing with. From there, it’s up to you to commit fully to achieving sobriety- we all know how satisfying it can be going through security checkpoints brimming with confidence/a cleat mind (goodbye airport jitters!).
Intervention: Dealing With Alcohol Withdrawal
If one chooses detoxification in overcoming an alcohol issue, healthcare providers come into action by providing sedatives/tapering down gradually over time rather than suddenly ceasing medication as quit abruptly could result in various health risks.
The True Cost Of Ignoring Symptoms?
Ignoring severe symptoms eventually manifests itself as delirium tremens – which causes more significant concerns during rehab due to possible interaction issues between patients that would necessitate immediate medical attention.
You’ll also encounter adverse phobias associated with selecting or appropriately following medication guidelines, multiple relapses resulting from failing; this typically scares many who have gone through the process previously, so always seek profession help as quickly upon detecting compatible signs/symptoms!
Coping Mechanisms For Those Suffering From Alcohol Addiction
Once Detox treatment is finished usually around 3-7 days’, psycho-social therapies often return together (assuming absence-related violent incidents) these sessions formulate strategies coping skills means for ensuring long-term sobriety well after leaving our facilities post-treatment!(can I get a hell yeah please?!)
This approach aims toward identifying specific stressors/perceived pressure points within client/patient lives encouraging clients/individuals to identify triggers early on avoiding dangerous situations leading once-more towards risky drinking behaviors.
Final Thoughts On Recognizing And Addressing Alcohol Withdrawal Harms:
Anybody loyal reader enduring disagreeable drinkers’ symptoms should speak out about better access among addiction services offered globally (more resources are becoming available day-by-day); feeling ashamed/stigmatized for seeking professional treatment isn’t kidding around; it’s a hard road but ultimately worth the investment!
Similarly, recognizing when enough is sufficient proving invaluable– even if somebody continues indulging up until their last breath what’s essential seeking out support gives them an opportunity to share concerns/learn about healthy coping mechanisms so keep that in mind moving ahead!