Cutting out alcohol completely or making a temporary change in your lifestyle by giving up alcohol for a month to see how you feel – sounds good, right? Sadly, people on the brink of alcohol addiction may encounter issues when they make a seemingly positive and healthy decision for their physical and mental wellness – alcohol withdrawal symptoms may emerge if you binge drink or your body became so accustomed to alcohol that it does not know how to function without it.
We will explore the risk factors and symptoms of alcohol withdrawals to help you recognize the issue once it appears, elaborate on the alcohol withdrawal timeline, learn how common alcohol withdrawal is, and tell you how to cope with the physical and psychological consequences of alcohol withdrawal.
What Is Alcohol Withdrawal?
Alcohol withdrawal includes various physical and emotional consequences an individual will feel upon quitting alcohol. Note that this condition does not concern people who drink rarely or make a sound choice to never drink again after a single night out – you should be mindful of your decision to stop drinking if you have a history of frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Even if at first the alcohol withdrawals do not bother you and you are able to continue going to work, studying, and spending time with your family, pay close attention to what your body will try to tell you within the next few days that follow the last drink. When the alcohol dependence is severe to the point of addiction, a person’s life may be in danger, especially if they do not seek medical attention thinking the symptoms will disappear on their own.
Causes and Symptoms
What Are the Risk Factors for Alcohol Withdrawal?
Even though alcohol withdrawal is always possible when you stop drinking abruptly, there are several prerequisites you should bear in mind – people with certain risk factors are more likely to experience some or all symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Around fifty percent of people who quit alcohol will experience some discomfort, so we advise you to be smart with your sobriety in the following circumstances:
- You have other mental or physical health conditions.
- You are older than sixty-five.
- You are overweight.
- You take prescribed medications.
- Your relatives were addicted to alcohol or drugs.
- You have other unhealthy habits such as smoking or doing drugs.
- You had alcohol withdrawals in the past.
- You experienced tremors or seizures before.
What Are the Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal?
When you stop drinking or suddenly limit the use of alcohol, it does not automatically mean you will feel healthy – if you are a heavy drinker with a long-term habit of consuming alcohol, there will be painful symptoms within a few hours. Your central nervous system is at risk when you drink every day or consume large amounts of alcohol several times per week – your body can no longer function normally because you get used to alcohol.
Symptoms vary from person to person, but most individuals experiencing alcohol withdrawals will have a headache, suffer from insomnia, sweating, and high blood pressure, see things that are not real, and in the most severe cases, have seizures and tremors.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptom Timeline
While alcohol withdrawal syndrome symptoms manifest differently for every person, here is what usually happens with an individual who stopped drinking or decreased the alcohol intake:
- Migraines, stress, and sleep disturbances will appear within six or twelve hours after the last drink.
- Hallucinations and intrusive thoughts may occur twenty-four hours after you stop drinking.
- Symptoms described above usually peak within one to three days. In case the withdrawal is severe, there is a possibility of tremors, psychosis, and seizures within two days since you last drank.
Remember that the timeline is a rough approximation of what is going to happen – many of these symptoms will continue throughout the entire period of alcohol withdrawal while other signs will overlap, so do not be surprised if three days after you quit alcohol, you suffer from insomnia or nausea. Besides, if the alcohol use disorder has been present for years, the symptoms will last longer than three days.
How Long Does Alcohol Withdrawal Last?
For the majority of individuals, alcohol withdrawal symptoms begin to falter after three days; in certain instances, a person will remain nauseous and feverish for up to four or five days.
Note that the psychological effects of the withdrawal are harder to predict – for some people, the weeks and even months that follow the decision to stop or minimize their drinking are the hardest, which is why it is crucial to seek substance abuse therapy.
Diagnosis and Tests: How Is Alcohol Withdrawal Diagnosed?
You can only confirm the alcohol withdrawal diagnosis when you go to a doctor – a healthcare provider will use their knowledge to figure out if you are experiencing withdrawal or dealing with another health scare. Typically, a physician will carry out a physical exam, ask you questions from a generic checklist that allows them to assess your overall health, and order laboratory tests to further make sure their evaluation is correct.
It is likely the doctor will check the amount of alcohol in your blood, perform tests to see how your internal organs function, and measure the levels of electrolytes in your blood asking you to take blood and urine tests. Depending on the severity of your condition, the physician will inform you if additional procedures are required.
How to Treat Alcohol Withdrawal?
The treatment of alcohol withdrawal depends on the current health condition of the patient – some doctors will examine the patient and let them go home after prescribing a few pills, while others will order immediate hospitalization of the individual who needs medical attention. Here is what outpatient and inpatient treatment usually entails:
| Treatment for Alcohol Withdrawal | Description |
Management of Mild Symptoms | If the patient’s head hurts or they feel slightly nauseous, they will not need to undergo long-lasting treatment – a healthcare provider will offer you medicine that prevents or controls potential seizures. Additionally, it could be a good idea to get IV fluids in case the person is dehydrated |
Treatment of Severe Symptoms | Do not delay a visit to a doctor if the symptoms are serious – a physician will prescribe medication with a prolonged duration of action. It is also probable that hospitalization will be the solution so be ready to stay at the medical facility for several days |
Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment | After the symptoms of the alcohol withdrawal do not threaten the life of the individual anymore, the time comes to discuss long-term strategy to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future – a doctor will tell you about mental health support for people struggling with substance abuse and give you a referral to a therapist if needed |
Future Without Alcohol
Many individuals who go through severe alcohol withdrawal change their outlook on alcohol consumption – even if initially they did not plan to become sober, a health scare of this magnitude can trigger them into implementing a better lifestyle for years to come.
Whether you rely on your family and friends to help you in your sobriety journey, join a support group with people you can relate to, or give a chance to private counseling to reveal possible underlying issues that led to an alcohol use disorder in the first place, ensure you are making the best possible decision for your own well-being both short- and long-term.
FAQs
- Is alcohol withdrawal dangerous?
Yes, unfortunately, saying goodbye to alcohol is not always the safest choice, especially if the person has been drinking for a long time non-stop – symptoms of the withdrawal can even threaten the life of the individual.
- How do I know I have alcohol withdrawal?
You will feel the effects of alcohol withdrawal soon after the last alcoholic drink – the symptoms will range from a headache you can tolerate to seizures that often cause brain damage; the consequences depend on the amount of alcohol you used to consume.
- What is the timeline for alcohol withdrawal?
The first symptoms will manifest within a few hours; the withdrawal will usually last for a few days. It is essential to note that the mental toll of the decision to quit alcohol can be the biggest challenge, which is why therapy is recommended.
- Can you treat alcohol withdrawal?
It is possible to deal with the symptoms of the withdrawal – do not attempt to cure fever, tremors, or hallucinations with random medication, and do not wait until the symptoms go away, go to the emergency room as soon as you can.
- Do I need therapy after undergoing standard alcohol withdrawal treatment?
Mental health support is frequently ignored by individuals who do not believe they need to talk to a therapist in order to resolve their issues that involve alcohol – in particular, if they made a conscious choice to never drink again. Nevertheless, counseling can help you identify the triggers and be more confident in your recovery and sobriety.
