Recognizing Alcohol Withdrawal

When you have developed a dependence on alcohol or an addiction to it, your brain chemistry changes and it begins to depend upon the alcohol. Cutting off the brain’s access to alcohol will trigger some extreme reaction in your body. These symptoms are an overreaction of the body’s system that deals with stress. Because of that, many of the withdrawal symptoms effect mood.

Recognizing alcohol withdrawal symptoms early on, can help you to define whether you may be suffering from a full-fledged physical addiction to this substance. According to the US National Library of Medicine, you face the following symptoms.

Sadness and disordered thinking are common alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Common alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:

• Nervousness
• Sadness
• Exhaustion
• Touchiness
• Jitteriness
• Erratic mood
• Bad dreams
• Disordered thinking

Additional withdrawal symptoms may include:

• Headache
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Increased heart rate
• Clammy skin
• Enlarged pupils
• Excessive perspiration
• Shaking of the hands or other body parts

These initial symptoms arrive between 6 and 48 hours after you begin to limit your drinking. They will intensify over time and typically begin to diminish after a day or two.

A severe form of alcohol withdrawal called delirium tremens (these occur in 5 percent of cases and generally appear 2 to 4 days after your last use of alcohol) can cause:

• Hallucinations
• Tension
• Fever
• Seizures
• Serious confusion

Is Your College Student Abusing Alcohol?

Getting Help

If you would like to know more about assisted detox from alcohol or treatment of alcoholism, we  can answer your questions and direct you to the resources you need. Just give us a call at 800-256-3490 to get started.

The most common programs attended by alcoholics are inpatient and outpatient care. Moderate to severe cases of alcohol withdrawal are advised to seek inpatient care and those with mild to moderate cases can generally navigate outpatient treatment. However, outpatient treatment is still heavily monitored, so it isn’t a once a week check-in; you will see your provider daily and you will need someone to stay with you during the process. It is a really serious detox and doing it alone simply should not be an option.

Finding the right help is paramount to your recovery success. It all begins with early recognition of the symptoms of withdrawal and the need for treatment. Our helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist you in recovery. For immediate relief, call 800-256-3490 to speak with a support specialist who can help you begin the journey to recovery.