Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be deadly if mishandled or untreated, why you should never quit alone
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms is the name given to the sequence of manifestations - or reactions - your body experiences when alcohol is removed from your system. Depending on your overall health, and the length of your addiction, symptoms can pose a danger to your life.
Long term effects of alcohol are many and, more often than not, someone that struggles with alcohol abuse will feel those remnants long after they've achieved sobriety.
Studies have shown that more than 50% of alcoholics will experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms after they stop the intake of the substance. Unfortunately, many addicts believe that in order to get well, they simply need to stop drinking. This can turn out to be a deadly mistake.
Quitting cold turkey will not only provoke severe withdrawal symptoms, but can actually have a number of life-threatening results, such as respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, stroke or even death, simply because your body has gotten used to the substance to be able to function properly.
When you stop on your own, your body tries to replicate the chemical reactions that the substance creates, but in much higher quantities and intensity. This leads to organ failure and, if mishandled, possible death.
If you are in need of detoxing and getting sober, your signs of alcohol abuse will be clear and very telling. An abuser will often deny the existence of a problem, and will try to downplay the situation.
Some of the most common signs of alcohol abuse are:
- Immediate changes in mood and behavior due to alcohol's chemical reactions in the brain
- Alcohol consumption interferes with work, academic activities and relationships
- Appearance of memory loss episodes or blackouts
- The person suffers from a compulsive, uncontrollable desire to drink
- Trying to conceal the drinking problem or make excuses for it
- Isolation to avoid being judged
While these signs of alcohol abuse focus more on the behavioral changes, the long term effects of alcohol can be more physical. These may include:
- Cardiomyopathy
- Irregular heart beat
- High blood pressure
- Fatty liver
- Fibrosis
- Cirrhosis
- Hepatitis
- Pancreatitis
- The risk of certain cancers such as mouth, esophagus, throat and liver
Sadly, these long term effects of alcohol can appear and/or prolong long after you have gotten clean and rehabilitated.
This is why it is of extreme importance to get help the minute you start noticing sings of alcohol abuse. Detoxification and alcohol withdrawal should be done under strict medical supervision and care, to be able to monitor and control the body's reaction.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms may appear as quick as 6 hours after your last drink, and can be summarized in the following timeline:
Stage 1:
6 to 10 hours after last drink: abdominal pain, anxiety, mood swings, sweating.
Stage 2:
24 to 72 hours after last drink: high blood pressure, confusion, high body temperature, possible paranoia.
Stage 3:
72+ hours after last drink: the hardest stage with hallucinations, fever, extreme agitation, tremors, etc.
The way and intensity on which these alcohol withdrawal symptoms appear, vary from person to person, which is why it is extremely important to be under medical guidance and care so the symptoms can be properly handled.
A team of medical professionals will be able to medicate you, when necessary, and ease out your symptoms so you can get clean and continue with your rehabilitation program.
Don't put your life in danger by trying to get clean on your own. Call today at (877) 804-1531 where one of the various treatment specialists can answer all of your questions and guide you on the road to recovery.
Sources:
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000764.htm
https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/alcohol
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body