Have you, or someone close to you, wanted to quit drinking alcohol but were fearful of doing so because of withdrawal symptoms? Well, you’re not the only one. Many people worry that if they stop drinking, their withdrawal symptoms may be challenging to manage and extremely dangerous for them.
However, we are here to help you out and increase your understanding of dealing with alcohol withdrawal with a lot more ease. Read on to learn more about how to quit drinking safely without any fears or worries.
The Signs of Alcohol Dependence
Several warning indicators can be used to spot potential alcohol abuse. Many indications are easily recognized, but others may be harder to spot. The level of an individual’s alcohol dependence may also influence the warning signs they display.
A couple of signs for an alcohol disorder are as follows:
- You drink more or for longer than you intended to.
- To drink, you had to give up or cut back on other activities that were essential to you.
- You have tried to cut back or stop drinking on multiple occasions but were unable to.
- You want a drink so bad you can’t think of anything else.
- You prioritize drinking over other daily activities and responsibilities even if it is having negative consequences on your life or health.
- Your drinking is disrupting your daily life.
Dangers Of Quitting Alcohol Abruptly
When you stop drinking suddenly, your body is deprived of the effects that alcohol has on it, and this means that it takes time for your body to adjust to life without it. The alcohol no longer inhibits the neurotransmitters in their brain, and the brain quickly tries to adapt to this new chemical imbalance.
Because of this, there are debilitating side effects of withdrawal that can prove to be extremely harmful and dangerous to one’s body. The severe dangers of quitting alcohol quickly mean that you will experience alcohol withdrawal with hazards such as tremors, sleeplessness, nausea, and anxiety. Some folks even experience convulsions or have visions of things that aren’t there.
Potential Withdrawal Symptoms
According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually begin any time after eight hours of your last drink and peak in about 2 or 3 days. It can be even more dangerous for DTs as they may not develop any symptoms for up to 3 days and think they do not require any medical assistance.
There are a few stages that occur in the alcohol withdrawal timeline. Stage 1 is when you experience mild withdrawal with symptoms like decreased appetite, insomnia, shaking, and heart palpitations. Stage 2 is the moderate stage when you start feeling confused, your heart starts to beat a lot faster, you begin to sweat and you breathe rapidly. In the final stage, you experience severe withdrawal symptoms, ranging from severe anxiety to severe tremors.
If left untreated, the withdrawal symptoms can worsen by progressing to complicated alcohol withdrawal. A severe symptom is delirium tremens which can lead to agitation, fever, heart arrhythmia, and tremors.
Ways To Support Yourself During Detox
Medical detoxification is an essential initial step when talking about alcohol addiction treatment. It helps significantly with alcohol withdrawal and supports all individuals who have shown psychological and physical reliance on alcohol.
A couple of ways you can support yourself during the medically-managed home detox service is by eating nutritious food, increasing your water intake, practicing breathing exercises, and staying physically active to release endorphins and positively restore chemical balance. The best thing you can do for yourself during this time is to lean on your detox aid staff and talk to them about exactly what you feel.
Ways To Get Help If Concerned About Withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal can prove a tough time in one’s life. However, asking for help only makes the situation a whole lot better.
The first way you can get help is by attending a medical detox programme. If not appropriately treated, withdrawal symptoms can be fatal. However, with the proper assistance, your symptoms and cravings can be managed with emotional support and medications.
It helps greatly to have a medical professional on standby if you decide to recover at home. This can aid your withdrawal phase through medication they can prescribe you, and you will be under medical supervision.
It would help if you also tried to attend therapy and counselling sessions so you can talk your way out of your pain and know that you’re not alone.
Summary
Although alcohol withdrawal can be a huge challenge, there are many positive ways to deal with it and quit drinking safely.
#1 Learning the signs of alcohol dependence is extremely important to overcome it.
#2 There are many dangers to a heavy drinker abruptly trying to quit drinking.
#3 There are three stages to withdrawal symptoms: mild withdrawal, moderate withdrawal, and severe withdrawal.
#4 You will have to support yourself even if you are getting medical help.
#5 Asking for help will take you on the road to success.
There is no shame in seeking help for alcohol withdrawal and working towards a better future.
