Alcohol withdrawal is a set of physical symptoms which appears when a person is addicted to alcohol and stops drinking. Not everyone who stops drinking experiences such symptoms, unless they have been heavy drinkers for a long period of time and try to stop suddenly.
It is hard to predict how someone will react – this depends on the level of his addiction. There are two different types of withdrawal – mild and severe withdrawal. The mild form can last between 6-48 hours and the severe form last 48 -96 hours after the last drink.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms
The symptoms of withdrawal appear after a few hours of not drinking and they are not so strong if the person is dealing with a mild withdrawal. In the worst situations, delirium tremens can occur, and medical supervision is required. In general, this is what an alcohol addict experiences if he stops drinking:
Physical symptoms:
- nausea;
- sweats on hands and face;
- headaches;
- anxiety;
- accelerated heart rhythm;
- high blood pressure;
- loss of appetite;
- sleeping difficulty;
- dilated pupils;
- involuntary, abnormal movements of the eyelids
Psychological symptoms:
- anxiety;
- irritability, restless, agitation;
- fatigue;
- depression;
- bad dreams;
- difficulty with clear thinking;
- In the severest forms delirium tremens can occur. That is the worst and most severe syndrome associated with withdrawal and has the following signs:
- confusion, disorientation;
- visual hallucinations;
- hyperactivity;
- extreme cardiovascular disturbance, blood pressure
It is a dangerous state of mind and there is no medication for this. Sometimes heart attacks may occur. That’s why it’s good to be under supervision. It occurs in 5% of cases, after 2-4 days from the last drink.
Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment
Patients can be treated safely within a hospital (inpatient setting) or on ambulatory basis (outpatient treatment). Treatment aims to help alcoholics stop drinking and remain sober. They always have to be under the supervision of a doctor to make sure they don’t get more serious problems.
If an alcoholic goes through withdrawal a number of times without getting the right treatment, the symptoms may get worse each time. This is especially true for those who have had a bad withdrawal before or are dealing with other health problems, such as infections, heart disease, lung disease or seizures. Medical treatment is always advisable.
Pharmacological treatment is most used in moderate to severe withdrawal, although specialists disagree over the optimum doses. Prescription treatments in detoxification centers may begin with an injection of vitamin B1 in cases that involve malnutrition. In treating severe acute withdrawal symptoms, benzodiazepine, a nervous system depressant, is prescribed. Medicines are given to control the shakiness, anxiety and confusion. Most people in withdrawal don’t need to be hospitalized.
Non-pharmacological detoxification consists of screening and providing extensive social support during withdrawal. Whitfield, the author who studied this, says that non-drug detoxification offers a reduced need for medical staff, a shortened detoxification period, and no sedative interference with a patient’s alertness for participating in an alcohol treatment program.
Behavioral treatments include participation in Alcoholics Anonymous and various types of counseling.
Resources
Hypnotherapy may be the answer. Wendi Friesen, a clinical certified Hypnotherapist has had great success with those who would like to eliminate alcohol from their life, or drink in moderation. The program is based on giving you freedom and power to be free from alcohol. If you are frustrated with Alcoholics Anonymous and you feel that the beliefs of AA just don’t work for you, this may be the way to go.
