If you’re thinking about quitting alcohol, especially after years of heavy drinking, it’s important to understand the causes and triggers of alcohol withdrawal seizures. It is important to contact a doctor if you have concerns about alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorder. The doctor will be able to explain which treatments are available to you and help you manage any symptoms you experience during alcohol withdrawal. Keep reading to learn about the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, how to manage withdrawal symptoms, and more. Continuous treatment and support significantly improve recovery rates, highlighting the importance of structured care in overcoming alcohol addiction. The challenges in alcohol recovery are cravings, emotional instability, social pressure, and the risk of relapse.
About Medical News Today
After one year, you enter into the phase of sustaining sobriety. As the alcohol cravings and mood swings increase, it’s important to have support systems that can help you stay sober, such as group counseling and family. In addition, finding coping mechanisms to help manage your cravings can prevent them from becoming overwhelming. Thus, staying hydrated is crucial cutting back on alcohol symptoms to not only hydrate your body but to flush out toxins. Along with hydration, giving your body plenty of rest can help it cope with the withdrawal symptoms. Since alcohol is a depressant, your body becomes overstimulated as soon as you stop drinking, leading to feelings of anxiety, restlessness, and irritability.
What Is Alcohol Withdrawal?
He obtained his medical degree from West Virginia University where he also completed his residency training, finishing as chief resident. Dr. Wakim co-founded and served as the CEO of Transformations leading to a successful merger with Shore Capital in May 2021. He is purpose driven towards improving the standard of and removing stigma related to behavioral healthcare. Dr. Wakim enjoys golf, traveling and time spent with his two dogs, Lulu and Rayna.
Stage 4: Growth
Once they understand your drinking history, they’ll be better able to suggest treatments that could help you. They may include hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t there). Doctors at our alcohol treatment centers can ensure that these medications are administered properly, in the proper dosages, and at the right time. These medications should be discontinued when detox is completed.
Anticonvulsant medications, such as carbamazepine or valproic acid, can be used to reduce the risk of seizures during alcohol withdrawal. Your doctor may prescribe medication to help you manage your symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. They might recommend chlordiazepoxide (Librium), which can also help alleviate symptoms of anxiety. The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal delirium can include agitation and hallucinations. Holistic therapies, such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, acupuncture, and exercise, complement traditional recovery methods by improving emotional resilience and Alcoholics Anonymous reducing stress. These techniques promote overall well-being and provide alternative coping mechanisms for managing triggers and cravings.
Total and lifelong avoidance of alcohol (abstinence) is the best treatment for those who have gone through alcohol withdrawal. You may reach a point where you start drinking again just to relieve your symptoms. For instance, you might write a list of reasons why you want to stop drinking alcohol and read it. Some people think tapering can be a safer way to finally get your heavy alcohol use under control. It may feel hard to talk honestly to your doctor about your alcohol use. Remember that their goal is to help you get healthy, not judge you.
- With this type of alcohol withdrawal, you may not realize that what you see, hear, feel, or smell isn’t real.
- In the first few hours after your last drink, your body begins to react.
- The stages of alcohol recovery are Abstinence, Post-Acute Withdrawal, Repair, and Growth.
- However, medical complications can occur during the acute phase of withdrawal.
- Medical detox is the first step in recovery, providing a safe and supportive environment to manage withdrawal symptoms.
Quitting alcohol is one of the most important decisions you can make with your life. But before you begin, it’s important to define what the term “quitting alcohol” means to you. While both choices will take commitment, total abstinence comes with quite a few challenges.
Who Experiences Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?
Individuals work on personal development, setting goals, and maintaining ongoing support through counseling or recovery groups. This stage is lifelong, ensuring continued commitment to sobriety and well-being. According to Healthline’s “Your Guide to the Stages of Alcohol Recovery,” the growth stage starts 3 to 5 years after you’ve stopped drinking. Similar to detox programs, rehabilitation is most successful when completed in a professional program setting. Attempting to address your addiction on your own can be challenging and increases the risk of relapse.
- People who have an addiction to alcohol or who drink heavily on a regular basis and are not able to gradually cut down are at high risk of AWS.
- One of the primary triggers of alcohol withdrawal seizures is the abrupt cessation of alcohol consumption.
- Programs like Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) combine mindfulness techniques with cognitive strategies to help individuals maintain sobriety and cope with triggers effectively.
It’s never too late to seek help, no matter how things might seem right now. Please call to speak to a compassionate admissions navigator about your alcohol withdrawal treatment options. They can explain more about treatment admissions, rehab insurance coverage, and paying for addiction treatment. This page will discuss alcohol withdrawal syndrome, its potential symptoms, and how treatment can help. The types of symptoms you get — and their severity — depend on your overall health, how long you’ve been drinking, and how much you were drinking.
- It is estimated that roughly 3 – 5% of individuals in withdrawal will experience DTs.
- A severe case of alcohol withdrawal can lead to complications, some of which can be life-threatening.
- Consuming more than this increases a person’s risk of health ailments such as liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and other disorders.
- At Allure Detox, we recognize that facing drug and alcohol withdrawal alone can be daunting.
This is a vulnerable stage, as the idea of drinking again might seem tempting just to make the discomfort stop. The first day is often the hardest, but every moment without alcohol is a step toward recovery. Your body is already working to heal, even if it does not feel that way yet. Pushing through this stage means you are on your way to breaking alcohol’s hold over you, and with the right support, the worst symptoms can be managed safely.
