7 Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Many people have problems with alcohol, however not every problem drinker is an alcoholic. A person who is only a problem drinker may be able to reduce their alcohol intake successfully, but an alcoholic cannot just cut down on the amount of drinking as they have a strong compulsive need to drink.
Alcoholism is a chronic disease that can be passed along genetically and will stay with a person for their whole life. In rare cases, a person may be able to fight their alcoholism on their own, but for most cases treatment is needed for a chance at success. In general the most effective treatments for alcoholism combine counseling with one of several prescription drugs that may help fight the cravings.
There are some important things that you need to know about alcoholism. For example, if you quit drinking suddenly after being an alcoholic, the likely result is a process known as withdrawal. Withdrawal is your body responding to the sudden lack of a substance that it grew accustomed to. Here are some things you need to know about withdrawal:
- The duration of withdrawal can vary significantly from person to person depending on how much they were drinking and at what frequency.
- The specific withdrawal symptoms that you experience can vary from person to person depending on how much they were drinking and at what frequency.
- When the withdrawal symptoms actually begin to appear can also vary significantly from person to person depending on how much they were drinking and at what frequency.
Keeping these things in mind, you are definitely going to want to be aware of the following seven withdrawal symptoms that you may experience as an alcoholic. You may or may not experience these specific withdrawal symptoms. If you do experience them, it may only be briefly, or they may bother you for a lengthy amount of time. Your withdrawal symptoms may also vary as you go through the withdrawal process, with some coming about right away and others becoming apparent with time.
Strange Feelings Associated With Alcohol Withdrawal
Strange feelings, such as jumpiness, shakiness or nervousness. As you are going through the alcohol withdrawal process, you may experience these different feelings in different amounts. They may come and go depending on whatever else is bothering you. One of the most common symptoms of withdrawal from alcoholism is agitation. As you go through these strange feelings they may make you feel extremely agitated. Agitation is considered to be one of the most severe of the symptoms associated with withdrawal from alcoholism.
Mood Swings Associated With Alcohol Withdrawal
Anxiety and irritability are especially common when it comes to symptoms of withdrawal from alcoholism. Anxiety is common because the withdrawal process can be stressful, and so it is completely normal to feel stress and anxiety when you are going through this process. Irritability, like the aforementioned agitation, is also normal as a severe or moderate symptom of withdrawal from alcohol. These feelings can manifest as apprehension, jitters, tension, stress or feeling uptight while you go through the withdrawal process.
Emotional Changes Associated With Alcohol Withdrawal
Rapid emotional changes, severe emotional volatility and depression are another form of mood swings an alcoholic may experience while going through alcohol withdrawal. Depression is especially common as a withdrawal symptom, especially if you were depressed and using alcoholism as a coping mechanism. Rapid emotional changes may also occur, where you feel as if your emotions are all over the map. You may feel happy, sad, anxious, angry and a whole bunch of other emotions all in the same day without being able to discern why you are feeling this way.
Difficulty Thinking Associated With Alcohol Withdrawal
Difficulty with clear thinking, difficulty concentrating or an inability to focus. Your mind may feel cloudy, and you may have trouble remembering things. You may feel sleepy all the time, and like you simply cannot focus your attention on any one thing. As your body attempts to snap you out of the hold that alcoholism had on you, it becomes more difficult for your body and your mind to function at tip-top shape, so you will experience a lot of brain-zap type moments during the withdrawal process. If any of these symptoms persist for more than a few weeks, speak to a medical professional.
Stomach Problems Associated With Alcohol Withdrawal
Loss of appetite and other stomach related issues including vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. As you go through the withdrawal process, it is going to be likely that you will experience some stomach changes. You may not feel hungry and so you might experience unexplained weight loss. You might also experience nausea and vomiting or diarrhea. These are all completely normal side effects that come with the alcoholism withdrawal process so you should not be surprised if they persist for a little while. It is not uncommon for withdrawal from alcoholism to be an uncomfortable affair, so you should expect some stomach discomfort along the journey.
Sleeping Problems Associated With Alcohol Withdrawal
Difficulty sleeping, insomnia, feelings of fatigue and paleness. Sleep disturbances are especially common when you are going through the withdrawal process from alcoholism. You may experience insomnia or difficulty sleeping, or you may wake up every morning feeling fatigued and as if you have not slept enough. Experiencing sleep disturbances along these lines is completely normal as a part of overcoming your alcoholism problem. You may feel cold or pale or experience other signs that you are not getting enough sleep as well. This is also completely normal and can be uncomfortable to deal with.
Flu Like Symptoms Associated With Alcohol Withdrawal
These are uncomfortable side effects associated with withdrawal from addiction to alcoholism, but most of them are only moderate and so you can get over them pretty quickly. It can be uncomfortable to deal with sweating, a headache and symptoms that remind you of the flu, but in the grand scheme of things these are withdrawal symptoms and side effects that you can treat and brush off without much worry. If any of these symptoms seem to persist for more than a couple of weeks, though, you should speak to a medical professional because something else might be going on.
These symptoms of withdrawal truly run the gamut when it comes to severity, length of experience and what parts of your life they affect. A light case of withdrawal symptoms may include flu like symptoms, headache and difficulty sleeping. For someone who is dealing with a more severe addiction to alcohol, heart rate problems, convulsions, black outs, agitation and many other symptoms may avail themselves as well.
Because there are so many symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawals, the best way for you to detox from your alcohol problem is in the hands of trained staff at a drug rehab program (800-303-2482). Drug and alcohol addiction recovery facilities are designed to surround you with all the care and support that you need while you are overcoming what ails you.
These facilities are designed to couple medical detox with emotional therapies and counseling to provide you with a well-rounded approach to your recovery. If you really want to get the right amount of help to meet your needs, then you need to choose the right treatment facility in your area. Make sure that you shop around and consider the different options and opportunities that are available to you so that you can find the right match for your individual needs.