What Causes Alcohol Withdrawal
Most people are familiar with the idea of alcohol withdrawal. They realize that people who have an addiction to alcohol often experience unpleasant side effects when they try to reduce or stop their alcohol consumption. However, they don’t have a clear idea of what withdrawal actually involves, how long it lasts, or how to treat it. One of the most common images is someone suffering from “the shakes” when they try to stop drinking alcohol, but not everyone will experience this particular symptom.
Not knowing what to expect from alcohol withdrawal can make people reluctant to attend treatment at an alcohol rehab center. Fear of the unknown is uncomfortable and makes people stay in their old patterns of alcohol
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By helping the public learn basic information about withdrawal symptoms, the hope is that people will realize that the truth of them–alcohol withdrawal symptoms are unpleasant part of the recovery process, but they are manageable with proper treatment and support from trained …show more content…
People who experience withdrawal will often endure a combination of physical and psychological symptoms that range from mild to severe, or even life-threatening.
The early symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can appear six hours to a few days after a person’s last drink of alcohol. Each person is different and may experience one or more of a multitude of physical and mental symptoms that impact many areas of life. Feelings of anxiety and irritability are common. Mental function can also be comprised by confusion, headaches, insomnia, and nightmares. A person may experience gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, or cardiovascular issues, including elevated heart rate and high blood pressure. It is also not uncommon to experience sweating and tremors. The early symptoms of alcohol withdrawal tend to get worse over the course of two to three days and often persist for