Alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorder<\/a> can ruin a person\u2019s life, and yet many continue to abuse the drug knowingly to avoid alcohol withdrawal. Detox and withdrawal are infamous in the addiction community for being physically and psychologically distressing. If done at home without medical attention, alcohol withdrawal can even be deadly. However, this time of cleansing is the first step to putting your life back on track. Following detox, you will be ready to enter alcohol rehab<\/a> and learn sober living skills that will help you during the lifelong process of recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Professional medical detox is the safest option when it comes to stopping drinking. At The Recovery Village, we monitor patients 24\/7 to ensure their discomfort during withdrawal is managed, their vitals are at healthy levels and they are not experiencing any life-threatening symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Following detox, you will be ready to begin treatment for alcohol addiction<\/a>. The Recovery Village offers many different treatment options, including inpatient and outpatient rehab. Rehab is a proven treatment method for alcohol addiction because it addresses both the physical and psychological sides of the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alcohol withdrawal is a set of distressing and dangerous symptoms that stem from the brain lacking alcohol\u2019s influence in the system. Withdrawal is a process that begins within a few hours after last use and creates acute symptoms that can last for 4-5 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alcohol withdrawal is a product of physical dependence in the body. When a person has reached a state of alcohol-dependent<\/a> \u2014 the physical state where the body and brain require alcohol to feel well and function normally \u2014 their body experiences alcohol withdrawal symptoms once there is no more alcohol in their system. Withdrawal symptoms occur during detox, a natural process where the body works to remove toxins from the system and reach a new equilibrium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Withdrawal is a physically and psychologically uncomfortable experience \u2014 so much so that many heavy drinkers will continue drinking despite negative consequences just to avoid withdrawal. Alcohol is a Central Nervous System (CNS) depressant. With continued and excessive alcohol consumption, alcohol interferes with the brain\u2019s natural functions, disrupting neurotransmitters that send messages to the CNS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The primary neurotransmitter tied to relaxation is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA also helps produce endorphins in the brain, which produce a sense of well-being. Excessive alcohol use causes a GABA imbalance<\/a> that the brain becomes accustomed to, so it regulates its neurotransmitter production to account for the influence of alcohol. When alcohol use ends, the brain\u2019s chemical balance is disrupted, which results in the negative physical and mental symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alcohol abuse<\/a> also affects dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to the body\u2019s reward system. This neurotransmitter regulates energy, enjoyment and motivation. Dopamine also assists with the body\u2019s sense of attention, motor coordination, cognition and mood. Alcohol releases dopamine when ingested. As the body begins to build a higher tolerance for alcohol, the brain becomes more dependent on the substance for feel-good neurotransmitters. When chronic heavy drinking is suddenly stopped, dopamine production also halts, causing physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related Topic:<\/strong> Sudden alcohol intolerance<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome, or PAWS, refers to a number of withdrawal symptoms experienced following the acute withdrawal phase of recovery. While the acute stage of recovery involves intense physical symptoms over a period of one to two weeks, PAWS symptoms can persist, disappear and reappear for months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Related Topic:<\/strong> Alcohol and Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n Alcohol withdrawal creates a range of undesirable mental and medical symptoms. Although the effects are somewhat predictable, there is no way to know with certainty which symptoms will emerge and how intense they will become for each person.<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Like with other drugs of abuse, alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually occur in a way that opposes the intoxicating effects. With intoxication, alcohol makes people feel calm and relaxed, but alcohol withdrawal produces symptoms like:<\/p>\n From a mental health perspective, a person enduring alcohol withdrawal will note a sharp increase in their anxiety. With the change in GABA activity in the brain, excitation and anxiety build. The same happens with irritability and agitation. These could result in aggressive or violent behavior.<\/p>\n The Recovery Village surveyed<\/a> people experiencing alcohol withdrawal and found interesting results. Among those who underwent alcohol detox (either detoxing from alcohol at home<\/a> or at a facility), some of the most common withdrawal symptoms were:<\/strong><\/p>\n With their ability to impact a person\u2019s physical and psychological health, alcohol withdrawal symptoms are troubling, but severe withdrawal symptoms can put people in substantial danger.<\/p>\n Some of the severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:<\/strong><\/p>\n According to the survey<\/a> conducted by The Recovery Village of people who withdrew from alcohol, roughly:<\/p>\n These effects can result in a real risk to the individual experiencing withdrawal as well as their loved ones who could be in harm\u2019s way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n The severity of withdrawal symptoms can depend on many variables and vary dramatically from person to person. Precisely how someone will withdraw from alcohol is impossible to predict, but addiction experts assess a variety of factors to gain insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some factors affecting the severity of withdrawal include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, a person over 30 with anxiety who has been a daily heavy drinker for a long time will have a much greater risk of serious withdrawal than someone under 30 with no co-occurring mental health conditions and short-term alcohol use. At times, a person\u2019s previous experiences with withdrawal can be the best predictor of future withdrawal, so individuals and professionals should always assess detoxification history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Across the board, heavy alcohol users report withdrawal symptoms more than those who do not drink heavily. Heavy alcohol users double their risk for hallucinations during withdrawal, being 2.4 times more likely<\/a> than moderate or light alcohol users to experience them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Compared to others during detox, The Recovery Village<\/a> found heavy drinkers were:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Polysubstance use, the use of multiple substances simultaneously, also increased the likelihood of experiencing more dangerous or severe withdrawal symptoms and medical conditions during alcohol detox. Compared to those detoxing from alcohol only, The Recovery Village survey<\/a> discovered people detoxing from alcohol and at least one other substance were:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While alcohol detox takes between 7\u201310 days<\/a>, alcohol withdrawal is different for every person who goes through it. For some, the process lasts days. For others, it can take months for the protracted withdrawal symptoms to diminish. According to The Recovery Village survey<\/a>, 95% of respondents said withdrawal symptoms lasted for between two and eight days.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Alcohol withdrawal begins when someone who is physically dependent on alcohol stops drinking it abruptly or significantly reduces their consumption. Most alcohol detox programs last anywhere from a few days to over a week, with withdrawal symptoms usually subsiding within seven or more days of the program. However, alcohol cravings, sleep problems and other minor side effects may continue for some time after detox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n Withdrawal-related symptoms are known to come in four different stages: minor, major, withdrawal seizures and\u00a0delirium tremens<\/a>. It is important to understand that not all people will experience all stages with all withdrawals.<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Minor withdrawal symptoms tend to occur within 6\u201324 hours after a person\u2019s last alcohol consumption. The syndrome is uncomfortable but not dangerous for the individual and usually involves expected symptoms like:<\/p>\n Major withdrawal is a more significant and distressing condition that begins between 10\u201372 hours after the last consumption. These mental and physical symptoms mark a major departure from normal functioning and include:<\/p>\n Withdrawal seizures, sometimes called \u201crum fits,\u201d can emerge between 6\u201348 hours after last use. This level of alcohol withdrawal is marked by seizures in people who have had no previous issues with seizures. These seizures tend to be brief and generalized.<\/p>\n For some people, withdrawal seizures may be their only symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal seizures may reoccur over about six hours. Roughly 8% of people withdrawing from alcohol experience seizures<\/a>.<\/p>\n Related Topic:<\/strong> Alcoholic seizures treatment<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tArticle at a Glance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Alcohol Detox at The Recovery Village<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Is Alcohol Withdrawal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Science Behind Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline & Symptoms<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Factors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Alcohol Withdrawal Stages<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
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