What is alcoholism?
Alcohol withdrawal is serious and it’s the one thing all alcoholics are afraid to experience. Alcohol use disorders are medical conditions that doctors can diagnose when a patient’s drinking causes distress or harm. In the United States, about 18 million people have an alcohol use disorder, classified as either alcohol dependence—perhaps better known as alcoholism—or alcohol abuse.
Alcoholism, the more serious of the disorders, is a disease that includes symptoms such as:
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Craving—A strong need, or urge, to drink.
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Loss of control—Not being able to stop drinking once drinking has begun.
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Physical dependence—Alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after stopping drinking.
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Tolerance—The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to feel the same effect.
People who are alcoholic often will spend a great deal of their time drinking, making sure they can get alcohol, and recovering from alcohol’s effects, often at the expense of other activities and responsibilities. These persons also run the risk of going through very painful and dangerous alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome Can Be Dangerous
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur in people who have been drinking heavily for weeks, months, or years and then either stop or significantly reduce their alcohol consumption.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can begin as early as two hours after the last drink, persist for weeks, and range from mild anxiety and shakiness to severe complications, such as seizures and delirium tremens (also called DTs). The death rate from DTs — which are characterized by confusion, rapid heartbeat, and fever — is estimated to range from 1% to 5%.
Consider Alcohol Detox for a Healthy Recovery
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can leave you feeling a lot of pain and wanting to drink just to stop them. It’s hard to quit alcohol and stick to your recovery when you’re alone at home within your own thoughts and the same environment that you using drugs and or alcohol in. How can you change and completely stop drinking when nothing has changed in your life? You’re bound to relapse when you try to detox at home. Consider going to an alcohol detox center for your alcohol detox and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
If you or someone you know is need of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, please give us a call at 1-833-596-3502.
Sources:
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-use-disorders
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/alcohol-abuse/alcohol-withdrawal-symptoms-treatments
