Alcohol Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline, and Treatment

Alcohol can worsen depression and be an emotional crutch, making it difficult to experience true happiness outside of drinking. Stopping alcohol can make you feel happier by allowing you to experience positive emotions without alcohol. Quitting alcohol can help reduce the depression and anxiety that alcohol can bring and significantly improve your situation in life, increasing your overall happiness. Serious alcohol misuse can decrease your lifespan by as much as 28 years compared to those who don’t drink.

alcohol withdrawal

What are the risk factors for alcohol withdrawal?

  • The presence of withdrawal symptoms indicates your body’s dependence on alcohol.
  • This common withdrawal symptom greatly increases your risk of relapse if left unmanaged.
  • Dependence risk varies among individuals and is influenced by factors such as genetic predisposition, mental health conditions, and frequency of alcohol use.
  • You don’t have to take this journey alone; we are here to help you through each step of the way.

Medicines called benzodiazepines can lessen alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Commonly used medicines in this group include chlordiazepoxide (Librium) and lorazepam (Ativan). Some doctors prefer phenobarbital over benzodiazepines to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms. If you have a sibling or parent with AUD, then you are three or four times more likely than average to develop the disorder.

alcohol withdrawal

Building Your Recovery Foundation Beyond Detox

alcohol withdrawal

You’ll experience peak nausea triggers during the first hours of withdrawal, often accompanied by sweating and tremors that can intensify your discomfort. The alcoholism frequency of vomiting varies based on your drinking history and overall health status. Understanding anxiety triggers is essential, as these symptoms often coincide with cognitive difficulties and confusion. You may notice increased social anxiety, hostile reactions to perceived threats, and emotional volatility.

Walk-In Rehab Options for Alcohol Addiction in Georgia

  • If an individual can hang on during that time frame, the symptoms will resolve just as quickly as they appeared.
  • Immediate medical attention is crucial if DTs are suspected, as they require hospitalization and intensive care.
  • Maintaining adequate vitamin and mineral intake through a balanced diet helps combat withdrawal symptoms.
  • This is sometimes referred to as protracted or post-acute alcohol withdrawal (PAW), though it’s not recognized in DSM-5.
  • This neurotransmitter regulates energy, enjoyment and motivation.

Addiction Helpline America support services are here to guide you. We connect individuals nationwide to addiction and mental health treatment centers across all 50 states, from California and Florida to Texas and New York. Our service is free, confidential, and personalized to help you find the right program from our vast network, including telehealth options. Alcohol withdrawal refers to symptoms that may occur when a person who has been drinking too much alcohol on a regular basis suddenly stops drinking alcohol.

Alcohol addiction rehabs offer a safe, secure and comfortable environment during the withdrawal phase. If even two of these symptoms emerge within a short time after heavy and prolonged alcohol use ends, alcohol withdrawal will be the appropriate diagnosis. From there, the clinician will recommend an appropriate level of care to manage symptoms. It’s vital to be honest and open about your alcohol withdrawal alcohol use and symptoms so you can get the best treatment and support possible. For some people, withdrawal seizures may be their only symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Roughly 8% of people withdrawing from alcohol experience seizures.