What to expect during withdrawal from alcohol, how long it takes, and available treatment?

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Physical and mental withdrawal symptoms from alcoholism can be challenging and even dangerous. Making the decision to stop drinking is a major step towards a healthier lifestyle, and doing so requires serious consideration.

Many people continue to drink heavily despite knowing the dangers of doing so in order to stave off the discomfort of alcohol withdrawal. Detox and withdrawal are two phases of addiction treatment that have a terrible reputation for being extremely difficult for patients. Attempting to quit drinking on your own, without the help of a medical professional, can be fatal. However, cleansing yourself during this time can be the beginning of a new beginning. Detox prepares you for alcohol rehabilitation, where you’ll gain tools for sober living that will help you on your lifelong journey to recovery.

Just what is alcohol withdrawal?

When the brain is suddenly no longer under the influence of alcohol, unpleasant and potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms can arise. Within a few hours of the last use of an addictive substance, the withdrawal process begins, causing acute symptoms that can last for four or five days.

The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are the physical manifestation of alcohol dependence. If a person’s body and brain have become physically dependent on alcohol for normal functioning, then when alcohol is removed from their system, they will experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It is possible to develop a physical dependence on alcohol. Toxins are flushed out of the body and a new equilibrium is established during detox, but some people go through withdrawal as a result.

Many heavy drinkers will continue drinking despite the negative effects on their health and wellbeing because they fear experiencing withdrawal. Alcohol is a depressant because it slows down the activity of the brain and spinal cord. Neurotransmitters, which are in charge of the communication between the brain and the rest of the body, are disrupted by alcohol consumption of any kind (CNS). Because of this, normal brain functions deteriorate.

Timeline and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal

The mental and physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be quite unpleasant. There is no way to know for sure which symptoms will emerge or how severe they will become for each individual, even though the effects can be predicted to some extent.