Addiction to alcohol is a problem in pretty much every country in the world. You probably know that alcohol addiction is dangerous. Is detoxing from alcohol uncomfortable or dangerous? How can you know if you’re addicted to alcohol?
Alcohol Abuse and Addiction
Withdrawal from alcohol occurs when you’re used to drinking a certain amount of alcohol, and your body has symptoms when you don’t drink. After days, months or years of heavy drinking, the body adjusts to alcohol abuse, believing it needs alcohol to function. Detoxing from alcohol can cause withdrawal in heavy drinkers.
It’s not uncommon for people to binge drink, get “blackout drunk”, or drink throughout the day in America. These are all signs that a person has a drinking problem. Unfortunately, alcohol companies like to make excessive drinking seem normal. There’s a culture that goes along with alcohol, such as drinking at brunch times as well as lunchtimes.
Drinking may seem like a pastime for many Americans, but alcohol use disorder can cause many problems in a person’s life. Alcohol addiction can wreak havoc on a person’s home life, cause legal and financial troubles, and create medical problems for the drinking.
Alcohol addiction can be both physical and mental. Detoxing from alcohol is different for everyone. Not everyone experiences intense alcohol withdrawal. Some people just get cranky and have a desire to drink as soon as possible. Some people get the shakes or have other physical withdrawal symptoms.
Anyone can be an alcoholic. If you have tried to quit drinking or control your alcohol use, and have failed, you probably have an alcohol use disorder. If you have suffered physical, emotional, financial or legal problems due to your alcohol abuse, you may have a problem with alcohol addiction.
Getting help is a sign of strength. Consider detoxing from alcohol in a professional setting.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms, much like opioids, can range from mild to severe. Mild symptoms may be headaches, sweats, insomnia, tiredness or mild stomach upset. Some people may have mood swings, feel anxious, depressed or irritable.
Severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can appear around 12-24 hours after the last drink for heavy alcoholics. They can include severe shakes, stomach upset, hallucinations, vomiting, or even have seizures. You may even experience delusions (beliefs that have no basis of reality) or become paranoid or confused.
Withdrawal can also cause fevers, heavy sweating, high heart rate, and blood pressure. Because of this, clinical supervision of alcohol withdrawal is the safest way to get sober. Combined with any pre-existing condition or withdrawal from other drugs, withdrawal can be dangerous. Detoxing from alcohol is a great way to get help, monitoring, and support through your early days of alcohol detox.
Detoxing From Alcohol or Drugs
Millions of people every year get sober from alcohol and other substances. Today, there are ways to get the help you need and reclaim your life. Most people begin their journey through a clinical detox program. The first step of sobriety is asking for and getting help. We can help you get started and plan your next steps. Please give us a call at 1-800-970-8774.