Going through alcohol withdrawal is an important step in the recovery process. Find out what you need to know about alcohol withdrawal below. Alcohol withdrawal is a difficult process which can put you in medical danger if you don’t take precautionary steps. The longer you have been drinking for, the harder it is to stop. Going “cold turkey” and stopping all at once can put excess pressure on your heart. To be clear: it’s not that you shouldn’t stop drinking, it’s just that you should get medical assistance to do it. Seek medical advice about quitting drinking. If you have come to Help4Addiction, you are in the right place to make a good start. Help4Addiction have helped hundreds of people in addiction to find the services that they need to make a full recovery. Our rehab selection service matches you with the rehab facility most likely to suit your needs. Use our online contact form to request a call back or call us directly on 0203 955 7700. Find our online consultation service here.
Understanding Alcohol Withdrawal
Before we explore the timeline for alcohol withdrawal, we should refresh what it is we are discussing. When you stop drinking alcohol, Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS) kicks in after a few hours. These are the symptoms of relinquishing your addiction. The longer you drank for and the more frequently you drank, the more abundant the alcohol withdrawal symptoms will be. Some of these symptoms can even cause your heart to stop, which is why you should never go cold turkey or stop drinking without another person present. When you drink for a long time, the alcohol starts to change your body. The longer you let this continue for, the harder it is to return to normal.What are the Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal?
The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal vary from mild to moderate too intense. You can find a full list of alcohol withdrawal symptoms on our website, but let’s review the mild, moderate, and intense.Mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- An upset stomach
- A red face
- Vomiting and nausea
- Sweating
- Hand tremors
- Appetite changes
Moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Heart palpitations
- Increased heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Changes to your mood
Severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms include:
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Cardiac arrest
- Abnormal breathing
- Hyperthermia
- Detox tremens
