Because alcohol is legal, many people underestimate its addictive power. We also tend to neglect just how challenging withdrawal from it can be.
What are the Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal?
Withdrawal from alcohol can be incredibly challenging. Detox involves many physical and mental symptoms including:
- Anxiety
- Shakiness and tremors
- Sweating and fever
- Seizures
- Visual or auditory hallucinations
- Vomiting
- Accelerated heart rate
While a person’s experiences may vary, for a person addicted to abusing alcohol these symptoms may begin to set in as early as six hours after their last drink. The withdrawal is at its worst for the next twenty-four to seventy-two hours. Then it begins to subside over the next seven days.
The Benefits of Medically-Supervised Alcohol Detox
Many people fail to recognize just how challenging alcohol is to clean up from for some addicts. It’s been estimated that around fifteen percent of the population has had some degree of alcohol dependence. Of those who attempt to go sober, half will develop withdrawal symptoms and of these about four percent will have severe symptoms.
Successfully dealing with alcohol dependence is best achieved through the help of medical professionals who can recognize the withdrawal symptoms. There is also South Florida alcohol treatment, which can help with not only the detox, but also help you with what comes next. Developing a strategy and new coping skills is really important. There are small changes you can make (such as keeping a glass of water to keep your hands full when a bottle feels absent) but larger changes also need made. A person with alcohol dependency needs to look at their life and find sources that lead to their addiction. Experienced therapists and support groups can help here. They can also help you develop new strategies for dealing with triggers.
If you think you may be dependent on alcohol, please give us a call at (855) 425-4846.
