He is also the author of numerous books from major New York publishers. They can be found on the shelves of 1000s of libraries worldwide. He brings more than 15 years of experience writing remotely and has decades of health-related publications to his credit. Now a digital nomad, he’s currently a medical journalist and copywriter for hire. Alcohol withdrawal is a set of symptoms that may unfold when someone who has become dependent on alcohol suddenly stops Substance abuse or drastically reduces their intake.
What causes alcohol withdrawal?
Treatment is highly individualized based on symptom presentation and the length alcohol withdrawal of someone’s alcohol use. Here are a few ways that people can care for withdrawal symptoms. AWD requires immediate medical attention; the condition is fatal for the estimated one in 20 people who develop it. While DT is less common, its high mortality rate makes emergency care paramount.
The Role of Advanced Addiction Center in Supporting Individuals Through Detoxification and Recovery Process
You’ll likely experience feeling “on edge,” accompanied by mood swings and irritability as your body responds to the sudden cessation of alcohol intake. Research shows this affects different populations notably, with 64% of White and 43% of Mexican-American men reporting anxiety during withdrawal. Less than 5% of the general population experiences withdrawal symptoms. Since alcohol has a depressive effect on brain function, stopping it suddenly can lead to an https://www.windfallholdings.net/alcohol-use-disorder-what-it-is-risks-treatment/ overactive nervous system. These symptoms may continue for several weeks after quitting alcohol, with the most intense period occurring in the first few days. Alcohol withdrawal is caused by the abrupt cessation or significant reduction of alcohol intake in individuals with alcohol dependence, leading to a neurotransmitter imbalance in the brain.
- Medical supervision is recommended during withdrawal to monitor these and other potentially serious symptoms.
- Liver and cardiovascular health improve, while blood pressure, insulin resistance, and body weight often show positive changes.
- With proper medical support, you can join them in reaching safer shores.
- In severe cases, withdrawal provokes dangerous complications, including seizures and DTs (delirium tremens), a condition that can be fatal and demands immediate medical attention.
- Only about 1%-1.5% of people with alcohol withdrawal will have DTs.
I’m already depressed and anxious. Will alcohol detox make my mental health worse?
When you’ve been drinking heavily, alcohol changes how your brain and body function. These aren’t character flaws or willpower problems—they’re physiological adaptations that require careful medical management. Symptom-triggered approaches, guided by clinical assessments like CIWA scales, mean you receive exactly what your body needs when it needs it (Reoux & Oreskovich, 2006).
