Getting sober from alcohol can be a scary thing. Heavy drinkers find it tough to deal with alcohol withdrawal. Some who cannot outlast the detoxification process and overcome withdrawal symptoms often remain as an alcoholic for most of their lives. According to experts, the first thing to do to have a successful recovery is to conquer the withdrawal symptoms.
Knowing what to expect can decrease a person’s anxiety. Learning in advance ways to alleviate the discomforts that an alcohol dependent person may come across will give them the confidence to see it through. Most importantly, ensuring that immediate response and treatment will be available for severe withdrawal symptoms can make them feel safe and secure all throughout the detoxification process.
The Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline
Information regarding alcohol withdrawal timeline makes the alcoholic prepared for the symptoms to be expected. This reduces the anxiety level that one may be experiencing at the moment. The individual may experience a myriad of changes in the body due to the chemical changes that the toxins cause the second they start to abscond the body.
Here are the 3 withdrawal stages and its specific signs and symptoms, as detailed by the American Addiction Centers:
Stage 1
The stage starts approximately 8 hours after the last intake of alcohol. This stage, the following may take like nausea, abdominal pain, insomnia, and anxiety.
Stage 2
About 24 to 72 hours after the last alcohol intake, this stage of alcohol withdrawal begins. The most common signs and symptoms include confusion, irregular heart rate, an increase in body temperature, and high blood pressure.
Stage 3
The stage takes place 72 hours or more after the last drink. It comes with symptoms including fever, seizure, agitation, and hallucinations. Delirium Tremens is a fatal alcohol withdrawal symptom that people undergoing detox must be aware of. Loved ones and medical professionals should always remember that medical intervention is not available for this symptom.
How To Successfully Deal With The Symptoms Of Alcohol Withdrawal
After learning about the stages and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, here are some healthy coping strategies that you can use to overcome discomforts:
Understanding Intense Cravings
To be more aware of the intense craving is the most excellent way to stay away from alcoholism. Know that cravings cannot disappear overnight. So, “Urge drinking” is incorporated as part of your everyday activity until you keep yourself away from the desire voluntarily. The concept aims to teach your system to acknowledge the desire than fight it off prematurely.
Seek Medical Intervention
Although Delirium Tremens have no definite treatment, other symptoms have. For unbearable symptoms such as seizures, you can consult a medical professional to prescribe medications to lessen seizure attacks. High fever, on the other hand, can be relieved by taking antipyretics such as Paracetamol.
Taper Off
Tapering off is the best solution to stay away from alcohol addiction. Lessening the consumption instead of quitting right then and there is more appropriate for heavy drinkers. Abrupt quitting will only make the alcoholic crave for more. Thus, the withdrawal will not be successful and recovery will not take place after all.
To overcome the alcohol dependency’s withdrawal symptoms is just the first step. However, if you are successful in this whole journey, you will surely conquer everything else in the therapy sessions. Alcoholics even recovering alcoholics, can often encounter liver damage from the years of overusing alcohol.
