Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Alcoholism is a slow disease, doctors call it a progressive disease because it may take years for someone to turn into a full alcoholic. The unfortunate side of this progression is that getting out of alcoholism is also a slow process. There are no wonder drugs that can stop the problem overnight. In many cases, acceptance by the victim that he or she is in the grip of alcoholism itself takes considerable effort and time.

The nature of alcohol is that it can create physical dependence to anyone who consumes it for a sufficient period of time. Alcohol falls in the category of sedative and hypnotic drugs. These drugs are capable of creating a strong carving after prolonged consumption of the drug. That does not mean that people who are moderate to mild drinkers experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking. Withdrawal symptoms are for those that have been drinking for a long period of time and in continuously increasing quantities. There is no uniqueness in these withdrawal symptoms, different people exhibit different withdrawal symptoms.

Types of Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms appear through psychological and physical problems. These symptoms start appearing from mild to moderate depending on the drinking nature of the alcoholic.

  • Mild then moderate psychological symptoms – Psychological symptoms may vary from sleep disorder to excessive fatigue. Anxiety, nervousness, emotional volatility, problems with judgment and decision making are common complaints experienced by aggressive drinkers.
  • Mild then moderate physical symptoms – Headache, vomiting, loss of appetite, sweating, enlarged or dilated pupils etc. are the common physical withdrawal symptoms.
  • Severe symptoms – Constant black outs, complaints of fever and body ache, living in a state of confusion are the severe withdrawal symptoms.

All these symptoms may appear separately or together depending on the biological and psychological nature of the victim and may vary from person to person.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms treatment

While recent studies and evidences show that everyone who undergo withdrawal symptoms need treatment, in the majority of the cases there is no need for hospitalization. 90 to 95 % of mild to moderate symptoms can be treated on a case to case basis without hospitalization. Since the withdrawal symptoms are physical as well as psychological, many withdrawal symptoms need custom made doses of emotional as well as drug based treatment.

Non-drug detoxification treatments use both social and emotional support techniques to address the symptoms. Techniques like intervention where a group of interested parties approach the patient in a non accusing manner is often used.

Drug based treatments help to reduce the excessive carving for drinking in the patient. They also help to reduce the damage done to brain as well as other internal organs in the body of the patient. The success of many de-addiction treatments depends on how long the patient can abstain from consuming alcohol again to cope with his or her withdrawal symptoms. Self effort on the behalf of an alcoholic is seldom enough to stop alcohol addiction especially in the face of severe withdrawal symptoms. Treatment under a qualified physician along with emotional support by family and friends are most important foot notes of any successful alcohol detoxification treatment.

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