Giving Up Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Filed under Information, Medical
There are both mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms which most of us experience from time to time, and also aspects of the condition that are a great deal more severe. The more severe symptoms tend to affect alcoholics, and are severe enough that professional help should be sought before attempting to give up alcohol.
My personal experience is that of a heavy drinker until I gave up alcohol completely several years ago. Having been through the process of beating the feelings and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal myself, I can attest to the many pitfalls and obstacles that make giving up drinking so difficult.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms and Treatment
The withdrawal symptoms from alcohol are fairly typical and easy to spot.
Here are the signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal:
- Sweating
- Insomnia
- Tremors
- Irritability
- Anxiety and increased heart rate
If alcohol addiction withdrawal symptoms are too much too cope with, then the sufferer will often continuously struggle to give up alcohol, and in the worse case scenario accept hopelessly that giving up drinking is beyond their ability. This is exceptionally dangerous, as the result of continuous drinking will almost always lead to liver disease, or some other equally fatal condition.
I was personally fortunate in that I noticed the symptoms enough to want to try and work through my withdrawal from alcohol. I can remember vividly one particular weekend of binge drinking, when I stumbled home in tears due to intense pain in my liver. It was so painful that I could barely walk, and I made a vow to myself that I was taking things too far. If you are experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, make a vow to do something about it. Don’t just sweep it under the carpet – That kind of attitude will destroy your health.
If you are in the throws of the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol, the best thing that you can do is recognize it as the feelings happen. Remember why you want to quit – Keep hold of that motivation, and use as fuel to keep you sober.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Duration
The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal tend to be the strongest during the first 48-72 hours after drinking has ceased. After that, the biggest issue is dealing with relapse.
The bad news is that the desire for alcohol never subsides. I gave up drinking several years ago now, but I still love the smell and taste of an alcoholic drink. However, the good news is that you can change your attitude to drink to the point that you simply no longer want it. If I try alcohol now, I can only manage a few sips before a powerful aversion in my body starts to take place. When you see drinking from the other side, the negative effects of alcohol really show. My body simply recoils at what is well known as a poison to the system and natural bodily function. Of course, my body behaves the same as it did before I stopped drinking, but back then I would dismiss those feelings as just part of normal drinking activity, and ignore what my body was trying to tell me – just like most other people do.
One of the hardest aspects of dealing with alcohol withdrawal is the social factor. By and large, society considers drinking an encouraging past-time, and almost a passage of rights. If you stop drinking, you must ensure you surround yourself with people who understand the true dangers of drink, and take you seriously. Trying to give up drinking on your own with only your willpower to guide you is a truly monumental task, and I certainly don’t recommend it.
Those in society who live without alcohol, are rarely heard of because there are so few of us in relation to the standard population. Speaking as a member of that elusive part of society, I can reveal to you that giving up drink was the single best decision of my life. Only someone alcohol free can truly understand what it means to wake up every day with boundless energy, and a real vigor for living. Alcohol saps life away from you like nothing I have ever encountered. Trust me, its worth standing firm through those withdrawal symptoms, and you deserve it.
I dissagree strongly with the statement that the “the desire for alcohol never subsides”. I gave up alcohol about 4 years ago and have never looked back. I have no desire to return to my former life spent 6 nights a week in pubs and bars in London after work. I know many other people just like me who also gave up and live great lives without thought fir alcohol. It seems to be brainwashed into people that they will always have an urge to return to drink by the Alcoholics Anonymous group. Whilst they do great work, they think its a lifetime disease for everyone, and this is simply not true. Alcohol abuse in countrys like Britain is a result of an ingrained culture, not becuase of a genetic need for alcohol. Bad habits can be broken, and I am proof of this. Not everyone is predetermined to want drink after giving up the rest of their lives, and I wish the AA and websites like this would stop peddling this lie.
Thanks for the comment. While I agree with your sentiment, you are over inflating the meaning of that statement and taking it out of context. Nowhere in the article does it say that alcoholism is a life long disease which you imply. It isn’t and is completely curable. Giving up alcohol is an individual process.
Also, I am not affiliated with Alcohol Anonymous, however the work they do is valuable and it is clear they are not brainwashing people. Its irresponsible to say otherwise.