When detoxing from alcohol, the manifestations can be minor to very severe. These symptoms can last anywhere from a couple of hours up to a couple of weeks. These symptoms should significantly subside within five days to about a week.
Here at Ken Seeley Rehab, you have a great opportunity to help you through your most difficult times. We can help you get through those uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Minor withdrawal symptoms can usually start manifesting within hours of your last drink. More severe withdrawal symptoms usually emerge between 2 to 5 days after your last drink has been consumed.
Alcohol detox is the start of your recovery process and future sobriety. Alcohol withdrawal is caused when the alcohol taken in interacts with receptors in the brain. This interaction defines the baseline level of neural activity. Over time, this interaction decreases the brain’s excitability.
Mild Signs When Detoxing From Alcohol
Mild signs when detoxing alcohol from your body can start hours after your last drink of alcohol. Some of these more mild symptoms are:
- Anxiety
- Inability to get a good night’s sleep
- Heart palpitations
- Abdominal issues
- headaches
Anxiety or Being Anxious
When detoxing alcohol from your body, one of the signs of withdrawal is being anxious. Being anxious is an urgent concern about something. This may be a general concern, or it can be about something in particular.
However, when the anxiety is caused by alcohol withdrawal, it is the body’s reaction to the substance leaving the body. Alcohol generally acts as a depressant. Your body has gotten used to functioning under this state. When you begin detoxing, your body is not used to the alcohol any longer being present. This causes anxiety.
Insomnia
When you are detoxing alcohol from your body, you may experience the inability to get a good night’s sleep. REM sleep is disturbed when drinking alcohol. To have a truly restful sleep, REM is essential. Some natural ways to help you sleep are eliminating caffeine or by walking or any other type of exercise.
Heart Palpitations
When detoxing alcohol you may experience heart palpitations. Heart palpation is an irregular heart rhythm. Consult a physician if this condition is prolonged. A physician can let you know the severity of this symptom.
Abdominal Issues
You may experience abdominal issues when you are detoxing from alcohol. These symptoms may include nausea or vomiting. The reason why this is a common symptom when detoxing from alcohol is that when you drink alcohol, you can become dehydrated. Dehydration irritates the abdominal lining in your stomach. In addition to abdominal issues, dehydration causes dizziness. Staying hydrated is a key element in helping these issues.
Headaches
The most common manifestation of withdrawal when detoxing from alcohol is getting a headache. This is a pounding type of headache that radiates in the frontal area of your head near your temples. These can be exacerbated with lights and sound.
Simple over the counter medication like acetaminophen can help with this headache. Be sure there is no alcohol in your system, though, as this is bad for your liver. Proper hydration by drinking lots of water can also help combat this issue.
Moderate Symptoms While Detoxing From Alcohol
When detoxing alcohol, in addition to the mild symptoms above, there are also many moderate manifestations. Some of these symptoms are:
- Chills
- Sweating
- Rapid heart rate
- Higher blood pressure
- The shakes
- Fast breathing
The Chills
The chills are a moderate manifestation of alcohol detoxing. Your body is unable to regulate its temperature correctly. This may make you feel like you have symptoms of the flu.
Sweating
Sweating is another manifestation of detoxing your body from alcohol. This may also make you feel like you have symptoms of the flu.
Rapid Heart Rate
An increase in your heart rate is another withdrawal symptom when detoxing your body from alcohol. Rapid heart rate is when you feel like your heart is racing and beating very fast. If this symptom is continuous or prolonged, seek medical attention.
High Blood Pressure
An increase in your blood pressure is another symptom of withdrawal when detoxing from alcohol. This can be very serious. If this symptom is prolonged, seek a professional in the medical field as soon as possible.
Getting “The Shakes”
While detoxing from alcohol, another withdrawal symptom you may experience is having the shakes. This can be quite disturbing. This is another symptom where seeking medical attention may be necessary.
Fast Breathing
Fast breathing is another withdrawal symptom when detoxing from alcohol. Along with fast breathing, usually, your breaths are shallow. Shallow and weak breaths may not be getting enough oxygen into your body or bloodstream.
Severe Withdrawal Symptoms While Detoxing From Alcohol
Some severe withdrawal symptoms can occur while detoxing alcohol from your body. Some of these symptoms include:
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Delirium
Confusion
Confusion is a serious side effect of withdrawal symptoms when trying to detox off alcohol. If you have this symptom, seek help right away. This may occur with other symptoms. In addition, you may feel dizzy and feel very anxious.
Seizures
Having seizures is a manifestation of symptoms when trying to detox from alcohol. This is very serious. If you or a loved one is experiencing seizures, medical attention should be sought right away.
Delirium – Seeing and Hearing Things That Do Not Exist
In extreme cases seeing things that do not exist is a symptom when detoxing from alcohol. In the same category, hearing things that no one else hears is another symptom when detoxing from alcohol in extreme cases. If you have any of these symptoms, contact a medical professional right away.
There is a syndrome called Delirium Tremens. Delirium Tremens, also known as DTs, is a neurological episode that can be displayed by patients that have extreme cases of alcoholism. It is noted in patients about 5% of the time. Delirium Tremens symptoms are seizures, shaking, fever, getting aggravated, disorientation, and hearing and seeing things that are not present. Consult a physician and get help immediately, If you or a loved one experiences any of these symptoms.
Searching for the Help Needed to Regain Sobriety
Some questions to ask when searching for a rehabilitation center are:
- What are insurance needs?
- Is the staff licensed?
- Is there a prevention relapse program?
- The costs that occur out of pocket
- What are the copays?
- What exactly is covered? What is not?
There are a few different programs that may meet your needs if you are seeking help to detox from alcohol. The type of program needed is dependent on the level of dependency and the harshness of the addiction. Here are a few of the options you may choose:
- Outpatient Detox
- Monitored by staff in a facility
- An in-depth detox that is managed medically
Outpatient Detox
In this type of setting, you may detox as an outpatient. If your symptoms are not harsh, you may choose this option. This will give you the flexibility of being at home while still seeking treatment in an outpatient setting.
Monitored by Staff in a Facility
This program is a little more of an accelerated plan. This treatment is for someone who needs a little more help than on an outpatient basis. During this detox from alcohol program, you are monitored 24/7 by staff in a detox center. You are usually not in a hospital.
In-Depth Detox that is Managed Medically
An in-depth detox that is managed medically is usually in a hospital setting. You are monitored 24/7 by a medical team. In this setting, you are also under psychiatric care. You may be prescribed medicine to help your body adjust to the withdrawal symptoms.
Before any type of treatment begins, a thorough exam is done. This exam is done to evaluate which program will be the best program option for you. This would include your drinking history, blood work, physical exams, and mental exams. Mental exams are taken just in case you have a dual diagnosis and need to be treated as such. It is customary to have your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing checked as often as possible.
Recovery prevention may be a part of your overall plan. By having a recovery prevention option, this can help in times of weakness and help keep you on your sobriety track. There are a few options to choose from. You may choose private therapy, group counseling, or even a 12 step program to help stay sober and keep your sobriety long term.
Here at the Ken Seely Rehab, your health and sobriety is number one. If you or a loved one is in need of a detox from alcohol program or in need of any type of alcohol or drug treatment, feel free to contact us at 855-425-8094.
References
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/alcohol-detox-programs#1
https://www.alcohol.org/treatment-types/withdrawal-signs/
https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/minimizing-alcohol-withdrawal-symptoms-12517016.html
