Alcohol Withdrawal
The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are exceptionally unpleasant, as I’m sure you know. There are physical symptoms and emotional ones. Let’s start with the most extreme to get it out of the way – death.
Yes, if you’re physically dependent on alcohol, then a sudden withdrawal as opposed to a gradual detox can actually kill you or leave you with brain damage, usually via a seizure (a bit like an epileptic fit). Heart palpitations are the milder form of this. But lets hope you’re not quite that bad just yet (if you are drinking over 70 units per week for a woman or 100 for a man, then at least try to cut down gradually, or better than that – see a doctor).
On to the less fatal withdrawal symptoms then, we have hallucinations (usually unpleasant – spiders or snakes are common), the shakes, nausea and vomiting, oh and diarrhoea of course. Particularly unpleasant is waking in the middle of the night soaked in cold sweat, or alternatively, your own piss. It’s not sounding like a party exactly, is it?
Then you might have a splitting headache, often from severe dehydration and dilation of blood vessels. Basically the brain shrinks away from the lining of the skull. Ouch!
Hypoglycaemia, caused by the inability of the liver to metabolize sugar, can then leave you feeling irritable, nervous or aggressive, and weak.
You might end up with a few more emotional effects too, like mood swings, depression or confusion. Basically feeling like the lowest form of life on the planet.
So how can you make alcohol withdrawal easier?
- Electrolyte replacement might help (the sachets you can get for diarrhoea are the best), along with plenty of liquids.
- Complex carbohydrates (like brown rice, wholemeal bread, wholegrain cereals etc.) will help to slowly stabilize your blood sugar levels.
- Eggs contain Cysteine, which can help the liver to metabolize Acetaldehyde (the toxic by-product of alcohol).
- B-vitamin supplements are essential, as they help your nerve cells to recover from the damage you’ve inflicted.
- We all know about the healing powers of caffeine – this constricts the blood vessels and can therefore alleviate the headache.
But to be on the safe side, if you’re drinking most mornings in order to get through your hangover, or you often get the shakes and sweats if you haven’t had a drink for a while, then you really should get some medical support before you consider withdrawing.
Sabine,
Will do. You too. I can’t share or comment on your aches/pains…. I’m earlier in my journey…. but it sounds to me like you’re on the right track….. Be strong!
Hi Matty,
thanks, let me know what how you are doing? I am starting to feel more energetic after taking my medication, headaches are bad but feel overall more in charge of this gig life change..someone else mentiones ‘paws’, post alcohol withdrawal symptoms, apparently symptoms last up tp 2 years, with inmtermittend sleeplessness, haedaches, moodswings etc. Never mind the cravings or impuilse to just have a beer..
With 35 five, you definitely have a a lot more time to get fit and feel good and still be young enough to go for whatever you want.
I just want to enjoy life and be me and feel that I can trust myself not to sabotage my own best efforts or dreams or natural coping mechanisms.
Anyway, ist grand out here, everybody have a good week end,
feel the air and sunshine.
Sabine
Ive started at 12 cider at week ends heavy binges until about 30 now 40 for the past 10 years been having a bottle of red and 4 to 6 cans a night want to stop as starting to get pain over the liver . Have been tacking lots of milk thist and coffe going to try to cut the beers down to 0 then cut down wine god knows what damage I’ve done to my liver to scared to go to docs
You must go to the Doc’s ASAP and sort out a blood test. If you have elevated AST enzymes in the region of 200, you’ll know permanent damage has been done. The results may well scare you, however, it is only through fear, that you will have the strength and will to cut back and give it up. Once you are past a week or two, you will be free of dependemce, however, it is the social aspect of it that is difficult to keep away from. Just keep away from pubs and the like, remove all alcohol from your home. Drink lime and soda, coffee, tea and lots of water. Give up for 6 months and your liver will repair itself as much as it can, although there may be permanent damage. The elevated enzyme level should drop to about 40 or less for normal function. If it does, then you’ll be ok, as long as you keep off the alcohol. It is dependent on how quickly the elevated enzyme level comes down, so if it is still high after 6 months then it would indicate substantial damage. The liver is about 25% bigger than it needs to be and if you are big, you’ll probably have a good sized one, so do something now while you have more than a good chance. Once you have that fear, giving up is easier than you think, because you have a reason to and after a while you realise that you didn’t actually need it. Getting through the first couple of weeks is where you need the support the most, as you’ll feel anxious, vulnerable and scared during this period. My AST level was about 191, which is indicative of chirrosis, it dropped to 127 after giving up for 2 weeks and dropped to 37 after 6 months. I was lucky enough to be able to do something about it, but it was the fear and only the fear that really made me stop. I also had high cholesterol, so had to adjust my diet too and after a while, it was the food that I missed more than the alcohol. I also lost over 2.5 stones and reduced my cholesterol from 6.3 to 4.2 through a low saturated fat diet. Healthy eating is also good for your liver. Get the test done, see what the Doc says and then you can do something about it, otherwise if you continue it may be become too late. The liver is a tough old organ, so I think if you act now, you’ll be ok. Even if you have not had permanent damage, the liver may be in bad shape (fatty liver) and so 6 months off will allow it to regenerate. You just then need keep off the alcohol if you are an alcoholic or drink in moderation if you are not. Good luck.
I have been sober for the last 32 and a half hours. This is the longest I have been sober for at least the last 9 months. I’m 28. During the first day I felt nauseous and really anxious, I also felt numb inside like there was no life in me, I felt invisible and like a walking ghost. Last night was terrible, I suffered from cold sweats all night and I didn’t really sleep at all. I kept waking up becase my mind was racing with anxiety. I have been texting a man from the AA and he told me this was what would happen but it was so horrible. I feel a bit better today but I have still been suffering sweat attacks all say and any mild exertion even walking will bring them on. It’s so embarrassing. I’m at a hotel in anther city for work, so at least my partner doesn’t have to witness this, he has no idea I’ve been drinking all day and night, pretty much for the last 5 years. When I am wild, irrational and have aggressive outbursts he just thinks its because I lost my lovely amazing father two years ago and not because I’m blind drunk. I found this website this morning because I was googling why alcohol withdrawal makes you sweat. I think it’s amazing and it makes me feel better that I’m not alone. No one knows about my problem and when I spoke to the AA man on Sunday morning at 9am, (tearful and already steaming from downing the pint of red wine I had hidden by the side of my bed) that was the first time I had ever said the words “I need help because I am an alchoholic”. The first time I rang as soon as he said hello I hung up, too sacred to face the enormity that I was calling because I needed help. He was so lovely he called me back, and persisted even though I hung up 3 times without answering, when I finally had the courage to respond to him I realised That it was the best thing I’d ever done. He’s been very respectful that I want to stay anonymous and I dont want to go to a meeting. It’s too close to the industry I work in and I don’t want anyone to know I have this problem. We spoke for about an hour and have been texting each other for support daily since. I would like to join your community please? I’ve just had a really strong urge to drink so I ran back to my hotel and had a dioralyte instead. I read on here that this has helped some of you. I avoided the networking drinks today – after lasts nights misery ita not worth going through it again for the sake of a glass of wine. I can feel the toxins slowly leaking out of my pores and the dioralyte did help to stem the urge. I also found a stray cigarette in my bag which helped, but I really don’t want to go back to smoking again so I am going to avoid buying more and just use my will power. I hope I can help to support people on here too by sharing. I am going to be strong tonight. I know I can do it because I did it last night, even ordering water instead of alchohol at the hotel with my evening meal. It’s really tough tho and I knew when I felt that urge I should come and talk to you all on here. Wish me luck with this evening, the AA man said, hour by hour, day by day. So true. Thanks for listening
I came across this website as I googled alcohol withdrawal symptoms…..I wen into AA in 2009 and after 3 to 4 years and a broken marriage got sober for 3.5 years, and I excelled, I loved life and qualified as a yoga teacher, i cant explain why, but on vacation in Cape Town in March I picked up a vodka soda, tasted like poison but right from the go ive been hooked again, im drinking a btle of vodka a day and last week i stopped for 5 days and went back to meetings ,,,my sponsor from AA doesnt know i relapsed…..but what terrify s me are the DT.s all of last week i was vomiting, my skin felt on fire, i broke out in sweats constantly and had zero sleep….it got so bad the only option was to drink again….ive experienced sobriety and the amazing change it makes to your life, but as i have been drinking heavily this week im scared if i stop that the DTs will actually kill me….its such a vicious cycle, i guess im writing this as id like to know that im not alone in this…
I wasn’t strong enough yet so I’ve given in and bought 10 fags, but at least I’m still sober! One step at a time eh?
Still dry, cleared out my wardrobe of all my empties today from last week. 15 bottles of wine 2 litres of gin 2 litres of dark rum and two beers. I feel disgusted and even more motivated
Good for you someone, you will find that while you are not drinking you will regain a ton of energy, this is a great site, please post back daily and let us know how you are doing.
Lenny
Lenny, nice to see a friendly face as it were, how are you?
Hi someone somewhere, my advice if you want it and to others out there struggling with alcohol addiction, is to see a doctor that specializes in alcohol related illness. There are some wonderful anticraving medications that can help you to remain sober, and you will be put on a mental health plan that will also give you access to 10 free sessions with a psychologist to help you with emotional issues. (In Australia)
You don’t have to live on willpower and AA though they are choices. You could also combine the lot if thats the way you want to go.
Don’t be ashamed, it’s a wasted emotion that will keep you trapped in the misery of alcohol abuse. Let that go and know that you have a dependency disorder and it can be treated. Good luck.
Im sacred to start the sweats aren’t the worst for me; i haven’t slept well in years. I’m only 23 but I’ve been an alcoholic for years; it’s on and off for me-a week or two sober then a binge week. Now I’m so dreading withdrawal I have just been coasting at tolerably miserable. I fall asleep for a little then wake to intense anxiety. The anxiety is so terrible I feel my heart may stop; it is as if there is a heavy weight on my chest and my heart is struggling to push it up enough to keep my blood flowing and then it sinks so deeply in my chest I feel it may not make it up again. Help.
Hey Someone Somewhere,
you are not alone, I have been fighting for the last couple of weeks… last drink was on 20th march.
Do take a a strong multivitamin containing a high level of B complex, also 1000mg vitamin C, fish oil, milk thistle, probiotics, dandelion tea, white tea. Sounds like a crazy mix but it really helps.
Sean, Ramona, Rebecca, Jax, Steve, Lenny,
Heeeeeeelp, things have fallen apart quite badly, would love to hear from you see how you are going. AA fell apart for me quite badly, rest of world not far behind. Hope you are all doing well.
I have gone back on some of the comments and left the odd message.
Take care
Dolly – now back on day 2, complete with sweats, violent mood swings, palpatations and still being refused medical care.
My word, this site sure has gone quiet. Starting to feel like I am the only one out here struggling.
Day 3 begins, mood swings? hopefully will start to settle today as am either streaming tears or raging. Sweats hanging in there. General feeling of lousy? yep and getting tired easily.
Liver area still stiff, will invest in some of the Liv.52 later and see if that helps.
Hopefully someone will see this and sign on
Dolly
Join our forum on this site if you want a more active network of people to talk to.
Thanks Tobin, obviously no help for me here. Wont bother you again.
stay strong, i have just been looking up websites to help me. last time i drank was lastnight and today i cant stop thinkin about it especially since my step dad has a bunch of alcohol in the cabinet downstairs and people are drinking around me. i drink every day and now im trying to taper back ugh its hard
Yes there is help for you here – a busy forum with over 5000 members on this website. This is just the blog section, the commenters here aren’t such regular visitors.
Hi Dolly and others,
I have been out of the country for a while, I am so sorry to hear of ya’lls misery and struggle, but, you are alive and doing it! What is the saying? no pain no gain…haha is some truth in it.
I agree with getting specialist support or advise, get involved and learn more how your body and brain works, get it explained, get a clear picture of all the processes of what is happening, and has been happening over time.
means you can understand and get active in its recovery, physically and mentally, on different levels, choose where it is easiest to begin with in yor opinion and to suit your life.
Do spend time on yourself and on the habit you have spent time developing, makes sense.
There are also like most of you know, good support substances, vitamins, pro-biotics, anti craving meds, minerals, detox stuff. My body has recovered remarkably now, including the earlier mentioned fat occurance of Candida albicans, the yeast growth thriving on sugar, alcohol and carbs
, using the nystan antifungal has made me feel incredibly rejuvenated and in control!
I lost my job, got made redundant, not thru drinking, a job that made me drink to relax because it was so full on and relentless in its responsibilities. I am now looking at it in a positive way, I can use my unemployment and burn out recovery as a stay focussed and change my life and bad habits time..you know, the habits that I formed to cope with all the pressure of leading a good, productive, society approved life..lonely crap fitting in and fulfilling expectations..anyhow, I have been sober now for 14 weeks, including during my stay abroad. Never ever done that for 25 years. I am amazed.
I am however now noticing a smugness, I am thinking about whether I can have a little drink again.
Can anybody tell me of their experiences at the 3 month mark?
Please, I don’t want to loose the plot for the wrong reasons.
Thanks and keep going everybody as good as you can.
PS
yesterday there was this film ‘crazy heart’ on film 4, with Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhall and even C.Farell, very low key off beat with a good a take on alcohol recovery process, Gyllenhall is very good by herself in another ‘junkie’ drama
Dolly, I have thought of you often. Am so sorry things fell apart for you. You know things will get better again – life is a roller coaster. I’m doing well – you were and still are one of my biggest inspirations. It is so hard to remember how easy it is to fall back into our old patterns.
I haven’t gone on here much lately, so didn’t see your post until today.
Hang in there – will post more later.
Luck & love
Ramona
Ramona,
Get my email off tobin, it would help me heaps to I cant believe how difficult things have got. Hope you are well and had an excellent Christmas with your family this year.
Dolly xox
Hi all im a 31 yr old mum of 3 , ive been drinkin bout 8 pint cans of cider a day an brandy at weekends , my lasz drink was gulp of wine tues eve so im nrly 48 hours in , shud i go to tge docs ? I worried social services will be informed but at same time i orried it be dangererous
To just stop ? I feel anxious and my heart racin but i feel positive and want to stop for kids,sake ans my health and weight ballooned im not happy and have drank out of low self
Esteem and lonelyness (im a single mum ) pld any advice i really appreciate x x x
hi i too am a single mum and have battled the drink… i did go docters and found them great.. and was sent for counselling at a local alcohol support in my area… it worked wonders and i ended up sorting out alot of issues.. like you i was a busy mum.. lonley at night..the first few days were a litle rough and i was drinking 20 units a night..if you have got past 48 hours for me it got better… this site is great if you use the active forums esp in the evenings too keep your hands busy! dont be scared to get help… but if you really dont trust docters etc use this forum… i now have cut right back and rarly drink…have a job kids are happy if i had carried on drinking god knows were i would have ended up… you have done the hard part posting on here..
HI
HOPEFULLY THEIRS SOMEONE THAT can give me some advice ive given up 5 days but relapsed yest im feeling really bad want a drink so badly im sweating anxious am on waiting list for detox but really dont think i will be able to wait the 6 weeks and the headaces so sore that im finding it hard to think
Drink that water girl,
drink that blasted water, make it a point to have x8 250ml glasses, even if it is mixed with what ever floats your boat, but not alcohol!!!then you have some fruit juice, again, whatever,
Sorry, comments not sticking,
hi guys, i found this site last november, i have made a good few slip ups since the start of the year, same problem, im sober 3 days now and just getting over another 3 day bender. i go off it 3-4 weeks and think illbe ok having a few drinks and seem to forget i have a serious alcohol problem. i will try again, going back to AA THIS WEEK AND MUST STAY going to meetings which is what i didnt do. i think they were very helpful but i stopped going thinking i would be fine. I am a binge drinker, I end going out for days missing work, violently sick, depressed. please god I want to beat it for ever, NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES. Tony 38
Me to