Change is scary. Add in the probability that you are probably going to feel extremely ill and not be able to cope with drinking, and that change becomes even more terrifying. Fortunately, it is not impossible. The aftermath leaves you a lifetime of wellbeing.
Knowledge of what is to come can reduce some of the fear of the unknown regarding quitting drinking, so what sort of withdrawal symptoms should you prepare yourself for? When will these signs tend to happen?
What Withdrawal Symptoms Will Happen to Me and When Will They Happen?
There are more mild withdrawal symptoms which tend to occur 6 to 12 hours after your last drink. These include tremors, an unusual degree of sweating, queasiness, and throwing up. High blood pressure, an abnormally rapid heart rate, a high body temperature, and abnormally rapid breathing may also present during 6 to 12 hours following your last drink.
The second phase of withdrawal occurs between 12 hours and a full day after your last alcohol consumption. This stage is called alcohol hallucinosis; however, this symptom does not occur with many people. During this time span misperceptions of reality may occur. These can be of a visual, auditory, and/or tactile nature. Auditory hallucinations tend to present more often than visual or tactile ones.
Following alcohol hallucinosis are alcohol withdrawal seizures. These may occur between 24-48 hours after your last drink. If you experience this phase, you will have generalized tonic-clonic seizures. These seizures are the same as what you may have heard referred to as grand mal. They typically last one to five minutes. During this time, you may defecate or pee on yourself due to an amplified pressure on your bowel and bladder; your legs and arms will twitch and jerk metrically; excess saliva may froth at your mouth area. Due to a change in your respiratory muscles, you will have an altered breathing pattern. After experiencing one of these seizures, you will likely feel tired, confused, and disoriented for several hours or days. You
Lastly, you may have delirium tremens. Delirium tremens tends to occur rapidly and can lead to extreme psychological or neurological alterations. This stage transpires between 48 and 72 hours after you last partake in alcohol, though it may not happen until 10 days following your last drink. Signs you are in this phase are a disconnection from reality, confused thinking, reduced awareness of your environment, and hallucinations. You may also notice you have a higher than usual body temperature, seizures, a rapid onset of extremely high blood pressure that can lead to organ damage, and even comas.
I Need Help to Stop; Where Should I Turn?
Sobriety is enhanced when you have support. Support is needed not only during the withdrawal and detox portion but also for the maintenance of your new lifestyle. Trained professionals are a wonderful asset to add to this team. We have just that at Discovery Place of Burns, Tennessee. We offer an environment that inspires physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing to aid in your journey towards sobriety from alcohol. Get help now! Call us at 1-800-725-0922. Don’t waste another minute.
