Alcohol withdrawal may seem less significant when compared to other substances like benzodiazepines (benzos) and opioids because of how they’re represented in the media. However, withdrawal from alcohol is a very real issue and causes just as much devastation to the lives of many people across the country. Tapering off any drug will create a certain amount of strain on your body, but facing those side effects is better for you rather than relying on those harmful substances.
Be reassured because even a short alcohol cleanse can create a positive difference in their physical health. If you are worried about alcohol’s physical affects to your health and the side effects you might experience, it might be time to seek professional help. Expert clinicians are there for you to closely monitor your alcohol withdrawal. They will help you know more about what happens 5 days after quitting, a week after quitting, and even a month after quitting alcohol.
If you are searching for rehab around the Nashville area, professional intervention is the best way to learn how to avoid alcohol withdrawal complications. Many rehabs in Tennessee provides the necessary medical oversight to manage the potentially severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal safely. Support available at Apex Addiction Recovery in our rehabs by the Knoxville area and other luxury centers for residents of Nashville. We make it so you don’t have to face starting and walking along the road to recovery alone.
There are different timelines and risks for everyone, there is no one-size-fits-all, but the first true step toward a successful recovery is seeking help. Read the information below to learn a little bit more about withdrawal. Have a talk with our admissions team about what exactly alcohol withdrawal is today. Our team answers questions like, how alcohol affects family members, what are alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and how long is the withdrawal timeline, making them understandable while offering tips about avoiding alcohol withdrawal. Let us help you see why an alcohol detox program would be beneficial for your long term recovery goals.
What Is Withdrawal?
Withdrawal starts any recovery process. Dealing with withdrawal will be difficult no matter what substance a person has become dependent upon. The facts are that you’ll experience some form of bodily or psychological discomfort when stopping your use. Unfortunately, alcohol withdrawal can actually be a bit more severe than most other drugs. It may be surprising, but alcohol is one of the few substances that can cause death like some opioids do. So, seeking out and accepting help from a professional in an alcohol withdrawal facility can help you by creating a plan to taper off their alcohol use safely.
The Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline
Alcohol withdrawal typically has three stages that can vary in levels, usually coming with a wide range of alcohol withdrawal symptoms:
Stage 1: Minor Withdrawal
Minor withdrawal symptoms aren’t life threatening but can be quite uncomfortable. They may start to appear just six to 12 hours after an alcoholic starts their abstinence from drinking.
You may experience any of the following symptoms:
- sweating
- shaky hands
- mild anxiety
- nausea
- insomnia
- panic
- twitching
- headaches
Stage 2: Mid-level Withdrawal
Mid-level withdrawal symptoms can be a more intense experience. Usually they will set in around 12 to 48 hours after the last drink.
These can manifest as more intense versions of the symptoms listed under minor withdrawal, but can develop into more concerning ones like visual and auditory hallucinations. The hallucinations can still be recognized as foreign or not real but can be upsetting for an individual to deal with.
Other symptoms may include:
- an irregular heartbeat
- elevated pulse
- possible seizures
Stage 3: Major Withdrawal
Setting in 48 to 72 hours after a person stops drinking, significant withdrawal symptoms will peak in around five days.
These can include:
- hallucinations indistinguishable from reality
- withdrawal seizures
- an irregular heart rate or racing heartbeat
- profusely sweating
- fever
- high spikes to their blood pressure
- rapid breathing
- easy agitation
- intense tremors
- death
As you can see, major withdrawal is the one where the real danger lies. Minor and mid-level withdrawal can still be dangerous if the person already has high blood pressure or a bad heart. The reality of alcohol withdrawal is that the longer a person has abused alcohol, the more severe their alcohol withdrawal symptoms will be.
What Actually Causes Alcohol Withdrawal?
On the surface, the cause of alcohol withdrawal obvious: a person who was abusing alcohol stops drinking, and then alcohol withdrawal symptoms set in. But what actually occurs in the body? The dopamine levels in the brain become elevated while drinking, which is why many people experience pleasant feelings. People like consuming alcohol because it can elevate a person’s mood, low their inhibitions, and increase self-confidence. The reason why alcohol can slip into a dependence is that once alcohol leaves the bloodstream, the dopamine levels and feelings that come along with it will dissipate.
When this behavior is repeated by the constant consumption of alcohol, the repeated altering of dopamine levels in the brain will cause it to expect alcohol to be present, and will discontinue its normal production without the presence of alcohol. This is how a person builds a tolerance to alcohol. The more they drink, the more tolerant to alcohol their body becomes, and the more dependent their brain will be on its interference. That dependence is the reason for withdrawal. When dependent, a person can suffer withdrawal symptoms as the effects of alcohol wear off, with symptoms that can range from mild to quite severe depending on how far their dependence has gone.
How To Avoid Alcohol Withdrawal
Obviously, the easiest way to avoid alcohol withdrawal is to never drink at all, but if you do plan to consume alcohol, is it always best enjoyed, and safest, in moderation. Alcohol withdrawal will occur when your brain has been affected by alcohol over a long period of time. Here are some other things to keep in mind:
1. Have Less Than Two Drinks Per Day
One way to avoid withdrawal is to not exceed two drinks per day if you drink every day. This should limit the level of affect alcohol has on your brain. However, while you can generally consume low amounts of alcohol daily and avoid withdrawal, drinking every day isn’t good for your overall health.
2. Mix In Abstinence Days
If you can avoid drinking every day, you should. Another way to avoid alcohol withdrawal is to mix in abstinence days each week, and it’s best if you can take several days off from drinking at a time. Even if you drink too much on some days, as long as you mix in some detox days in between, you should be able to avoid or minimize any withdrawal symptoms.
If you can manage to have several abstinence days each week it will give your neurotransmitter systems the chance to return back to their normal levels. This is because it takes a few days off each week for the alcohol to get completely out of your system.
3. Don’t Mix Alcohol With Benzos and Opioids
Benzos like Valium and Klonopin and alcohol have similar effects on the GABA neurotransmitter system. If you were to mix the two, it would first increase the chances that a person can overdose on benzos, but also compound the withdrawal symptoms from each, making the process much worse when the person stops using one or both.
Who Is Most Likely To Have Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?
Alcohol withdrawal is a largely individual process that will depend on a lot of factors. These include a person’s body composition and genetics, their history with alcohol, length of alcohol abuse, and the amount of alcohol consumed.
Those who drink during the day for over a month, or get drunk every night for a month or more are highly likely to have severe withdrawal symptoms. Individuals with a history of alcohol abuse, or have dealt with alcohol withdrawal symptoms in the past, will be highly likely to re-encounter them, most likely in a more intense form. Those who drink in moderation or just get drunk every once in a while are unlikely to see any alcohol withdrawal symptoms. But those who abuse alcohol for a month or more can expect to experience both physical and mental health issues if they stop drinking.
The Need For Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment
Few people with an alcohol addiction can successfully detox on their own. In fact, you should not attempt to withdrawal by yourself. In certain instances, it could even be life-threatening. To really make a difference in your drinking habits, enter yourself into an alcohol treatment center. In a professional program you can safely taper off of your alcohol dependence with medical advice and sometimes even prescription medications to ease symptoms. Rehab programs teach you the side effects of alcohol withdrawal, like alcohol’s effects on blood pressure, so you can have safe alcohol cleanse and lasting recovery.
At Apex Recovery, you will learn the motivating factors for long-term change. We help you develop the necessary skills to maintain recovery and include your loved ones in your recovery. Each plan suits our patients’ unique needs because recovery is not a “one size fits all.” For those seeking a specialized environment, our luxury Nashville rehab offers a serene space to manage the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. There are also dedicated rehab centers for mothers to support maternal health while learning how to avoid alcohol withdrawal complications with expert clinical guidance.
Our admissions coordinators will support you and give you advice as you seek recovery. They can help you decide if a Christian recovery program or require age-specific care from rehab for seniors would be right for you. Sometimes you may feel wary about entering a longer program, and that’s why there are options for a short 30 day rehab. A low stress entry into your recovery period. Whatever you need, we are here to help you navigate what happens 5 days after quitting alcohol and beyond. Our team will make sure you understand the factors affecting your rehab cost. We want you to feel like recovery is possible.
Don’t wait for a crisis to seek a healthier future for yourself or your family. Call Apex Recovery today at (877) 881-2689 to begin your personalized journey toward lasting wellness.
