Alcohol withdrawal symptoms: causes, timeline, duration, prevention, and treatment

Introduction

Conventional wisdom asserts that alcohol withdrawal is a complex and potentially dangerous condition that occurs when individuals abruptly stop or significantly reduce their alcohol consumption after a prolonged period of heavy drinking.

It is a result of the effect that alcohol has on the body and brain and can manifest through a range of distressing symptoms if the right method is not used.

The worry that withdrawal is difficult and unpleasant can create a tremendous fear of stopping drinking for anyone, but for most people withdrawal is not at all unpleasant or as bad as people fear.

This article aims to provide an overview of alcohol withdrawal, including its causes, timeline, duration, preventive measures, and available treatment options.

Important note: if you are an extremely heavy drinker, have experienced delirium tremens or seizures in the past, been hospitalised as a result of alcohol cessation, or are concerned about abrupt cessation then you should discuss it with your GP or Physician before using Allen Carr’s Easyway.

What is alcohol withdrawal?

Alcohol withdrawal refers to the physiological and psychological symptoms experienced by individuals who abruptly cease or reduce their alcohol intake after heavy and prolonged drinking.

Many believe that alcohol withdrawal is difficult and unpleasant, and this belief creates a tremendous fear of stopping drinking for anyone, but for most people withdrawal is not at all unpleasant or as bad as people fear.

The reality is that drinkers go into withdrawal whenever they finish a drink. It is an illusion that there is physical withdrawal pain from the drug itself. We are never badly addicted to the chemical itself.

Causes of alcohol withdrawal

The primary cause of alcohol withdrawal is chronic and heavy alcohol consumption.

The human body adapts to the presence of alcohol by making changes to the central nervous system.

Over time, the brain becomes accustomed to functioning under the influence of alcohol and gets used to its depressant effects maintaining equilibrium.

When alcohol is suddenly removed, the body can struggle to readjust, leading to withdrawal symptoms but read on for more details regarding the severity of the symptoms and the best way to deal with them. Most people don’t suffer any unpleasantness.

Timeline of alcohol withdrawal

Alcohol withdrawal varies according to a individual’s size, overall health, constitution, degree of tolerance, the severity and duration of alcohol abuse, and the presence of any co-occurring medical or psychiatric conditions but alcohol leaves the body at an average rate of one unit per hour.

A unit is a glass of wine, half a pint of beer or a single measure of spirits.

That means that even if you drink very heavily it can’t possibly take more than a couple of days for every trace of alcohol to leave the body.

Most drinkers can go a few days without a drink with no real discomfort – particularly if they know they can have one again soon.

If however they attempt to give up forever using willpower they can get into a terrible state in a matter of hours.

In other words, if they still believe alcohol is a crutch and a pleasure that they must resist for the rest of their lives, it creates an awful tug-of-war in their mind: on the one hand they want to drink, while on the other they know that if they do drink it will destroy them.

We don’t dispute that mental stress can create powerful physical symptoms such as anger and upset, just as a child that has been deprived of its toy will exhibit similar pronounced physical symptoms that in themselves have no real physical cause. The cause is mental: the child is focussing on what it can’t have, to the exclusion of everything else.

Of course if the parent gives in to the child and lets it have its toy, those symptoms will disappear in an instant.

So if the drinker gives in to their craving, the anger and upset starts to subside with the first sip – long before the drug has had time to take effect.

In fact you don’t even have to wait for the first sip: the discomfort starts to subside on the way to the pub! They don’t disappear when the person takes a drink; they disappear when they decide to take a drink.

Think about it – the blind panic the alcoholic feels at last orders cannot possibly be due to physical withdrawal from alcohol, because they’re full of the stuff.

It’s the drinker’s mind that craves alcohol, not their body. The belief that alcohol provides some kind of pleasure or crutch is an illusion.

Are we saying no one ever goes through any discomfort as a result of alcohol withdrawal? No we’re not – if you are an extremely heavy drinker, have experienced delirium tremens or seizures in the past, been hospitalised as a result of alcohol cessation, or are concerned about abrupt cessation then you should discuss it with your GP or Physician before using Allen Carr’s Easyway.

What we are saying is that most of what people mistake for the physical withdrawal is in fact caused by the mind.

It is extremely rare for anyone to actually suffer purely as a result of physical withdrawal of alcohol. We’ve seen thousands of extremely heavy drinkers quit without going through any real pain. Quite the reverse: once people finally get it clear that they’re not making any sacrifice, they’re delighted to be free.

Some people do go through a little discomfort – perhaps becoming a little jittery or having a few sweats for a couple of days. So what? They’ll be the happiest days of your life. You have a horrific disease and you’ll have found the cure.

The agony that you would inflict upon yourself by remaining an alcohol addict would be a million times worse. Imagine you told someone with cancer there was a permanent cure, but they might have the sweats and the shakes for a few days.

If you are an extremely heavy drinker, have experienced Delirium Tremens or seizures in the past, been hospitalised as a result of alcohol cessation, or are concerned about abrupt cessation then you should discuss it with your GP or Physician before using Allen Carr’s Easyway.

The following is a general timeline of the most common alcohol withdrawal symptoms that people expect. It should be noted that they are extremely rare and as long as you prepare with Allen Carr’s Easyway – there should be any unpleasantness at all:

6-12 hours

These may begin to manifest but as above, this is not the case for most people.

• Anxiety – rare
• Insomnia – rare
• Tremors – rare
• Gastrointestinal discomfort – rare
• Vomiting – rare

12-24 hours

For some people symptoms may intensify particularly if they are using the willpower method to stop abruptly including:

• Hallucinations – extremely rare
• Increased heart rate – extremely rare
• increased blood pressure – extremely rare

24-72 hours

In incredibly rare cases some individuals may have the following symptoms occur but see the note below about DTs:
• Delirium tremens (DTs), a severe and potentially life-threatening condition – extremely rare
• Disorientation – extremely rare
• Agitation – extremely rare
• Seizures – extremely rare
• Increased heart rate, blood pressure and breathing problems – extremely rare
• Uncontrollable restless behaviour – extremely rare
• Hallucinations – extremely rare

72+ hours

Symptoms may gradually subside, although the following may persist for some individuals for weeks and months:

• Anxiety – extremely rare
• Depression – extremely rare
• Sleep disturbances – extremely rare

What about delirium tremens (DTs)?

Do you actually know someone who has had the DTs?’ Really? Cris Hay – who helped Allen Carr apply the method to alcohol – worked out that in 5 years at AA he met about 30,000 recovering /ex-alcoholics.

Guess how many mentioned the DTs?

Just ONE!

We’re not saying no one ever goes through the DTs – we’re saying it is very, very rare. If you find yourself in any serious discomfort – just go and see your doctor.

If you are an extremely heavy drinker, have experienced Delirium Tremens or seizures in the past, been hospitalised as a result of alcohol cessation, or are concerned about abrupt cessation then you should discuss it with your GP or Physician before using Allen Carr’s Easyway.

How long does alcohol withdrawal last?

Drinkers go into withdrawal whenever they finish a drink. It is an illusion that there is physical withdrawal pain from the drug itself. We are never badly addicted to the chemical itself.

For most people withdrawal is extremely mild but the duration of alcohol withdrawal can vary widely depending on several factors.

Mild to moderate symptoms typically peak within 24-72 hours and subside within a week. See alcohol withdrawal timeline above for full timeline.

In extremely rare cases some individuals may experience a condition known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), where symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and mood swings can persist for months.

Can you prevent the symptoms?

The good news is that for most people withdrawal is not as bad as people fear.

However, if an individual quits using willpower alone they can get into a terrible state in a matter of hours.

Conventional wisdom suggests the following to help relieve the symptoms:

• Keep hydrated but avoid caffeine
• Eat regularly
• Relax by going for a walk or listening to music
• Speak to family and friends for support

However, the most effective way to prevent alcohol withdrawal symptoms is to get the facts, not the fiction. Trust us, you’ll be pleasantly surprised and quit drinking easily with Allen Carr’s Easyway.

If you are an extremely heavy drinker, have experienced delirium tremens or seizures in the past, been hospitalised as a result of alcohol cessation, or are concerned about abrupt cessation then you should discuss it with your GP or Physician before using Allen Carr’s Easyway.

Can you prevent the symptoms?

There are many different treatments for alcohol withdrawal involving a combination of medication, psychological support, and ongoing care. However, the best method to quit drinking easily is with Allen Carr’s Easyway.

Treatment for alcohol withdrawal

There are many different treatments for alcohol withdrawal such as involving a combination of medication, psychological support, and ongoing care.

However, the best method to quit drinking easily is with Allen Carr’s Easyway.

Final Thoughts

Alcohol withdrawal creates a fear in drinkers that can prevent them even attempting to stop drinking.

However, although for some it is a challenging and potentially dangerous condition, for most people withdrawal is mild and, if you quit with the right method, it become easy – so read more about quitting drinking with Allen Carr’s Easyway.

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