|  | Conditions Treatments | Drug Addiction

Alcoholic Detox Symptoms

One of the most addictive substances in our nation is alcohol. Also, because there are less social repercussions with alcohol than other addictive substances, many don't realize they have a problem until it's too late. However, an alcohol addiction can be beaten. The road can be long and the side effects hard, but the result is worth it.

  1. Detox

    • Very few people can quit alcohol "cold turkey" without some sort of detox symptoms. Detoxing is the process of ridding your body of alcohol. Over years of alcohol abuse, your body builds up a dependence on the substance. Very much like breaking a habit, detoxing from alcohol can be a rough process. This is because you are depriving your body of something it thinks is necessary to survive. This can cause your body to go into withdrawal after you cut alcohol from your life. Withdrawal symptoms from detox can vary depending on the person. Detox symptoms can be physical and psychological.

    Anxiety

    • The most common symptom of an alcohol detox is anxiety. This can lead to constant worrying, shakiness, jumpiness, rapid emotional changes with little to no warning, fatigue and an overall sense of irritability. You may also experience startling bad dreams that can make it hard to sleep through the night.

    Depression

    • Depression can be another side effect of an alcohol detox. This can happen for two different reasons. The first reason is chemical: Your body is having a hard time adjusting without alcohol, which can leave your neurotransmitters and hormones out of sync. The other reason you may experience depression during a detox is seeing your life without alcohol. Alcohol can blur over parts of your life and make you forget about different aspects of who you are. This is where the term "alcohol goggles" or "beer glasses" come from. You see everything through a different light while under the influence of alcohol. Once that is gone you see the real picture, which can be disturbing and depressing for many.

    Physical Symptoms

    • The physical symptoms of an alcohol detox can be the hardest to overcome. During detox you may experience any of the following symptoms: headaches, nausea, increased heart rate, loss of appetite, vomiting, hand tremors, involuntary muscle movement, extreme sweating (especially on the forehead and palms of the hands) and insomnia.

    Severe Symptoms

    • When someone has been drinking high quantities of alcohol over a long time (more than 3 years), she may experience some severe and scary detox symptoms. Those with extreme alcohol dependency may go into convulsions, or may have paranoia-induced hallucinations. They may also black out for long periods. When you have been dependent on alcohol for this long, it's not recommended to detox on your own. There are many detox centers and rehabilitation centers that specialize in creating a safe, controlled environment to detox in. Detoxing from even moderate alcohol abuse should be overseen by a medical professional.

Drug Addiction - Related Articles