Identify the Signs of Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal is often overlooked. When you have drugs like heroin, prescription opioids, and meth, so within the public scope of attention, alcohol seems like nothing at all. In fact, that’s what most at-home alcoholics believe. They’re not out looking for drugs on the street, many have their bills paid, cars properly maintained, and kids in school with good grades. So what’s it matter if you can’t sleep without a few drinks?
It does matter because early signs of withdrawal are the body’s only way to signal that something deadly is happening internally. Ignoring the early signs of withdrawal and continuing detox alone or continuing to drink can both lead to disastrous results. Know the signs, and if you feel you need professional help for alcohol addiction, seek it out.
Early Signs of Alcohol Withdrawal
If you get especially irritable, maybe midway through your day? Do you feel anxious if you know that your bottle is running low? Irritability, anxiety, and agitation or three of the most common early signs of withdrawal.
However, it’s exceptionally hard for the person suffering from alcoholism to identify these signs. What is more likely to identify is an increased heart rate, a spike in blood pressure, and in some cases, seizures or shakes. Identifying these early signs is key to getting the right kind of help.
When you are just experiencing irritability and high blood pressure, then you can arrange for treatment or start attending meetings right away. However, more moderate to severe signs of withdrawal may demand that you go to a hospital or a center for detox.
Experiencing Insomnia and High-Blood Pressure
Ironically enough, even people that drink to pass out can experience insomnia because of alcohol abuse. If you notice that you have a hard time getting to sleep and staying asleep, it is likely because your body has adjusted to expect alcohol as a sleep aid. But when you use alcohol to fall asleep, your body is unable to maintain its normal balance. It can’t complete the critical tasks it should be working on when you’re sleeping after you drink.
Because of the role that alcohol has in our daily social lives, many people overlook the bodily changes that happen from normal consumption. Even having a drink at night to help unwind can dramatically impact your sleep habits.
Hallucinations, Suicidal Thoughts, and Severe Confusion
When you begin experiencing Delirium Tremens, you’re at the point of alcoholism that is most serious. You cannot detox without risking your life, so it must be done in a controlled detox facility or hospital where medical staff are on hand. So how do you know if you’re having Delirium Tremens or DT?
The most common signs of DT are extreme confusion and hallucinations caused by changes in how the brain processes and monitors blood circulation and your breathing. The reality of what happens is that within your brain, survival mechanisms, including blood circulation and breathing, becomes secondary to the need for alcohol consumption.
How Serious is Alcohol Withdrawal?
There is a lot of debate about informing alcoholics of how dangerous alcohol withdrawal can be, but the truth is that alcohol withdrawal symptoms can lead to death. When a person experiences a seizure wilder experiencing alcohol withdrawal, it’s possible to experience cardiac arrhythmias. Basically, the heart will begin to spasm and fails to pump blood efficiently. It’s a very real situation of alcohol withdrawal leading to one symptom, and that symptom leads to bodily complications, and those bodily complications can become fatal.
Is the act of withdrawal deadly? Possibly. But the truly deadly factor of alcohol withdrawal is the symptoms and the body’s response to those changes.
Get Help When You See the Signs, Call Rehab Carolinas
When you’re at the point that you can notice the signs of alcohol withdrawal, it may seem less like you can quit whenever you please and more like a dependence. It’s vital that anyone who notices these systems contact a local rehabilitation center and arrange for entry into detox. Detoxing from alcohol should not be done alone as it can be deadly. Even if you’re only experiencing an increase in blood pressure, you could be not far off from seizures and more serious withdrawal symptoms.
At Rehab Carolinas, we guide people on how to be the most important piece of their recovery. There is no judgment here; we have seen all types of people come and go. Some are aware of their symptoms and want help. Others are unaware or vaguely aware and want to keep drinking. Call Rehab Carolinas to start your recovery.