Signs of Alcohol Withdrawal

​Alcohol is in our culture everywhere. It's used to celebrate, to decompress, to connect socially, and can easily become a daily habit. If you are concerned about your own or someone else's drinking, it is helpful to know the signs of physical dependence and withdrawal, two key words to understand when considering whether alcohol use if problematic. When the body becomes accustomed to having alcohol regularly, it develops dependence on the substance, causing withdrawal symptoms in its absence.

Here are some of those symptoms to look for when regular drinkers quit drinking, ranging from less to more intense.
​

• Tremors and shakiness
• Eating and sleep disturbance
• Anxiety
• Sweats
• Elevated temperature
• Hallucination and agitation, ranging in severity
• Change in pulse rate, racing in severe cases
• Seizures and/or convulsions
• Delirium, disconnection from reality

​These symptoms appear anywhere from 6 to 72 hours after the last drink, and can last up to 1-5 days based on the level of  physical and emotional dependence. Medically supervised detoxification is absolutely required in severe cases, and there are many local facilities in Dallas that facilitate safe withdrawal. Contact us or check out our Commuity Resources page to find support for alcohol detoxification.  

In the book How to Change Your Drinking by Kenneth Anderson, ​he recommends three ways to prevent alcohol withdrawal.
​

1. Don't drink every day. Have at least a few days of abstinence each week.
2. If you are drinking every day, don't drink more than four. Here's a link to learn how to count your drinks.
3. Don't mix alcohol with anti-anxiety medications like Xanax and Klonopin. 

Reaching out for counseling and support when alcohol becomes a problem can be a powerful step in the road to recovery. It is one of the most dangerous substances to stop using because of the profound physical effects on the body.