Alcohol detox – Do not try this alone

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Most addictive substances begin easily enough, but soon become a part of our daily lives. Alcohol is one of the most addictive substances of all and sadly, its abuse is more prevalent among underage drinkers and college students than ever before. When an individual finally does seek help, they find that the detox process and the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol are far more difficult to endure than they anticipated.

Detox from alcohol can be a very traumatic process; individuals are encouraged to seek professional advice and help. This is especially true for long time drinkers that drink large qualities of alcohol. The detox process varies from individual to individual and the symptoms can last up to 8 weeks or more after treatment. Experts do believe there is a definite correlation between the length of detox and the length of time the individual has been drinking.

The easiest way to explain the process of detox is to realize that the same changes that alcohol produces in our brain chemistry to create intoxication reverses itself as an individual goes through detox. When an individual goes through detox from alcohol, those same feelings are now operating in reverse, which can result in incredible negative factors in our systems for some time. Sometimes the feelings and body reactions are so intense; it becomes necessary to administer special detox medicines to the person to alleviate some of the radical withdrawal symptoms.

These alcohol withdrawal symptoms will usually occur in direct correlation to the individual’s alcohol history relating to the amount and the duration of his abuse. Typical withdrawal symptoms may take affect anywhere between six and forty eight hours from the last consumption of alcohol. Some of the typical withdrawal symptoms are:

Emotional Withdrawal Symptoms
*extra nervousness or feelings of jumpiness
*having feelings of shakiness
*Anxiety and fear
*radical mood swings
*bouts of depression
*feelings of fatigue
*clouded ability to think
*bad dreams

Physical Withdrawal Symptoms
*Headaches
*Various types of body sweating
*Feeling nauseated and vomiting
*Lack of appetite
*Insomnia
*Rapid heart rate
*Abnormal eye or facial movements or twitches
*Hand tremors

Extreme withdrawal symptoms
*A state of confusion and/or hallucinations (DT’s)
*Agitation
*Fever
*Convulsions
*Unconsciousness

As you look at the list of physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms, you can understand just how important it is to seek professional help in overcoming this difficult, but beatable challenge.