What Are Common Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal?

Alcohol is one of America’s most widely available and widely used substances. When it comes to substance abuse, this also makes it easy for people to abuse. Alcohol abuse can easily lead to addiction, and once a person becomes addicted, the safest thing to do is to go into addiction treatment. Over time alcohol use and abuse can seriously affect a person’s health. That is why it is never a good idea to stop drinking alone. 

When a person stops using a substance like alcohol in a sudden way, they will usually go into withdrawal, and the side effects can even be deadly. It can be difficult to watch a loved one deal with alcohol addiction, but watching them try quitting alone can be even worse. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal will help keep your loved one safe and ensure that they get the help they need before it is too late. 

Atlas Healthcare Group has programs equipped to deal with alcohol addiction and the effects of alcohol withdrawal so that your loved one can stay safe during treatment and deal with the underlying cause of their addiction to lead a life of long-term sobriety. 

Atlas Healthcare Group offers addiction and mental health treatment in California. Contact us today to learn more about what we treat and how we can help.

Why is Alcohol Addictive? 

To understand why a person goes into withdrawal from stopping drinking, you first must understand why alcohol is addictive in the first place. 

Alcohol is in the category of drugs known as depressants. This means that it slows down the functions of the body. When alcohol enters the body, it interacts with the brain in such a way that, over time, it starts to change the chemical makeup of the brain to where the brain needs the alcohol to feel normal. This is what we call chemical dependency. From there, the next step is the person becoming fully addicted. 

Besides the physical addiction to alcohol, many people continue to use it because it makes them feel uninhibited, a side effect of drinking. Because people like this feeling so much, they typically keep drinking and even drink excessively, leading to faster and stronger addiction. Once a person is addicted, they want to keep drinking to feel normal and without alcohol, the body starts to react. This is the process of withdrawal. The best way to stop drinking is by coming to an alcohol addiction treatment facility like one of ours at Atlas Recovery Group and getting help through our detox program. 

What Are Some Common Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal? 

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can cover a large range of physical and mental problems. The National Institute of Health compares the short and long-term effects of alcohol withdrawal and how the severity of symptoms can even lead to death if not managed properly. 

Common physical symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, sweating, and shortness of breath. As symptoms progress, the person may experience heart palpitations or irregularities in heartbeat, seizures, loss of consciousness, memory loss, and in the worst cases, organ failure, liver, and kidney disease. 

Mental health symptoms can also manifest themselves. Those going through withdrawal may experience bouts of depression and anxiety. This can culminate in negative thoughts, suicidal tendencies, and self-harm. They may show episodes of emotional outbursts and anger or sadness. 

The longer a person has been using alcohol, the more likely they are to experience severe complications that require medical treatment and supervision. Finding a treatment facility that offers medical supervision is important to ensure your loved one can detox safely. 

Let Atlas Recovery Group Help With Your Alcohol Addiction 

We all want to protect our loved ones and the best way to protect your loved one with alcohol addiction is to get them into a treatment facility before they try to quit drinking on their own. Once a person completes detox, they are much less likely to suffer health complications and this increases the chances of a safe and successful recovery. 

We take all types of people with all levels of alcohol addiction and we are ready to help them overcome withdrawal and move on to a life of sobriety. Don’t let alcohol destroy your loved one any longer, contact us today.