Alcohol abuse is a serious problem across the United States. Thousands will turn to a bottle to find an escape from their lives. Once alcohol abuse becomes an addiction, it can be a major challenge to quit. That beer, glass of wine, or shot isn’t social anymore. It isn’t a choice. It’s a necessity. Without it, a victim of alcohol addiction can’t make it through the day. When the source of addiction is cut off, withdrawal hits. As with all other drugs, this is a phase that can’t be avoided for anyone struggling with addiction. Know the top withdrawal symptoms listed below in order to get help.
Stage 1 Begins within 8 Hours After Alcohol is Cut Off
For the victim of alcohol addiction, withdrawal symptoms can be exhibited in a short window of time. In only eight hours after the last drink, the following may occur:
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
- High levels of anxiety
- The inability too sleep
Feeling this discomfort makes it all too easy to get another drink to make the syptmos of withdrawal go away.
Stage 2 Sets in Between 24 Hours and 3 Days After Drinking Has Ceased
If a victim of alcohol addiction does not have a drink, the following can take place within 24 hours:
- Disorientation
- A racing heartbeat and palpitations
- An increase in blood pressure
- Fever
The victim of alcohol addiction feels increasingly ill at this point. Going without a drink is extremely difficult.
Stage 3 is the Most Serious Phase of Withdrawal After 72 Hours
In stage three, the victim of alcohol addiction faces extreme symptoms, including:
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Extreme agitation
- High fever
Due to the severity of symptoms of withdrawal, it is not safe to fight alcohol addiction alone. Rehab treatment is advised to deal with detox and begin the recovery process.
How Can Rehab Help?
The victim of alcohol addiction will have to endure detox regardless of whether it is achieved alone or with the support of addiction recovery specialists. However, it is much safer to stop alcohol use under the supervision of medical staff members who can treat symptoms of withdrawal. Close monitoring will take place throughout the entire treatment process to help a victim of alcohol addiction to find the way to a future of sobriety.
What Takes Place in Rehabilitation?
Rehabilitation is a process. It begins with understanding that alcohol use has gone out of control. If it isn’t possible to get through a day or a few hours without a drink, alcohol is a serious problem. Entering an addiction rehabilitation facility is a choice to take a step in a positive direction. It means recognizing that this is a problem that needs to be solved with the assistance of professionals. A personal evaluation will ensure that a treatment plan is customized for the patient. During treatment, alcohol use will not be allowed. It will mean enduring withdrawal with the understanding that this is necessary in order to recover. Staff members will provide round the clock supervision to ensure that all needs are met in order to keep the patient safe. Once withdrawal is over, it will be possible to concentrate on achieving wellness.
Sobriety is Possible with Help from Recovery Specialists in Rehab
With a strong support system, the proper environment, time, and no alcohol use, it will be possible to begin a sober life. Rehab allows people who are struggling with alcohol addiction to feel like they are in control once again. Before treatment, alcohol took over, pushing everything else out of the way. There was no room for loved ones, colleagues, work, and relationships. Getting the next drink overshadowed everything else. With the right alcohol treatment program, a new life is possible. In order to truly begin living again, to take back one’s health, and have control, alcohol addiction needs to end. A rehabilitation program will give an individual struggling with any type of substance abuse, including alcohol, a chance to begin a new chapter in life.