Whether you’ve been thinking about visiting a drug rehab facility or you’re concerned for your health or someone else’s, it’s worth having as much information as possible. The more you know about alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal, the better position you’re in to make an informed decision.

In the throes of alcoholism, it can be quite tricky to know if you’re suffering from alcohol withdrawals. However, there are plenty of signs, and understanding whether or not they affect you can make a world of difference to which step you take next.

What is Alcohol Withdrawal?

If you drink any alcoholic beverage heavily for weeks, months, or years at a time, your central nervous system adjusts to having it in your body. So, when you stop suddenly or cut back, you can experience both physical and mental problems as a result. These can be at the mild or severe end of the scale, depending on the extent of your problem.

However, if you only drink sporadically, you are unlikely to suffer any withdrawal effects. Your central nervous system isn’t used to having it there, so there are rarely side effects once it’s out of your system.

What Causes Alcohol Withdrawal?

As mentioned above, your central nervous system adjusts to having alcohol in your body. Liquor has a depressive effect, where it changes how your nerves send messages and slows down brain function.

With alcohol in your system, your body is working overtime to keep your brain awake and your nerves communicating. When the alcohol content in your body suddenly changes, the way your body has been operating doesn’t. As a result, you can experience withdrawal symptoms.

Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

If you have entered a drug rehab facility, then the team working with you will most likely walk you through the symptoms you may experience.

Even after six hours of no alcohol, though, you may notice that you feel anxious and have shaky hands, a headache, insomnia, and nausea. You might also be sweating and vomiting. Within a day, depending on the severity of your drinking problem, you can even experience hallucinations and seizures.

In people with severe drinking problems, some rare side symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are delirium tremens (DTs), which come with fever, high blood pressure, a racing heart, confusion, and heavy sweating. While rare, they are worth being aware of while you or a loved one is getting their health back on track.

How to Deal with Alcoholism

Whether you’re suffering from alcoholism or a loved one is, the first step is recognition. Identifying that you (or someone you care deeply for) has a problem can pave the way forward. It’s also paramount to look into drug rehab facility options. Having trained professionals to manage withdrawal symptoms and provide support can be the key to recovery.

If you or someone close to you is in the grips of alcohol addiction, it’s crucial to seek help. The sooner you reach out to an expert, the sooner you can get help and be on the road to recovery. Recovering from alcoholism isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.