subject: How To Treat Alcoholism [print this page] Alcoholism withdrawal refers to a group of symptoms which may appear by abruptly stopping the use of alcohol after persistent or long term consumption.
Not everyone who stops drinking experiences withdrawal symptoms, but most individuals who have been drinking for a long period of time, or drinking frequently, or drink to much when they drink, will go through some form of withdrawal symptoms if they quit drinking abruptly.
It is not possible to predict how someone will respond to quitting. If you plan to stop drinking while you have been drinking for years, or if you drink to much whenever you do drink, or even if you drink modestly but regularly, you need to seek advice from a medical professional before stopping alcohol.
The seriousness of these withdrawal symptoms is usually based on how "chemically dependent" the chronic drinker is. People who drink immensely on a daily basis obviously have developed a high level of dependency, but even people who drink alcohol everyday, but not heavily and people who drink heavily but not everyday, can also be chemically dependent upon alcohol.
When someone who is seeking alcohol abuse withdrawal makes a decision to quit drinking, he will experience some level of physical discomfort. For this reason, it is extremely difficult for him to merely stop drinking "on their own" without having assistance and support.
But with the beginning of withdrawal symptoms, also comes the "craving" for more alcohol. The body is telling the person that it needs a lot more alcohol. When the physical signs of withdrawal begin to increase, having another drink easily becomes less painful than not having one -- or so it seems at the time.
For people who have fully committed themselves to never consume alcohol again, or compelled by circumstances to not gain access to alcohol, the struggle to fight the withdrawal symptoms may become a deadly combat, one that may actually become life-threatening.
For some people, who are less chemically dependent, withdrawal symptoms may be as mild as just having the shakes, or the perspiration -- or perhaps nausea, headache, panic, a fast heart beat, and increased blood pressure. Though these problems are uncomfortable and annoying, they aren't necessarily dangerous. But they are often accompanied by the "craving" for more alcohol, making the decision to continue abstinence a lot more tough to make.
The great news for those who are severely alcohol dependent, and who want to quit drinking is that there is a treatment for alcohol addiction and all of these symptoms can be reduced and even eliminated with correct medical treatment.
