According to a report, about 14 million of Americans are suffering from alcoholism. If you or any one you know is suffering from the effects of abusing alcohol. Being one of the easiest addictions to fall for, alcohol is also the most difficult one to quit. When your body is used to alcohol, going completely without it all of a sudden can be quite alarming psychologically, socially as well as biologically. So, what happens if someone stops drinking all of a sudden? Read on to know more about the DANGERS OF QUIT DRINKING COLD TURKEY.
First of all, to address the psychological effects as well as the biological effects to quit drinking, you can take the help of a therapist or a physician. They can provide you with essential medications, ways out and therapy that can help you to reduce the consumption of the alcohol is a safe way. To help you know more about the potential effects and side effects, we’ve provided all the essential information below.
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF QUITTING ALCOHOL?
Most of the people who are addicted to alcohol and have the alcohol use disorder feel that they must drink it to feel better or normal. In case you or your loved one feels the same way, then don’t worry. This is one of the signs of being dependent on alcohol. This dependence is both physical and mental. Hence, whenever a person tries to quit drinking cold turkey, he/she can start experiencing some physical and mental withdrawal symptoms.
As the body has a great dependency on the alcohol, the symptoms can be quite dangerous at times. These symptoms can depend from one person to another depending on different factors. Consulting with a professional physician or therapist can give you a better idea about it. Here are some of the withdrawal symptoms that people face while quitting alcohol:
ACUTE ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL: Heavy amount of alcohol intake can slow down the central nervous system. When it is drunk for a long time, the mind and body gets adapted to the presence of the alcohol. Even your mind and body gets perfectly accustomed with the slow-functioning of the nervous system. This is a major sign of dependence. When someone is trying to quit drinking cold turkey, he/she may experience:
* Restlessness
* Shakiness and sweating
* Loss of appetite
* Anxiety and nervousness
* Nauseous
* Irritation
* Seizures
* Insomnia and headaches
MILD ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS: The severity of the symptoms can vary from one person to another. While some people can suffer from severe ones, few people may experience mild symptoms. Some of the mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms are:
* Anxiousness
* Cravings for more alcohol
* Fever or chills
* Headaches and vomiting
* Difficulty in falling asleep
While these symptoms are quite unpleasant, they are not that dangerous. Mild withdrawal symptoms can go away faster as the body starts adapting to not having access to alcohol. The process can be difficult and complex for some people. But with the help of the professionals, it is easily treatable.
SEVERE ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS: Sometimes people who are trying to quit drinking cold turkey can face with extreme or severe withdrawal symptoms. Some of these symptoms can be quite dangerous and hurtful for them as well as for the people around them. Some of the serious side effects or dangers that one can face while quitting alcohol are:
* Severe shaking along with tremendous headache
* Sudden rise in the blood pressure
* Tachycardia which leads to escalation of heart rate
Besides these one can face Delirium Tremens (DT) which generally starts 2 to 5 days after quitting alcohol. This can involve a dangerous combination of high blood pressure, confusion, hallucination and convulsions. Even people get hyperactive in certain situations. Having medical history like hepatitis, trauma, infection etc. can increase the risk of the delirium tremens.
Mostly hallucinations can be quite risky for the people as they tend to harm themselves more. They can even face seizures which can be quite unsafe for the health. These are dangerous because the hallucinations and seizures are completely unpredictable in nature. It can be life threatening and hazardous to the person.
DETOX UNDER PROFESSIONAL SUPERVISION
As mentioned above, the withdrawal symptoms can be quite dangerous when it comes to quitting alcohol. It can take a toll on the person’s physical as well as mental health. Hence, it is always recommended to start detoxing under great care and supervision. This is the safest choice that you can opt for. Under supervision, a person who is trying to quit drinking alcohol can perform better. The reason behind being under supervision is that the personal medical staff can take care of the medications and they can prevent the seizures efficiently.
Also, they will be around all the time to monitor the oxygen level and the heart beats. Even they can keep an eye on the signs and symptoms that a person faces. Being dehydrated and lack of nutrition can cause more harm to the people who are fighting against the alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Having a medical assistance all the time ensure that they keep them hydrated and give right food to it throughout the day.
So, if you or any of your loved ones want to quit drinking cold turkey, then it is very important for you to seek medical attention. If the concerned person is a heavy drinker, then situation can be worse and become more dangerous. Seizures and hallucinations can take a toll on the mental health as well. Hence, it is important to seek help from an experienced professional who can help you or your love one to come out of this in the right way.
CONCLUSION:
Deciding to quit drinking cold turkey and actually getting it done successfully is quite different. The road to recovery is not easy, as mentioned above. You can face a lot of difficulties ranging from some common minor withdrawal symptoms to some severe ones. To make it happen successfully without any possible danger or harm to the concern person, taking professional help is the best way to do it. There are many professionals out there who are excellent at this job and they can help you. Just research online and find out the best therapist or medical professional for this.