Alcohol Detox Withdrawal Symptoms

Detox is an essential part of any alcohol rehab program.   Completing an alcohol detox program means that the individual has overcome her physical addiction to alcohol - and is ready to move forward with counseling and rest of treatment.  However, there is a temporary price to pay for getting through alcohol detox:  withdrawal symptoms.    Withdrawal is something that affects every recovering addict in one form or another.   Enduring withdrawal symptoms is a "badge of honor" for those who have stood up and achieved sobriety in their life.

What are Withdrawal Symptoms?

When an individual stops drinking, their body will need adjust to life without alcohol.   Simply put, alcohol tricks the human body into thinking it does not need to produce any pleasurable sensations on its own.   Take away the alcohol, and you are left with only discomfort as the body takes time to reacclimate itself.

The upside, of course, is that detox is the means by which the body cleanses itself of the harmful toxins found in alcohol.   This process helps strengthen an individual's composition so that they are better able to carry on with the remainder of treatment.

What are the Most Common Alcohol Detoxification Withdrawal Symptoms?

Although everyone's experience is different, there are a number of withdrawal symptoms that can be found with most recovering alcoholics going through detox.   These symptoms include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Sweats
• Chills
• Fever
• Sleepless
• Restlessness
• Strong alcohol cravings
• Relapse into alcohol use

None of these symptoms are, in and of themselves, life threatening.  However, the discomfort individuals experience can be strong - which in turn may lead to relapse into alcohol abuse.

It should also be noted that in extreme cases, the individual may experience a depression so strong that it produces suicidal thoughts.  Obviously, in this instance, individuals need to enter into an alcohol treatment program immediately.

How long do Alcoholism Detox Withdrawal Symptoms Last?

The duration of an individual's alcohol detox withdrawal symptoms depends upon a number of factors, including: the length of the individual's addiction, how much they drank each day, as well as the individual's personal makeup.    Given these factors, the average withdrawal symptoms have their onset 48-72 hours after the individual has taken her last drink of alcohol, and can last anywhere from a few days to two weeks.   In the middle of this time period, the withdrawal symptoms will be at their strongest (and indeed, this is when the individual is at the greatest risk for relapse) and will begin to subside soon thereafter.

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