When a person who suffers from alcoholism decides to stop drinking abruptly, they will go through a detox or withdrawal period. There are a number of symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal, but the severity of them varies from person to person. Generally, the more the addict drinks, the more frequently they drink, and the longer they have dealt with alcoholism, the more difficult the detox period will be.

Alcohol detox should always be done under medical supervision, such as in a hospital, detox center, or rehab facility. There is no way to know for sure how the individual will react. While lighter drinkers may experience few and mild withdrawal symptoms, detox can be very dangerous and even life-threatening for some people. The craving for alcohol during detox can become overwhelming, tempting the alcoholic to drink again. Being in a treatment center will make the process easier because alcohol is inaccessible. The potential medical dangers of alcohol detox are true even for individuals who drink frequently but don’t consume large amounts of alcohol at a time. One’s body becomes chemically dependent on the alcohol.

The milder symptoms of alcohol detox can include sweating, headaches, insomnia, vomiting, rapid pulse, shaking, lack of appetite, abnormal movements, and clammy skin. More severe symptoms are convulsions, fever, confusion, hallucinations, and even seizures, heart attacks, and strokes. The mental and emotional symptoms that one may experience during alcohol detox are anxiety, depression, mood swings, nervousness, nightmares, fatigue, and clouded thinking.

There is no way to predict which symptoms an individual will experience. All of these things make it difficult to quit drinking cold turkey without the help of a rehab facility. The risk of seizure, convulsions, heart attacks, and hallucinations is very real and should be taken seriously. The most dangerous time during the detox period is six hours to five days after not drinking. Some type of medical or treatment center is the best place for alcohol detox.

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