Alcohol Withdrawal
People who drink Alcohol
on a regular basis become tolerant to many of the unpleasant effects, and thus
are able to drink more before suffering these effects. Yet even with increased
consumption, many such drinkers don't appear intoxicated. Because they continue
to work and socialize reasonably well, their deteriorating physical condition
may go unrecognized by others until severe damage develops - or until they are
hospitalized for other reasons and suddenly experience alcohol Withdrawal
symptoms.
Psychological addiction
to alcohol may occur with regular use of even relatively moderate daily amounts.
It may also occur in people who consume alcohol only under certain conditions,
such as before and during social occasions. This form of addiction refers to
a craving for alcohol's psychological effects, although not necessarily in amounts
that produce serious intoxication. For psychologically addicted drinkers, the
lack of alcohol tends to make them anxious and, in some cases, panicky.
Physical addiction to alcohol
occurs in consistently heavy drinkers. Since their bodies have adapted to the
presence of alcohol, they suffer alcohol Withdrawal if they
suddenly stop drinking. Alcohol Withdrawal symptoms range from jumpiness,
sleeplessness, sweating, and poor appetite, to tremors (the "shakes"),
convulsions, hallucinations, and sometimes death.
Alcohol Withdrawal
symptoms include but are not limited to:
- Sweating or Rapid Pulse
- Increased Hand Tremor
- Insomnia
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Physical Agitation
- Anxiety
- Transient Visual, Tactile
or Auditory Hallucinations or
- Illusions
- Grand Mal Seizures