Alcohol addiction – Withdrawal symptoms and treatments
Drinking alcohol once in a while may be fine, but too much consumption would be a different story, especially if it is done on a daily basis. The sad thing is, there are many people who can’t seem to go a day without having alcohol in their systems. They become unproductive because they can no longer function well and do their everyday tasks. This is just one of the adverse effects of alcohol abuse. But the biggest disadvantage is the health effects.
Alcohol addiction
Just like some forms of drugs and cigarettes, alcohol is very addictive too. It alters the way a person acts and thinks. Aside from that, heavy drinking of alcohol can lead to various ailments such as liver disease, cancer, ulcer, vitamin deficiencies, brain damage, and many more.
A person who drinks heavily everyday needs help. Medical intervention will be involved. The patient will be provided with medications that can help deal with the different alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Another way is to go to a rehabilitation center and undergo alcohol detox. With this, the person will be assisted on how he can cope up with life and how to stay away from alcohol for good.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms
Anyone who has been a heavy drinker will have to fight the withdrawal symptoms once he decides to be rehabilitated. This stage won’t be easy because some withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening too.
A few hours after the last intake of alcohol, a patient may start to feel the different symptoms such as tremors, excessive sweating, irritability, vomiting, abnormal heart rate, and anxiety. The brain won’t be able to function well because alcohol abuse hinders the neurotransmitters from functioning. So, once an individual suddenly stops drinking after months or even years of heavy drinking, his body will have to adapt. This will be the alcohol withdrawal stage.
Treatments
A person who wants to treat his alcohol addiction should have the initiative to do so. The best help that he can have is from himself. Only then will medical intervention becomes useful. With the desire to quit drinking, the patient will have the willingness to follow all the necessary things that he needs to do to make the treatment successful.
There are various treatments available for alcohol abuse. These include detoxification, rehabilitation, therapies, and counseling. Along with medical help, the loved ones of the patient should also express their love and support.
