How Healthy Are You?

What to Expect from Alcohol Withdrawal

Once you have prefabricated the decision to stop drinking, your body needs time to adjust to the absence of the alcohol in its system that it has been used to. Lets take a look at what to expect during this time and how to handle some symptoms.

Know that you can quite safely detox in the ‘comfort’ and privacy of your home. If at any time in the process you are worried about any experience or have had a negative experience in the past, please get help from your doctor or even a local alcohol support group. Punishing yourself for your usage with horrible withdrawals will not help you or those around you.

Expect for the first three days to be the worst of the physical symptoms. Many people have experiences of anxiety, being short tempered and restless and many have had flu-like symptoms. See it through. Stick to your decision to quit drinking and in a week to ten days you will see a great improvement.

Alcohol has a high sugar content and it is helpful to replace this for the first few days. Drinking fruit juice is the best way to do this.

Normal sleep patterns are typically disturbed by alcohol. Should you not be healthy to sleep or wake up after only a few hours, don’t worry. This is quite normal and will adjust itself after only few weeks. Try learning some relaxation exercises to cope during this adjustment period.

With the passing of time, you will rediscover interests that you had forsaken to drinking. Take the time to enjoy these when you can. Try to get some exercise as the endorphins will help to make you feel better. Watch TV or read a book if you wish. Set small individual goals for yourself that are obtainable. Remember that what you are going through is hard and take one step at a time. If you want to quit smoking or lose weight, do it at another point further down the road.

Share with loved ones what you are feeling is you are comfortable in doing so. Don’t be frustrated to they seem mistrustful or appear unsupportive. They too are going through many changes, just like you.

Stopping drinking will not solve all the problems that caused you to drink in the first place. Do not start in to the trap of trying to face them all right away. After a while you will be in a better position to place your problems in to the proper appearance and can then begin to talk to someone like a counsellor.

Don’t be a victim to your old habits. Prepare in your mind what you will do if you find yourself in the situation where you are tempted by alcohol to prevent relapse.

It is not cushy giving up alcohol, but by taking things slowly - one day at a time as AA puts it - and being realistic, you will succeed.