Removing alcohol from your life can feel daunting, especially when painful withdrawal symptoms kick in, leaving you unsure of how long they’ll last.
Alcohol withdrawal usually lasts between 3 and 7 days. However, the symptoms can start as little as 6 hours after your last drink.
Knowing the signs of alcohol dependence withdrawal, as well as the typical timeline withdrawal follows, can help you identify when you or a loved one is experiencing it. Spotting the signs is crucial to receiving treatment as soon as possible, providing the best chance of recovery.
To help you understand alcohol withdrawal better, we’ll explore the common alcohol withdrawal timeline, as well as what to expect along the way.
Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline: What Does Alcohol Withdrawal Look Like?
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal vary depending on where in the process you are. However, there are a few symptoms that typically appear at specific points during the journey.
While there are common symptoms to look out for, it’s important to note that everyone’s experience of withdrawal is unique to them. If you’re worried about an alcohol addiction in yourself or someone close to you, it’s best to seek medical help straight away.
Mild Symptoms: 6 to 12 Hours
The alcohol withdrawal timeline can start as early as 6 hours after your last drink. Around this stage, symptoms are typically mild, but can have both mental and physical effects on the body.
Early effects of withdrawing from alcohol include headaches, nausea, and sweating. You may also experience mild tremors, typically in the hands, but they can appear in other parts of the body as well. Your mental health can be impacted, too, with feelings of anxiety or difficulty sleeping.
These symptoms can start quite mildly, but as time goes by, it’s common for them to worsen. By hour 12, these early effects of withdrawing from alcohol may feel more intense.
Moderate Symptoms: 12 to 48 Hours
As your brain and nervous system adjust to not having alcohol, more moderate effects of alcohol withdrawal start to show as the hours and days go by.
Around 12 to 48 hours after your last drink, you may experience clammy skin and vomiting. It’s common for your blood pressure and heart rate to increase, spiking your anxiety, leaving you feeling on edge or jumpy. You may notice a low mood or even depression, as well as loss of appetite.
Severe Symptoms: 48 to 72 Hours
By hours 40 to 72, not only are all the signs of withdrawal present, but they’re also at their peak. This stage of the alcohol withdrawal timeline is often the most difficult to overcome.
It’s important to be aware that withdrawal symptoms at this stage can be life-threatening, with some experiencing seizures. You’re also at risk of developing a condition called delirium tremens (DT), which can cause confusion, fever, or hallucinations.
While only 5% of people develop DT during alcohol withdrawal, it’s considered a medical emergency. If you experience a seizure or start to show signs of DT, seek medical attention straight away. Phone 999 or have a friend take you to the hospital.
What Should I Do If I’m Withdrawing From Alcohol?
Alcohol withdrawal is often a difficult process, especially when the symptoms get worse hour by hour. However, there are steps you can take to help manage them yourself.
For the more moderate effects of alcohol withdrawal, such as a headache, you can try a few steps to help alleviate the pain:
- Stay hydrated: Excessive alcohol consumption is extremely dehydrating for the body. To help improve hydration and reduce symptoms such as headaches, try to drink as much water as possible. The NHS recommends around 3 litres a day for the best effects.
- Keep your space calm: Alcohol withdrawal is as much of a mental journey as it is physical, and dealing with withdrawal can be stressful. So, you want your environment to be as calm and soothing as possible, to keep you in the best mindset possible.
- Eat healthy meals: You may lose your appetite during withdrawal, but it’s important to keep eating to give yourself the best chance of recovery. Healthy foods help replace vitamins and minerals to keep you strong throughout the journey.
If you notice any of the severe symptoms discussed above – confusion, hallucinations, seizures – you must see a doctor as soon as you can. While it’s rare, some cases of alcohol withdrawal can be fatal. Medical intervention is the best way to stay safe.
What Should I Do If I’m Withdrawing From an Alcohol Addiction?
Withdrawal from alcohol dependence can feel intense, but you don’t need to do it alone. Alcohol rehab is designed to help you detox from alcohol safely.
With alcohol addiction rehab, you’re able to detox your body of alcohol in a calm, neutral setting, all with the help of trained recovery experts. You’ll have support from start to finish, ensuring a safe withdrawal process.
Once you’ve detoxed, you can continue on your recovery journey with the same team of medical professionals. Alcohol rehab offers comprehensive support to help you regain control of your life, while ensuring your recovery journey is as seamless as possible.
Stonebridge Communities Is Here To Help You Manage Alcohol Withdrawal
Here at Stonebridge Communities, we’re passionate about supporting individuals through addiction recovery, enabling them to live healthy, happy, and fulfilled lives.
We offer dedicated residential alcohol rehab to support you along your own unique journey. With our residential treatment, you receive bespoke care in a calm, neutral space, to allow you to focus on recovery properly.
If you or your loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction, get in touch with us today. You can contact us on 01934 311965 or send an email to info@stonebridge.rehab. We’re ready to help you regain control of your life.
