Your alcohol detox symptoms can be miserable if they aren’t treated properly.
When an individual stops drinking abruptly there are a variety of withdrawal symptoms that can occur and that will range from mild to moderate or even severe. Alcohol detox symptoms, also known as alcohol withdrawal symptoms, include mild symptoms such as nausea and shakiness to severe and even deadly symptoms such as delirium tremens, also known as Dts.
Mild Physical Alcohol Detox Symptoms
On the lower end of the spectrum there are many mild symptoms of alcohol detox that can usually be dealt with without the use of medications. Mild symptoms of alcohol detox are not deadly or dangerous but rather annoying or uncomfortable. In fact, many of the mild symptoms of alcohol detox are the same symptoms that are felt when an individual who doesn’t drink often drinks too much and gets a hangover. Mild physical alcohol detox symptoms include:
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Insomnia, can’t sleep even though exhausted
- Appetite loss, not hungry even though you haven’t ate all day
- Increased heart rate (this can be dangerous when the condition persists to rapidly)
- Dilated pupils
- Clammy, pale colored skin
- Tremors or shaky hands
Severe Symptoms of Alcohol Detox
In addition to the many mild symptoms of alcohol detox that are easily manageable there are also certain symptoms of alcohol detox that are not easily manageable and not so mild. The most severe alcohol detox symptoms are not only difficult to manage, when left untreated they can be deadly! Severe alcohol detox symptoms include:
- Fever
- Increased Heart Rate
- Agitation
- Confusion and Hallucinations
- Delirium Tremens (DTs)
- Convulsions
- Seizures
- Black Outs
The Most Dangerous Symptoms of Alcohol Detox
Of all the severe alcohol detox symptoms, the most dangerous symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include delirium tremens, seizures and increased heart rate. It is primarily these symptoms that make the need for specialized treatment and care at an alcohol detox center so vital during the alcohol detoxification process. Alcohol detox centers employ medical staff and professionals that understand the importance of medical intervention in the event that the most dangerous alcohol detox symptoms should be prevalent.
The absolute, most severe alcohol detox symptom of all is delirium tremens. When an addict goes through delirium tremens they experience extreme confusion and hallucinations that are accompanied by severe autonomic nervous system overactivity. During this phase of alcohol withdrawal, the addict will experience sudden and very severe mental and neurological changes which result in the following alcohol detox symptoms:
- Confusion
- Body Tremors
- Delirium
- Fear
- Hallucinations
- Sensitivity to light, sound and touch
- Rapid Mood Changes
- Seizures