Is a Hangover Alcohol Withdrawal: All You Need to Know

Being brave and fearless is not all about daring adventures all the time. Sometimes the most courageous thing one can do is take the first step to recover from an alcohol addiction. Today, we are talking about alcohol dependence. Taking the first step is like winning half the battle. The other half of the fight is where you are tested physically, mentally and emotionally while on the road to recovery.

According to studies, a person is classified as a heavy drinker if:

• Your assigned gender at birth is female, and you drink over seven drinks per week or more than three drinks per occasion. 

• Your assigned gender at birth is male, and you drink over 14 drinks per week or more than four drinks per occasion.

• You are 65 years or older and drink over seven drinks per week or more than three drinks per sitting.

Years of alcohol use can cause one's body to be heavily dependent on alcohol leading to Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). AUD is not a choice,  it is a treatable disease. When the body is so heavily dependent on alcohol, suddenly stopping can cause Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS). 

What are the symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome?

Withdrawal is more common with chronic and heavy drinkers. When a person consumes alcohol at a concerning rate, the body becomes used to alcohol in the brain. Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome can be challenging to manage and in a few severe cases, can become fatal too. These symptoms show up in a person anywhere between six hours to a few days after stopping alcohol consumption. 

Here are some symptoms that you should look out for: 

1. Loss of appetite and nausea: Alcohol can be a powerful addiction. Ethanol present in the alcohol seeps between brain cells, affects several neurological pathways and causes significant changes in the brain.. Some of the neurological pathways that are affected by alcohol consumption include the dopaminergic, serotoninergic, γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) and glutamate. These changes cause you to feel joyous and lightheaded but also lower your reaction time significantly. In addition, due to heavy dependence on the chemicals in alcohol, some people show aversion towards food substances or nausea and vomiting after consumption of food. It can also lead to dehydration and loss of electrolytes from the body. Hence, it is essential to keep the body hydrated at this stage. Sometimes it may be required to give the nutrients and hydration through intravenous drips.
   

2. Tremors: Due to heavy alcohol use, the body physically retaliates when the need for alcohol is unmet for a long time. This can cause shakes in the body, leading to high pulse rate or heart palpitations. These tremors cease once the body has completely detoxified. In some cases, one might need to take medication to stop tremors. 

3. Mood changes: Alcohol acts like a depressant to the brain. It can cause sedative effects on the body. The absence of the chemicals that cause the so-called “feeling of lightness and joy” can cause extreme irritability and mood swings. One way to tackle this is to surround yourself with people who support you through your journey. If that is not possible, seek the help of a therapist to work through your mood swings. Therapy can help you unravel the extreme emotions that might arise during withdrawals. 

4. Delirium tremens (DT): Delirium tremens is an extreme withdrawal symptom. Due to chemical dependence, the brain cannot quickly rebalance the chemistry when alcohol use suddenly stops. It results in temporary confusion, and your brain's ability to control your breathing and blood flow is dangerously altered. It can cause more symptoms like shaking, high blood pressure, fevers, and hallucinations. It can be fatal in extreme cases. In such cases, it is crucial to seek medical help immediately. 

Is a Hangover an Alcohol Withdrawal? 

People who drink alcohol regularly are well acquainted with the term hangover. But when does it become a withdrawal syndrome and not just a hangover? 

A hangover is caused when you drink more than your body’s alcohol tolerance, and withdrawal is caused when you drink less than your body’s alcohol tolerance capacity. Alcohol tolerance capacity refers to the amount of alcohol a person can consume alcohol without it showing any physical symptoms or changes in the body. 

What is common between a hangover and withdrawal is that they both have physical symptoms. A hangover can have physical symptoms such as headache, sluggishness, dehydration, racing heart, sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting,

A person who experiences Alcohol Withdrawal will also experience the above symptoms severely, along with tremors, sweating, irritability, confusion, insomnia, and high blood pressure. Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal usually start six hours after the last drink. These symptoms are often accompanied by the irresistible urge to drink alcohol. 

There are many risk factors associated with Alcohol Withdrawal. If you think you are experiencing alcohol withdrawal, observe if you are experiencing any symptoms mentioned above. If yes, it is strongly advised that you seek the help of a medical professional at the earliest. 

Road to recovery

Although challenging, recovering from alcohol addiction is not a lost battle. With the help of peer support and guidance from mental health experts like psychiatrists and therapists, individuals recovering from Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome can go on to lead fruitful and enriching lives. The road to recovery will test you in all ways possible but always remember that once you cross this tunnel, what lies ahead is a beautiful journey. 

Choosing to take up the path of recovery and becoming addiction free is a tremendously brave journey. Take your first step to recovery today. Consult a mental health expert from Amaha to start your journey. We are here for you.