It’s common knowledge that a night of drinking is often followed by a hangover of epic proportions that somehow gets worse the older you get.
But what does it feel like for a person who is addicted to alcohol and has had a chronic drinking problem for years? This is no longer a hangover, this is withdrawal. It comes with more severe symptoms, it lasts longer, and in severe cases, it can even cause seizures.
Contact Findlay Recovery Center to get help with an alcohol use disorder, today.
Signs of an Alcohol Addiction
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, an alcohol use disorder can be assessed by answering the following question that indicates the signs or symptoms a person may be experiencing.
In the last year, have you:
- Had times when you ended up drinking more, or longer, than you intended?
- More than once wanted to cut down or stop drinking, or tried to, but couldn’t?
- Spent a lot of time drinking? Or being sick or getting over other aftereffects?
- Wanted a drink so badly you couldn’t think of anything else?
- Found that drinking—or being sick from drinking—often interfered with taking care of your home or family? Or caused job troubles? Or school problems?
- Continued to drink even though it was causing trouble with your family or friends?
- Given up or cut back on activities that were important or interesting to you, or gave you pleasure, in order to drink?
- More than once gotten into situations while or after drinking that increased your chances of getting hurt (such as driving, swimming, using machinery, walking in a dangerous area, or having unprotected sex)?
- Continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem? Or after having had a memory blackout?
- Had to drink much more than you once did to get the effect you want? Or found that your usual number of drinks had much less effect than before?
- Found that when the effects of alcohol were wearing off, you had withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart, or a seizure? Or sensed things that were not there?”
Alcohol Withdrawal and Seizures – Are the Two Related?
Yes, you read that right, alcohol withdrawal and seizures can be related.
Alcohol withdrawal-related seizures are not like the typical epileptic seizures that you might be most familiar with. These seizures originate in the brainstem and are called tonic-clonic seizures, which impact the whole brain. This is due to an imbalance caused by years of chronic alcohol abuse.
This type of seizure often occurs within 6-48 hours after a person stops drinking.
Are There Other Signs of Alcohol Withdrawal?
Thankfully, not every individual will experience seizures related to alcohol withdrawal, but they might experience some of the less severe, but still equally uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
More common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include anxiety, depression, fatigue, irritability, jumpiness, mood swings, nightmares, and not thinking clearly. Other more extreme symptoms can include sweating, dilated pupils, headache, insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, rapid heart rate, and tremors.
How To Get Help With an Alcohol Addiction Today
If you are concerned about your health or your loved ones in relation to alcohol abuse, it is important to seek help today.
At Findlay Recovery Center we can accommodate same-day support for drug and alcohol abuse at our detox and inpatient facility. Through this process, our clients are medically monitored to ensure their safety throughout the withdrawal process. Clients can then transition into a supportive and engaging rehabilitation program that combines the best of addiction and behavioral treatment with high-quality care.