The Feeling of Alcohol Withdrawal
Based on Experience
In the current climate of social isolation and social unrest, many professionals worry that substance abuse rates will rise at an alarming rate, leading to a significant increase in “deaths of despair.”
According to Dr. Elizabeth Stanley in “Widen the Window,” one-third of Americans have abused or been dependent on alcohol since 2000. Alcohol dependence can lead to terrible physiological problems and, in my experience, is often a symptom of an underlying mental health issue.
This is what withdrawal felt like for me.
Overall Feeling
An overwhelming sense of dread. There simply is no other way to describe it. You may feel general state of dis-ease, but the sense of impending doom is a common recollection felt by many who have lived through withdrawal. I often felt like I might suddenly faint and wake up on the ground surrounded by onlookers after having had a seizure. The sense of dread might be based on fear — that you don’t know what’s wrong, that you are afraid to admit you have a problem or that you have to stop drinking to get better.
Body
Physical Wellbeing
Constant state of dis-ease. I often would feel as though I had a constant flu — complete with stuffed up or running nose, hoarse voice, fever and unsettled stomach. I sometimes felt random shooting pains, and I began to believe that I was losing control of my body.
Senses
Extremely sensitive. This is particularly true for sight and sound. I also experienced blurry vision, floaters and tinnitus. Smell and taste could be overpowering and make me nauseous, but I have also experienced dullness to taste. When touched unexpectedly, I would often overreact in a jumpy way.
Pulse and Blood Pressure
Unstable, prone to dangerous fluctuations. As you get farther away from the last drink, usually 12–72 hours, your blood pressure can shoot well above a safe range. Looking back, I sometimes felt as though everything was swollen, I could feel my pulse pounding through my body and I felt like I was in pressure cooker.
Temperature
Usually overheating. Sometimes there were cold sweats, but, more commonly, I was overheating. The season didn’t matter. The sweating would occur constantly throughout the day, particularly in public, crowded areas.
Muscles
Tense, cramped. I would often get muscle spasms that would cascade across my body. Hand, neck, back muscles could quickly start to tighten and cramp painfully. Sometimes I felt as though I needed to keep my muscles tight to prevent myself from shaking. Tremors and shaking hands are common.
Stability
Unstable, off kilter. When walking, I would always feel slightly off balance and unsure of myself. I exhibited jerky, inconsistent movement and overreactive reflexes. I was often unable to sit or stand still for long.
Mind
Psychological Wellbeing
Nervous, scared. I have generalized anxiety disorder, and I have never had more anxiety in my life. I began to have trouble leaving my apartment and entering social settings. I also had a tendency to catastrophize different situations. I felt a constant feeling that something was wrong. I would later on realize that my tendency to forecast worst case scenarios was an attempt to find excuses to begin drinking.
Mentally, I knew something was very wrong, but I felt powerless to make any productive changes. I experienced an overwhelming state of fear, despair and panic.
Thoughts
Racing, paranoid. It was difficult to focus on one thing for long or articulate complex, multi-part thoughts. I was often prone to extreme thought patterns. I could project my internal state of dysregulation onto those I saw around me, believing that they were judging me with suspicion.
Emotion
Highly volatile. My mood can swung from extreme ends of the spectrum very quickly. One moment I could be laughing nervously with a friend. The next minute I could be severely depressed and anxious about my current state and what I need to do to recover.
Takeaways
Alcohol withdrawal is a dangerous condition. Unsupervised detox can result in seizures and death — so addiction professionals recommend medical supervision to mediate the risks.
Individuals often experience extreme physical and psychological symptoms between 12 and 72 hours after the last drink (but withdrawal can last longer). According to Harvard, one in every 20 people experience delirium tremens (DTs), which can lead to dangerous shifts in breathing, circulation and temperature control.
If you are concerned that you’re experiencing alcohol withdrawal, call your doctor and actually be honest about how much you drink.
I’ve also written a longer, narrative description of alcohol withdrawal here.