How do you detox?

Isabella · Member

How do you detox?

AGO · MIP Old Timer

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Alcoholism doesn't begin with apparent alcohol withdrawal symptoms, they can take years to develop. The process is known by clinicians as "Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome". Alcoholism itself begins when drinking starts to adversely effect the physical health and even the mental health of the drinker, though he or she usually has no clue that anything is wrong. It is at this time a person crosses over that imaginary line (you may or may not have heard of it) into alcoholism.

Stage One - The Early Years of Alcohol Addiction

In this, the adaptive stage of alcoholism, the drinker is no longer drinking for the same reasons he or she started drinking for in the first place. It's no longer peer pressure, curiosity, social events or that they enjoy the taste of alcohol. No, they are drinking and probably more by now, for the effects that the alcohol can produce, though they probably don't realize it. The effects that they are seeking could be a mood change or possibly stress relief from some problem in their life. The drinker hasn't gotten sloppy or lost total control of his life or body yet and he, his family and friends still don't know what personal hell awaits him, should he be a "real alcoholic".

Stage Two - More Alcohol, More Often, More DUI

By now the alcoholic is drinking more often and for any reason. He may even be fabricating problems to drink over. He is now probably drinking until he exceeds socially acceptable limits or until he losses control of his physical and mental capabilities. He may have even been arrested by now for driving under the influence of alcohol. In this middle stage of alcoholism the family and friends become aware that there may be a problem, but the alcoholic himself, may think his only problem is that his friends and family think he's got a problem. He is sure that they just don't understand he could quit anytime he wants to. Not now of course, he just needs everyone to get off his back and he'll be fine.

Stage Three - Is It Too Late?

The chronic stage of alcoholism is terrifying for the family and any friend that may be left in the alcoholic's life. They are watching his body and mind slip away due to internal damage to vital organs. Damage that may be irreversible and can result in hepatitis, heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, etc. They try to talk some sense into him and offer to take him to an alcohol detox center, but it may be too late. All of their talk just gives him more problems to drink over. In many cases it takes a traumatic or very embarrassing event, such as a drunk driving arrest to get the alcoholics attention to the extent that he really wants to stop drinking. Even if he really wants to stop, he's about to find out how easy it is not!

Alcohol Detox or Withdrawal Symptoms - Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Alcohol detox or withdrawal symptoms that are experienced by people who have stopped drinking alcohol abruptly (cold turkey) can range from mild to life-threatening if not properly treated. The severity of these alcohol withdrawal symptoms is usually dependent upon how "alcohol dependent" the chronic drinker has become. Those who drink heavily on a daily basis of course have developed a high level of dependency on alcohol and will almost certainly experience at least some severe withdrawal symptoms, but even those who drink alcohol daily, but not heavily and those who drink alcohol heavily but not daily, can also be chemically dependent upon alcohol.

When someone who has become "alcohol dependent" stops drinking abruptly, they will experience some level of physical discomfort. This is why it is extremely difficult for alcoholics to stop drinking "on their own" without the assistance and support of an alcohol rehab center or support group.

The Shakes, Sweats, Nausea, Headache, Rapid Heart Beat and Increased Blood Pressure

For some, who are less chemically dependent, withdrawal symptoms might be as "mild" as merely getting the shakes, the sweats or night sweats - perhaps nausea, headache, anxiety, a rapid heart beat and increased blood pressure.

AGO's note: The anxiety can last from days, weeks or even months if not addressed with the "cognitive therapy" commonly found at AA meetings by those experienced in early sobriety, and needn't be medicated, personally I asked for help and was dragged around for days kicking, screaming, crying and whining I wanted to go home and back to bed, which my friends wouldn't allow, isolation is very dangerous for alcoholics in early recovery

Although these alcohol withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable and irritating, they are not necessarily dangerous. But they are often accompanied by the "craving" for more alcohol, making the decision to continue abstinence much more difficult to make without counseling or support.

Even the "morning after hangover" of someone who only occasionally drinks to excess, is actually a mild form of alcohol withdrawal from the excesses of the night before, as the alcohol content of their blood begins to drop. The symptoms can appear within a few hours after not drinking.

More Serious - Hallucinations and Seizures

Within six to 48 hours after not drinking, hallucinations may develop for the more seriously alcohol dependent. These are usually visual hallucinations but they can also involve sounds and smells. They can last for a few hours or up to weeks at a time. Also within this time frame after quitting, convulsions or seizures can occur, which is the point at which alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal becomes dangerous if not medically treated.

I'll Never Drink Again, Really!

After a particularly damaging or embarrassing alcohol binge, a seriously dependent alcohol drinker will make an oath to "never drink again" and really mean it this time.

However, when severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms begin and the "phenomenon of craving" sets in, the body is telling the drinker that it needs more alcohol. When the physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal begin to intensify, taking another drink simply becomes less painful than not taking one or so it seems at the time. Thus, the vicious, repetitive cycle of binge drinking, sobering up, emerging remorseful and swearing off, only to drink again when the pain gets too bad, begins and repeats over and over again.

Chronic Alcoholism - The DT's (Delirium Tremens)

Chronic alcoholism and it's severe withdrawal symptoms may progress to delirium tremens (DT's) after three to five days without alcohol. The symptoms of DT's include profound confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, hyperactivity and extreme cardiovascular disturbances. This condition causes shifts in your breathing, your circulation and your temperature control. It can cause your heart to race or can cause your blood pressure to increase dramatically and it can cause serious dehydration.

Once DT's begin, there is no known medical treatment to stop them. Grand mal seizures, heart attacks and strokes can occur during the DT's, all of these serious alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be fatal to an alcoholic if not properly treated.

If you or someone you care about is experiencing Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome, please contact an alcohol detox center before it's too late!

-- Edited by AGO on Wednesday 7th of July 2010 11:37:36 PM

AGO · MIP Old Timer

Post Acute Withdrawl (PAW)

Exerpted From "Staying Sober" By: Terence T. Gorski

with additions by: Lee Jamison

When most people think about alcoholism or drug addiction they think only of the alcohol/drug-based symptoms and forget about the sobriety-based symptoms. Yet it is the sobriety-based symptoms, especially post acute withdrawal, that make sobriety so difficult. The presence of brain dysfunction has been documented in 75-95% of the recovering alcoholics/addicts tested. Recent research indicates that the symptoms of post-acute withdrawal associated with alcohol/drug-related damage to the brain may contribute to many cases of relapse.

Post-acute withdrawal means symptoms that occur after acute withdrawal. Post means after. And syndrome means a group of symptoms.

Syndrome: A group of symptoms

Post: After

Post Acute Withdrawal: Symptoms that occur after acute withdrawal.

Post-acute withdrawal is a group of symptoms of addictive disease that occur as a result of abstinence from addictive chemicals. In the alcoholic/addict these symptoms appear seven to fourteen days into abstinence, after stabilization from the acute withdrawal.

Post-acute withdrawal is a bio-psycho-social syndrome. It results from the combination of damage to the nervous system caused by alcohol or drugs and the psychosocial stress of coping with life without drugs or alcohol.

Recovery causes a great deal of stress. Many chemically dependent people never learn to manage stress without alcohol and drug use. The stress aggravates the brain dysfunction and makes the symptoms worse. The severity of PAW depends upon two things: the severity of the brain dysfunction caused by the addiction and the amount of psychosocial stress experienced in recovery.

The symptoms of PAW typically grow to peak intensity over three to six months after abstinence begins. The damage is usually reversible, meaning the major symptoms go away in time if proper treatment is received. So there is no need to fear. With proper treatment and effective sober living, it is possible to learn to live normally in spite of the impairments. But the adjustment does not occur rapidly. Recovery from the nervous system damage usually required from six to 24 months with the assistance of a healthy recovery program. Recent research is showing that for some recovering people the symptoms of PAW often occur at regular "moon cycle" intervals and without apparent outside stressors. Often those 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 1 & 2-year sobriety dates seem to be "triggering" times for PAW symptoms to increase. People recovering from long term opiate and stimulant use often have PAW symptoms for no apparent reason for up to 10 years after they have stopped using their drug of choice. Often PAW symptoms appear to come and go without apparent reason and without any specific pattern. Individuals who intend to have consistent long-term recovery must learn to recognize these symptoms and learn how to manage them.

SYMPTOMS OF POST ACUTE WITHDRAWAL

How do you know if you have PAW? The most identifiable characteristic is the inability to solve usually simple problems. There are six major types of PAW symptoms that contribute to this They are the inability to think clearly, memory problems, emotional overreactions and numbness, sleep disturbances, physical coordination problems, and general problems in managing stress. The inability to solve usually simple problems because of any or all of these symptoms leads to diminished self-esteem. A person often feels incompetent, embarrassed, and not okay about themselves. Diminished self-esteem and the fear of failure interfere with productive and challenging living. Lets take a look at some of the PAW symptoms that contribute to the inability to solve usually simple problems.

TYPES OF PAW SYMPTOMS

1.Inability to think clearly

2.Memory problems

3.Emotional overreactions or numbness

4.Sleep disturbances

5.Physical coordination problems

6.Stress sensitivity

Inability to Think Clearly

There are several thought disorders experienced by a recovering person when PAW is activated. Intelligence is not affected. It is as if the brain is malfunctioning sometimes. Sometimes it works all right. Sometimes is does not.

One of the most common symptoms is the inability to concentrate for more than a few minutes. Impairment of abstract reasoning is another common symptom of post acute withdrawal. An abstraction is a nonconcrete idea or concept, something that you cannot hold in your hand, take a picture of, or put in a box. Concentration is more of a problem when abstract concepts are involved.

Another common symptom is rigid and repetitive thinking. The same thoughts may go around and around in your head and you are unable to break through this circular thinking in order to put thoughts together in an orderly way.

Memory Problems

Short-term memory problems are very common in the recovering person. You may hear something and understand it, but within 20 minutes you forget it. Someone will give an instruction and you know exactly what to do. But you may walk away, and that memory becomes clouded or may disappear completely.

Sometimes during stressful periods it may also be difficult to remember significant events from the past. These memories are not gone; the person may be able to remember them easily at other times. The person realizes that he or she knows but just cannot recall it while experiencing the stress.

For an alcoholic named Jan this created a problem in AA. I have trouble presenting my story at AA, she said. I have trouble remembering events that happened before my drinking days, let alone things that happened while I was drinking. So to put my life in story form is hard for me. I dont remember all of my story. I do remember that some things occurred, but I get confused about when they happened. Many times I can remember things when I am alone with no pressure that I cant remember under the stress I feel when I talk at meetings.

Because of memory problems in recovery, it may be difficult to learn new skills and information. You learn skills by acquiring knowledge and building upon what you have already learned. Memory problems make it difficult to build upon what you have already learned.

Emotional Overreaction or Numbness

Persons with emotional problems in sobriety tend to overreact. When things happen that require two units of emotional reaction, they react with ten. It is like holding the times key down on a calculator. You may find yourself becoming angry over what may later seem a trivial matter. You may feel more anxious or excited than you have reason to be. When this overreaction puts more stress on the nervous systems than it can handle, there is an emotional shutdown. If this happens to you, you become emotionally numb, unable to feel anything. And even when you know you should feel something, you do not. You may swing from one mood to another without knowing why.

Sleep Problems

Most recovering people experience sleep problems. Some of them are temporary; some are lifelong. The most common in early recovery is unusual or disturbing dreams. These dreams may interfere with your ability to get the sleep you need. But they become less frequent and less severe as the length of abstinence increases.

Mike was a periodic drinker. Periods of sobriety usually lasted for several months. During the time he was not drinking, he had dreams that severely disrupted his sleep. His wife said, I never realized the nightmares Mike was having had anything to do with drinking or not drinking. He would frequently jump out of bed, screaming in terror. When I was able to awaken him and calm him, he couldnt remember what he dreamed, but he remembered being afraid. After a year of sobriety, he seldom had the dreams. Only then did I realize that they were related to his drinking.

Even if you do not experience unusual dreams, you may have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. You may experience changes in your sleep patterns; sleeping for long periods at a time or sleeping at different times of the day. Some of these patterns may never return to normal, but most people are able to adjust to them without severe difficulty.

Physical Coordination Problems

A very serious PAW problem though perhaps not as common as the others is difficulty with physical coordination. Common symptoms are dizziness, trouble with balance, problems with coordination between hand and eye, and slow reflexes. These result in clumsiness and accident proneness. This is how the term dry drunk came into being. When alcoholics appeared drunk because of stumbling and clumsiness, but had not been drinking, they were said to be dry drunk. They had the appearance of being intoxicated without drinking.

Stress Sensitivity

Difficulty in managing stress is the most confusing and aggravating part of post acute withdrawal. Recovering people are often unable to distinguish between low-stress situations and high-stress situations. They may not recognize low levels of stress, and then overreact when they become aware of the stress they are experiencing. They may feel stressful in situations that ordinarily would not bother them, and in addition, when they react they overreact. They may do things that are completely inappropriate for the situation. So much so that later on they may wonder why they reacted so strongly.

To complicate things further, all of the other symptoms of post acute withdrawal become worse during times of high stress. There is a direct relationship between elevated stress and the severity of PAW. Each intensifies the other. The intensity of PAW creates stress, and stress aggravates PAW and makes it more severe. At times of low stress, the symptoms get better and may even go away. When you are well rested and relaxed, eating properly, and getting along well with people, you will probably appear to be fine. Your thoughts will be clear, your emotions appropriate, and your memory all right. At times of high stress, however, your brain may suddenly shut down. You may begin experiencing thinking problems, inappropriate emotions, and memory problems.

If your thoughts become confused and chaotic or you are unable to concentrate, if you have trouble remembering or solving problems, you may feel you are going crazy. You are not. These symptoms are a normal part of your recovery and are reversible with abstinence and a recovery program. If you do not understand this you may develop shame and guilt which leads to diminished self-esteem and isolation which creates stress and increased PAW. It is a painful cycle that is unnecessary if you understand what is happening. As your body and your mind begin to heal and as you learn ways to reduce the risk of post acute withdrawal symptoms, productive and meaningful living is possible in spite of the very real possibility of recurring symptoms.

Recovery from the damage caused by the addiction requires abstinence. The damage itself interferes with the ability to abstain. This is the paradox of recovery. Use of alcohol or other drugs can temporarily reverse the symptoms of the damage. If alcoholics drink, or drug addicts use, they will think clearly for a little while, be able to have normal feelings and emotions for a little while, feel healthy for a little while. Unfortunately, the disease will eventually trigger a loss of control that will again destroy these functions.

For this reason it is necessary to do everything possible to reduce the symptoms of PAW. It is necessary to understand PAW and to recognize that you are not incompetent and you are not going crazy. Because post acute withdrawal symptoms are stress sensitive, you need to learn about PAW and methods of control when stress levels are low in order to be able to prevent the symptoms or to manage them when they occur.

Here are some stories about some people who experienced post acute withdrawal and how it affected their lives without their being aware of what was happening to them.

Ray is a young, single, recovering alcoholic. He stopped drinking when he was 22 and was very excited about the possibilities that lay ahead of him in his sobriety. After his initial treatment he began restructuring his life around recovery. He was eager to make up for the time he had wasted during his years of drinking. He got a full-time job, enrolled in college, and committed himself to doing some volunteer work.

After a while he began to notice that he was having trouble with his schoolwork. He found himself confused about things that had at one time been easy for him to follow and figure out. He was having trouble taking care of his financial responsibilities, and when people that cared about him tried to help him figure things out, he felt panicky and overwhelmed. Thoughts rushed through his head, and he was unable to put them in order. He says, When someone in the financial aid office at the college started talking to me about grant money, loan money, interest, and forms that needed to be filled out, I was so confused and overwhelmed that I couldnt hear what she was saying. Everything was going around in my head at once and I had to get away. I got up and left without filling out the financial aid form.

In desperation, and out of fear that he would drink, Ray ran. Instead of evaluating what things in his life he needed to change and what he needed to hold onto, he gave up everything. He quit his job, dropped out of school, and stopped doing volunteer work. He gave up his apartment and moved in with a relative until he could get himself together. These actions created additional problems with which he found it increasingly difficult to cope. Until he went to a counselor and learned some ways to manage his symptoms, Ray thought he was having a nervous breakdown, when in fact what he was experiencing was PAW.

Post Acute Withdrawl (Part #2)

AGO · MIP Old Timer

There is some information to get started, read this carefully as you try to sleep. load up on vitamins, gatorade and chocolate and sweets, alcohol is sugar, sugar is your friend, snacks are your friend, realizing this is a chemical detox is your friend, hearing voices is not your friend, call a doctor

These are also just a few of the reasons why there is no shame in being unable to quit on your own, if you need help, AA is there, when I went to meetings I ran into all my old friends that I hadn't noticed had slipped away one by one over the years, it was like old home week, now almost everyone I know is sober, and most of the people I partied with are sober

Alcoholics are vastly more interesting and entertaining then normies anyway, name me one interesting character from history who wasn't just a pickle faced drunk, from Alexander The Great, to Winston Churchill, poets, rock stars, everyone who is anyone, us alcoholics rock

You aren't alone, or you don't have to be, you never have to do this alone or drink again

pinkchip · MIP Old Timer

All I can say is what I did which was drink a lot of water and it seemed to be pretty much all gone by day 6. Cravings are aided by making yourself eat...I always drank on an empty stomach so having food in it would curb cravings.

ljc · MIP Old Timer

Isabella, the first few days will be ruff, but you can get thru it.

AGO has given some great help here, read it and apply it to you if need be.

If you have any resemblance of a God in your life, then I would seriously pray to this God and ask for help as well.

Maybe even look up AA in your area and think about attending a meeting so that you can meet some ppl who have gone thru exactly the same thing you are going thru and they will be willing to help you too.

You dont have to do this alone. There is help available.

Aquaman · MIP Old Timer

I drank lots of sugary drinks...Tang, mostly.

If you at any point fear for your health, consult a physician.

Good Job. It'll pass, whether you drink or not. The NOT way accomplishes more.

Peace,
Rob

buckeyebear · Veteran Member

I do know that it makes withdrawls eaiser if you take B1 and Magnesium and eat plenty of greens and fish. Also drink power-aid...this will balence your electolites,,,Do not mind my spelling. If you start shaking go to your family doc and he will give you medication to help....3 to 4 days is usally the toughest. But honest if you start shaking get to a doc.

You can do this if you want to, and keep in touch with the AA members. Surrender compleatly. Step one is the only step we have to do perfect.

Jerry F · MIP Old Timer

Good question Isabella!! Simple solutions in response...don't drink, eat healthy
foods and supplements, hang around with sober people and don't let it scare
you back into another drink. Trust God and the fellowship.

Last time I detoxed it was without fear that I'd get thru it and be fine and....
I got thru it and was and still am fine.

In support. ((((hugs)))) smile

Congradulations on Day 2!!

happinessisawarmgun · Veteran Member

Drink tons of water, eat fruits + veggies & force yourself to hit the gym.

Try not to eat too many carbs or fatty foods b/c then you'll just gain weight=depressed and you'll want to drink/use.

Isabella · Member

Thank you for answering my question about how to detox. It is super helpful.
This is my 4th day sober, I will read your comments again later to help me get through tonight, Friday night. It is when all my friends drink after work "to relax". I will play this sentence in my head that one of you wrote to me "We knew how to relax without booze just fine before we ever started to drink. Once it gets ingrained in us that we "have" to drink to relax, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy." so true. Saturday and Sunday I work as a bartender. I will get through it without a drink...I will think of all of you who are struggling as well but support each other. Love you all!

-- Edited by Isabella on Friday 9th of July 2010 09:46:14 AM

Isabella · Member

is there a way to delete a comment posted in error? It seems that I can only edit a comment not delete it alltogether.

-- Edited by Isabella on Friday 9th of July 2010 09:51:36 AM

Just Toni · MIP Old Timer

Hi Isabella,

Hope you are feeling a little better today...

To answer your question.....for a long time, one could go back and edit out, or delete words, etc.

Then the other day I attempted to do some editing from a Post/response I had made.....now it seems to me.... that the editing feature has changed just a little....what I have surmised from this new editing.limit, is that you can make ANY changes....but if I wait til the following day, I will get this
"you do not have permission to edit this Post" when I hit the bottom to complete the process...granted, I could be wrong, but that is what I took away from this new way of editing.....

Toodles and again I hope you are feeling just a little better today.

(((Toni)))

TwelveSteps · Senior Member

It has been very effective for me to try and take a walk every day when detoxing, it really takes the edge off the anxiety. I normally work out every day and was feeling too crappy to do it during detox but could still manage a 30-45 brisk walk each day and I found it really helped.

GG