In alcohol withdrawal the brain is in an overactive state which results in the whole body (including the brain) being triggered into a state of emergency - similar to that which occurs if you have a great fright - sweating, trembling and tremor, high heart rate, high blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea etc. When the person is heavily alcohol dependent, the overactive brain state may be so severe that epileptic fits occur (discharged electricity in the brain). Fits can sometimes lead directly to death, and in other cases cause fatal injuries. Apart from fits, the overactive state may become so severe that the brain is no longer able to understand properly what is going on around it, and delusions (e.g. paranoid thoughts), and hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t there) may occur. If this syndrome occurs (Delirium Tremens), then death occurs in 10% of cases that go untreated. Additionally, the overactive state of the whole body results in more energy being burned up; this in turn can use up vital supplies of vitamins which are essential for brain functioning. In some cases, loss of these vitamin supplies can lead to death, and in other cases to devastating permanent memory loss (Wernicke- Korsakoff syndrome).
Now, there is a medically safe alternative to detox, which would prevent all these problems and risks. That alternative is - to cut your drinking down slowly but surely over a period of several weeks. The problem is that you are highly unlikely to manage to do this, if you've already become physically addicted to alcohol. That's the Catch 22. It is in the very nature of addiction, that you will be probably not be able to cease drinking in this manner, if you have already become physically addicted to alcohol.
In my NHS practice, I do not advise people who are physically addicted to alcohol to try this (slow but sure cut down of drinking over several weeks) unless they are very determined that they wish to give it a go. And simply because I know that we'll all be back to square one in several weeks time; I routinely include a medicated detoxification as part of the plan, as long as the patient is prepared to go along with this (most are).
Having said that, as a doctor, I do not advise you against trying this (slow but sure cut down over a period of at least several weeks) - it IS a medically safe alternative to a detoxification - if you want to, then give it a go - a few of you will succeed, but the large majority will not. If you choose this route to dry out, and you succeed, then I congratulate you. If you find after several weeks that you have made no progress, then please start reading this book again at that point.
But please remember this - do NOT attempt to stop drinking suddenly without a medicated detoxification - to do so will almost definitely fail (you will start drinking again), and may cause you irreversible damage in the meantime.
Next page .. Chapter One - How do i know if i'm physically addicted to alcohol?
How To Enjoy Life Without Alcohol index
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