Withdrawal symptoms typically commence somewhere between 6 and 24 hours after the last drink.
Most people who are actively seeking help for their problems are nearer the milder end of the spectrum (i.e. the first example), or somewhere between the two. This is because such people still have their faculties about them and are able to actively seek help. Those who have let things develop to the extent of the second example rarely seek help for themselves - by the time things have progressed this far the mind is only able to focus on one thing - finding a supply of alcohol to stay OK for the next few hours.
Of course, those lucky enough to have concerned relatives (or relatives that can no longer tolerate their behaviour), may be referred for help at any time in the progression of this disease. It is usually the case that others recognise the existence of a problem developing before the individual themselves.
The important point to take away is that wherever you are along the spectrum of development of addiction to alcohol, it is ONLY LIKELY TO GET WORSE. This again is part of the addictive process - one slowly drinks more and more to get the same effect (an effect known as 'tolerance') - levels of drinking slowly but surely build up. The only meaningful response to dealing with this situation is to SEEK HELP - and of course, if you are still reading by this time then that is exactly what you are doing, right now.
Some people who are physically addicted may
have their last drink at say midnight, and then be
able to go the whole of the next working day
without drinking. By the time they get home
they are feeling agitated and in need of a drink.
If they do not drink, their levels of agitation
increase. Within 15 minutes or so of their first
drink the levels of agitation decrease and they
will then continue to drink for the rest of the
evening until they go to bed. The pattern will
be repeated the next day... and the next day...
This pattern of physically addicted drinking is
typical of those with a relatively minor level of
physical addiction - however, such a person will
probably NOT be able to cease drinking
without a detox, and to do so would place them
at risk of memory loss and other damage.
Equally, in time, their level of drinking is likely
to slowly but surely increase, gradually increasing
the degree of their physical dependency to
alcohol.
At the other end of the spectrum, a person
might have their last drink at midnight and then
be awake by 6am sweating profusely. If they
haven't had a drink by 8am, their hands will start
to shake and they will feel nauseous. If they
haven't had a drink by 10am they may be
vomiting, and by 3pm they will be starting to
have hallucinations of insects walking on the
walls. By 5pm they will have lost touch with
reality, and by 7pm they may have suffered an
epileptic seizure. If at any time during these
events they find a supply of alcohol and start to
drink, then all the above symptoms will calm
down and disappear within an hour or so of
continued alcohol use. This pattern is typical of
people who are severely physically addicted to
alcohol.
Next page .. Chapter One - Alternative 1
How To Enjoy Life Without Alcohol index
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