Alcohol is one of the many substances that find common use in the day-to-day lives of a large portion of the US. Nearly 55% of Americans that are 18 and older have reported drinking in the last month with over 85% having tried alcohol at some point in their life. With such widespread usage, it’s no surprise that alcohol abuse and addiction is one of the most common forms of substance dependencies. The longer and more heavily you drink, the more difficult withdrawals and sobriety become.
Where Does Delirium Fit In?
Alcohol withdrawals come with a list of side effects that, while temporary, can be difficult to push through. The more difficult withdrawal cases come from heavy alcohol intake over long periods of time. Alcohol withdrawal delirium, or AWD, is experienced in these situations which can lead to severe problems such as seizures.
Alcohol withdrawal delirium targets the brain and nervous system when it comes to these side effects. Thankfully only a small portion of those fighting addiction will experience this upper-end of withdrawal symptoms.
What Causes Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium?
The reason delirium is such an uncommon side effect is that even in the case of full-blown alcohol addiction, users must also have extremely high intake levels during use. Alcohol, much like most drugs, will alter your brain and nervous system’s chemical production. The more frequently you drink, the more your body adapts to not making as much of the chemical.
When the time comes for a heavy alcohol consumer to begin the process of quitting, certain steps must be taken to ensure a safe transition. One of the most common types of incidents is mismanagement of symptoms when attempting to undergo alcohol detox at home. America’s Rehab Campuses is dedicated to fully supervised and medically assisted detox programs to help make the first detox the only one they need.
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium Symptoms
Recovering alcohol abusers will always face some form of withdrawals ranging from slight headaches and irritability to hallucinations and delusions. The more severe side effects come from more severe cases of alcohol addiction. Side effects tend to start appearing within 72 hours of quitting drinking but can take over a week in some cases.
Physical side effects will be the most noticeable at first and include fatigue, insomnia, fever, chest pains and high heart rate, nausea, a heightened gag reflex and stomach problems. The mental side effects can be just as, if not more, debilitating. Fits of confusion and irrational thoughts are part of the delirium with anxiety, fear and restlessness all being increased exponentially as well.
Don’t Let Delirium Deter Progress
While it can seem like an insurmountable task to go through detox and possible delirium, our team of compassionate recovery specialists is able to make the entire process from intake to checkout as easy and comfortable as possible. Our treatment plans come in a variety of shapes and sizes to help match your needs regarding both addiction and your existing responsibilities.
We encourage anyone struggling or who knows someone struggling with alcohol addiction to reach out to our team as soon as possible for a confidential consultation. Don’t tackle recovery alone, let us offer as many helping hands as you need.
