It was a sunny day, and as I struggled to assemble my flat pack in the heat, I told him why I had decided to quit drinking. He asked how I was feeling, and I told him, “I’m exhausted, anxious, and sweaty.” He said this is normal. The feeling lasted for a week, but I spent 50 percent of it sleeping. However, I was very naive and should have taken my therapist’s advice to seek medical help with withdrawal. I was lucky. It could have been much worse.
“People who need medical detox may have to take a benzodiazepine, such as Valium, for the first week to mimic some of the effects of alcohol and reduce the risk of serious reactions. “Often,” says Dr. Niall Campbell. Consultant Psychiatrist at the Priory Hospital, London.
These reactions include alcohol withdrawal attacks.Heavy alcohol consumption over a long period of time has a small antiepileptic effect it calms the brain By increasing the brain’s production of natural inhibitors. If you suddenly stop taking it, your brain may become unstable, leading to seizures.
“Often in A and E departments and on orthopedic wards, young men come in with injuries and lie about their drinking habits. They spend 24 hours in the hospital and suddenly start having seizures,” Dr Campbell said. says. “The chance of having a heart attack, stroke, or collapsing in a dangerous situation such as being near a car, or dying from one of these attacks is 1 in 1,000.”
Another major risk from sudden, unsupervised withdrawal is delirium tremor (“DT”). This is a central nervous system reaction that causes uncontrollable shaking, hallucinations, delirium, fever, and high blood pressure. “Again, you may be at higher risk for heart attack and stroke,” Campbell says. “DT is a serious medical emergency that requires an immediate call for an ambulance.”
Building a garden shed and chatting with my brother seemed like good ways to occupy my mind during the first 24 hours of sobriety. However, if I had followed the book, I would have gone to the doctor and gotten a full medical exam before trying cold turkey.
Your GP will refer you to tests to assess blood alcohol levels and liver function to establish your requirements. Chip Somers, a psychotherapist and counselor who specializes in addictions, says, “If you think you’re drinking too much, it’s a good idea to get tested first before tapering off over a seven-day period.” Highly recommended.”
It is tempting to believe that the above only applies to people who have been diagnosed with alcoholism. But even if you’re not that extreme — if you only consider your drinking to be “slightly above average” — you should still be aware of the dangers of going cold turkey.
“You may not think you’re an alcoholic because you feel able to function well even after consuming large amounts of alcohol,” Somers says. “But your body may not see it the same way. When you suddenly stop drinking, there are immediate effects on your brain, liver, and heart. You won’t know how dangerous cold turkey is until you try it, so you should talk to your doctor first.”
“Some people have stronger metabolisms than others, but you may not know what kind of metabolism you have,” Dr. Campbell adds. “Getting a blood test to stop drinking half a bottle of red wine a night may seem far-fetched, but the potential risks can be huge. Without any supervision It is extremely dangerous to suddenly give up alcohol.
When it comes to smoking, you don’t necessarily need 10 secret cigarettes a day.
