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Thread: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

  1. #1
    God/dess jaizaine's Avatar
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    Default symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    I think, actually Im fairly certain that my friend is lying to me about being sober. She recently confessed to drinking red wine from the minute she wakes up til she goes to bed. She has been doing this for about 7 years now, getting progressively worse.
    ANyway she also confessed to leaving her two small children at home alone to go and get wine.

    So a few weeks ago she said after she told her husband, her mum and her friends about how bad the drinking was, she has stopped. I found this hard to believe that it could be that easy to quit, without any professional help.
    Then last week she called me and I think she had been drinking coz she was extremely rude to me and was getting really judgmental about my dancing etc. This is out of character for her, esp since she was a dancer herself and coz she is usually a supportive friend.

    I was thinking about it and wouldnt she have some physical withdrawal symptoms if she was really off the alcohol?

    Does anyone know what these symptoms would be and how long (approx) they would last?

    Her husband is so stupid, he doesnt think she needs any professional help and is just basically turning a blind eye to her problem.
    I am worried that it will take something really serious happening - such as something happening to the children for him to wake up and realise his wife is in serious need of help.

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    God/dess Sirona's Avatar
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    If she's drinking as heavily as you think her symptoms would extend far beyond crankiness...

    Alcohol withdrawal symtoms are as follows:

    Mild-to-moderate psychological symptoms:

    Jumpiness or nervousness
    Shakiness
    Anxiety
    Irritability or easy excitability
    Rapid emotional changes
    Depression
    Fatigue
    Difficulty thinking clearly
    Bad dreams

    Mild-to-moderate physical symptoms:

    Headache -- general, pulsating
    Sweating -- especially the palms of the hands or the face
    Nausea and vomiting
    Loss of appetite
    Insomnia (sleeping difficulty)
    Pallor
    Rapid heart rate
    Eye pupils enlarged(dilated pupils)
    Clammy skin
    Tremor of the hands
    Involuntary, abnormal movements of the eyelids

    Severe symptoms:

    Delirium tremens -- a state of confusion and visual hallucinations
    Agitation
    Fever
    Convulsions
    Black outs -- when the person forgets what happened during the drinking episode



  3. #3
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    It depends how much she was drinking. I mean, I know she was drinking too much, but there's a difference in quantity between sipping slowly throughout the day and spending the whole day chugging. I would expect her to be rude and irritable for the time being. Sure, some people are rude when they're drunk, but if you're newly sober and not used to it, you can be pretty damn cranky too. It's hard to stop drinking, especially when you have needy children to attend to. That doesn't mean it can't be done.

    I think you're putting too much stock in "professional help." We don't need doctors or professionals for every little thing we do in life. Personally, I would rather save that money for my family and suck it up. It could be that something awful already happened, like a close call for one of the kids, and that's what woke her up and inspired her to confess to you guys and stop.

    Alcohol does not cause physical dependency. Addiction to alcohol is psychological, not physical (like say, heroin). I don't know what "withdrawal symptoms" you expected to see but it's nothing a strong mother can't handle on her own.

    Please don't create drama. Just support her.

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    God/dess jaizaine's Avatar
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    Im not trying to create drama, I just want to see that she gets better.
    I dont think ignoring it is the answer and her husband is doing.

    Im not sure about quantity actually. I know she was drunk every day but that doesnt tell me anything about quantity either.

    I guess your right about professional help not being the only answer, I just dont know what else to suggest....

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    God/dess jaizaine's Avatar
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    Quote Originally Posted by Sirona View Post
    Bad dreams

    Mild-to-moderate physical symptoms:

    Headache -- general, pulsating
    Sweating -- especially the palms of the hands or the face
    Nausea and vomiting
    Loss of appetite
    Insomnia (sleeping difficulty)
    Pallor
    Rapid heart rate
    Eye pupils enlarged(dilated pupils)
    Clammy skin
    Tremor of the hands
    Involuntary, abnormal movements of the eyelids

    Severe symptoms:

    Delirium tremens -- a state of confusion and visual hallucinations
    Agitation
    Fever
    Convulsions
    Black outs -- when the person forgets what happened during the drinking episode
    see this is why i am having trouble believing she has stopped. She has not complained about ANY symptoms at all and she is always the type to tell people when she is not well.

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    God/dess jaizaine's Avatar
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    ^^
    oh ok well maybe she doesnt then.
    were u able to stop on your first attempt and did u go cold turkey or did u cut down?

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    God/dess LuckiCharm's Avatar
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    Don't let a lack of physical symptoms lead you to believe she's lieng. I can see how she would be rude to you on the phone, because she's probably really irritable because she wants a drink. Maybe try paying close attention to her, just don't bring up drinking. Don't tell her you think she's been drinking, that'll just irritate her more.

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    Banned Katrine's Avatar
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    Quote Originally Posted by Yekhefah View Post

    Alcohol does not cause physical dependency. Addiction to alcohol is psychological, not physical (like say, heroin). I don't know what "withdrawal symptoms" you expected to see but it's nothing a strong mother can't handle on her own.
    .
    That is incorrect. People die from alcohol withdrawals. Its ugly shit. Late-stage alcohol dependence requires a monitored detox. I won't go into my recent experiences because I feel I'm discussing it too much. But when a person drinks all day, every day for 7 years, they really should seek professional help in detoxing them followed by a support group for the social and psychological aspects of the addiction.

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
    "And do the cats give a shit? No, they do not. Why? Because they're cats."-from The Onion

    Quote Originally Posted by Mia M
    If a cupcake was tossed at me... well, I'd only be upset if it missed my mouth

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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    yes, alcohol does cause physical dependancy and alcohol withdrawal is the only withdrawal that can kill you.
    Alcohol withdrawal is undoubtedly worse than heroin.
    Often the alcoholic will experiences tremors/seizures after as little as a few hours or a day since their last drink, and hallucinations at this point are not uncommon.

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    God/dess jaizaine's Avatar
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    Quote Originally Posted by Katrine View Post
    That is incorrect. People die from alcohol withdrawals. Its ugly shit. Late-stage alcohol dependence requires a monitored detox. I won't go into my recent experiences because I feel I'm discussing it too much. But when a person drinks all day, every day for 7 years, they really should seek professional help in detoxing them followed by a support group for the social and psychological aspects of the addiction.
    I knew I had heard somewhere that people can die from alcohol withdrawal, that's really frightening. I think she would have a better chance of quitting if her husband was more supportive and open to her getting some professional help from someone who is experienced with this.

    Since u have been in a similar situation can i ask u do u think I should ever bring up the issue with her or should I just leave it and see if she wants to discuss it?
    I dont want to piss her off or cause her more stress.
    I dont mind when people ask me how im going with overcoming my ED but everyone is different I guess. I have only ever discussed her drinking when she brings it up.

  11. #11
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    Huh. I've heard of the DT's for really heavy drinkers, but I've always heard that alcohol addiction is psychological and not physical. BTW though, heroin withdrawals CAN kill you. That's why even governments offer controlled methadone doses to ease withdrawal. But anyway, I stand corrected if I'm wrong. I still think she isn't necessarily still drinking, and I don't think she necessarily HAS to pay someone a ton of money to supervise her quitting. People are remarkably strong and resilient when they allow themselves to be.

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    Banned Katrine's Avatar
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    Quote Originally Posted by Yekhefah View Post
    Huh. I've heard of the DT's for really heavy drinkers, but I've always heard that alcohol addiction is psychological and not physical. BTW though, heroin withdrawals CAN kill you. That's why even governments offer controlled methadone doses to ease withdrawal. But anyway, I stand corrected if I'm wrong. I still think she isn't necessarily still drinking, and I don't think she necessarily HAS to pay someone a ton of money to supervise her quitting. People are remarkably strong and resilient when they allow themselves to be.
    Well I'm no expert except that this is ALL I've been doing and around for the last few fateful months of my life. Again, I am lucky to be alive today, and if someone is drinking that much, its going to take much more than reslilience to get them to quit. Your advice to jazaine is potentially dangerous if she wants to help her friend.

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
    "And do the cats give a shit? No, they do not. Why? Because they're cats."-from The Onion

    Quote Originally Posted by Mia M
    If a cupcake was tossed at me... well, I'd only be upset if it missed my mouth

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    God/dess jaizaine's Avatar
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    Cost is not an issue either coz it's something medicare would pay for.
    PLus she has private health insurance also.
    The main thing is that her husband is a bit of a Tom Cruise LOL in that he thinks everything can be cured with herbs.

  14. #14
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    Is she drinking as much as you were though, Katrine? Jazaine doesn't say how much her friend was drinking, just that it was all day. I went through a bad bout of depression when I was drinking all day, but it was nothing life-threatening; eventually I got a job, found more productive things to do, and cut it out. If Jazaine's friend is drinking ten bottles of vodka a day, say, you might be right. But if she's sipping a bottle of wine or two every day, she has a problem but should be able to quit without taking money and time away from her family.

    I think we as a society are rendering ourselves helpless via over-reliance on doctors. We really don't need a doctor for every damn thing.

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    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    You're STILL friends with this woman?!


    Look like a woman
    Think like a man
    Act like a lady
    Work like a dog

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    God/dess jaizaine's Avatar
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    U obviously read my post about what she said to me.

    I dont know.

    This is my dilemma:

    On one hand i have been best friends with her since I was 16 and maybe all the fucked up things she has said and done lately are because of the alcohol.

    On the other hand we have really grown apart anyway. She has moved far away and had 2 kids and gotten married. While my other best friend (my cousin) has a 7 year old, her parenting never got in the way of our friendship coz she didn't turn weird over it.

    My cousin thinks I should cut ties with this girl. Im just not sure whether I want to throw away years of friendship??

    But then again I dont know if I even want to be friends coz of all the hassles. The friendship has become totally one-sided. All we talk about is her life, her problems.

    Although I have not answered her calls since the said incident.

  17. #17
    Banned Katrine's Avatar
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    Quote Originally Posted by Yekhefah View Post
    Is she drinking as much as you were though, Katrine? Jazaine doesn't say how much her friend was drinking, just that it was all day. I went through a bad bout of depression when I was drinking all day, but it was nothing life-threatening; eventually I got a job, found more productive things to do, and cut it out. If Jazaine's friend is drinking ten bottles of vodka a day, say, you might be right. But if she's sipping a bottle of wine or two every day, she has a problem but should be able to quit without taking money and time away from her family.

    I think we as a society are rendering ourselves helpless via over-reliance on doctors. We really don't need a doctor for every damn thing.
    Seeking help for alchoholism doesn't involve much doctors at all, its more like a safe place where she can go through monitored withdrawals without going into a seizure that could kill her. If she's drinking everyday, all day, she likely has a dependance. No if, and, or but about it. One doesn't have to drink 10 bottles a day, that's just hyperbole.

    Plus Medicare would cover this. Most health insurance in the US will even cover something like this once. Point is, she might not be simply quit cold turkey and just have a normal wonderful life. Try to keep an open mind here.

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
    "And do the cats give a shit? No, they do not. Why? Because they're cats."-from The Onion

    Quote Originally Posted by Mia M
    If a cupcake was tossed at me... well, I'd only be upset if it missed my mouth

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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    it does not take much drinking daily to develop a physical tolerance to alcohol, complete with withdrawal symptoms. a few drinks a day for a month will do it, but often if someone is experiencing withdrawal symptoms in that type of situation, they don't automatically associate it with the drinking.

    also, heroin addiction *can be* lethal, but it is rare compared to cold-turkey alcohol withdrawal. that routinely kills. heroin addicts/users are very good about exaggerating its effects to get legal substitutes. alcoholics often just die, especially if they are homeless or simply poor.

    in any case, if a woman is drinking red wine, which is worse for women than men, and she is drinking it steadily all day, she will probably have to be detoxed to avoid getting too sick to stay off the wine.

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    Veteran Member boxingdoc's Avatar
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    I respectfully beg to differ that detoxing off alcohol does not require doctors. Mild withdrawal with shakes and irritability is one thing. More severe withdrawal with autonomic instability, agitation, hallucinations and seizures requires a continuous benzodiazepine drip and cardiac monitoring over the course many days., After that, the psychological work can begin. As mentioned above, opiate withdrawal, while painful in a very real physical sense rarely kills. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be fatal. Cocaine withdrawal has been known to be fatal.

    Former heroin addicts are on methadone because it is clean, easily controlled, and people can live relatively normal lives while getting on with the process of detoxing in a relatively painless fashion.

  20. #20
    zxcire
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    Quote Originally Posted by Yekhefah View Post
    Is she drinking as much as you were though, Katrine? Jazaine doesn't say how much her friend was drinking, just that it was all day. I went through a bad bout of depression when I was drinking all day, but it was nothing life-threatening; eventually I got a job, found more productive things to do, and cut it out. If Jazaine's friend is drinking ten bottles of vodka a day, say, you might be right. But if she's sipping a bottle of wine or two every day, she has a problem but should be able to quit without taking money and time away from her family.
    Please stop trying to comment on something you know nothing about. I had severe DTs after drinking daily for only 2 months. I was 21 years old and the day after I quit drinking, I was shaking violently and my blood pressure spiked to 180/120. I was in a psych ward so they were able to monitor and medicate me through the withdrawal, but in any case it was a very real, very dangerous withdrawal.

    Your ignorance on this subject is striking. As a recovering addict myself, I say please don't think your opinion is anything close to fact.

    Most addicts CAN NOT STOP WITHOUT SOME FORM OF OUTSIDE HELP. Even if they do quit, it's staying quit that's the problem.

  21. #21
    cameron_keys
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    Quote Originally Posted by zxcire View Post
    Please stop trying to comment on something you know nothing about. I had severe DTs after drinking daily for only 2 months. I was 21 years old and the day after I quit drinking, I was shaking violently and my blood pressure spiked to 180/120. I was in a psych ward so they were able to monitor and medicate me through the withdrawal, but in any case it was a very real, very dangerous withdrawal.

    Your ignorance on this subject is striking. As a recovering addict myself, I say please don't think your opinion is anything close to fact.

    Most addicts CAN NOT STOP WITHOUT SOME FORM OF OUTSIDE HELP. Even if they do quit, it's staying quit that's the problem.

    I totally understand where you are coming from..but I think Yek (and Yek..correct me if I read you wrong)was comparing the differance between a habit(which you can break and recover from yourself) and an actual addiction(which you need help for).

    I've had many periods where I was drinking every day..esp when I was working a LOT...anywhere from 4-10 drinks a day or more.Just because it was there. But I wasnt addicted...so I stopped by myself without help. And never felt any withdrawl. When I wasnt in that environment all the time anymore...I didnt feel the need or desire to drink as much.

    Someone who is truly addicted however would need professional help to combat the physical and mental symptoms of withdrawl.

  22. #22
    zxcire
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    I was also referring to a previous post in which she stated that alcohol was not physically addictive.

  23. #23
    Banned Katrine's Avatar
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    Quote Originally Posted by boxingdoc View Post
    I respectfully beg to differ that detoxing off alcohol does not require doctors. Mild withdrawal with shakes and irritability is one thing. More severe withdrawal with autonomic instability, agitation, hallucinations and seizures requires a continuous benzodiazepine drip and cardiac monitoring over the course many days., After that, the psychological work can begin. As mentioned above, opiate withdrawal, while painful in a very real physical sense rarely kills. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be fatal. Cocaine withdrawal has been known to be fatal.

    Former heroin addicts are on methadone because it is clean, easily controlled, and people can live relatively normal lives while getting on with the process of detoxing in a relatively painless fashion.
    Stated far better than I have. I'm too emotional to explain it objectively.

    "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?" - GB
    "And do the cats give a shit? No, they do not. Why? Because they're cats."-from The Onion

    Quote Originally Posted by Mia M
    If a cupcake was tossed at me... well, I'd only be upset if it missed my mouth

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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    Quote Originally Posted by cameron_keys View Post
    I totally understand where you are coming from..but I think Yek (and Yek..correct me if I read you wrong)was comparing the differance between a habit(which you can break and recover from yourself) and an actual addiction(which you need help for).

    I've had many periods where I was drinking every day..esp when I was working a LOT...anywhere from 4-10 drinks a day or more.Just because it was there. But I wasnt addicted...so I stopped by myself without help. And never felt any withdrawl. When I wasnt in that environment all the time anymore...I didnt feel the need or desire to drink as much.

    Someone who is truly addicted however would need professional help to combat the physical and mental symptoms of withdrawl.
    alcohol tolerance does vary by person somewhat, but 'periods' of heavy/binge drinking that last a few days generally don't do it. it does take a few weeks to hit a point where withdrawal might occur (unless you are one of those unlucky few who experiences withdrawal symptoms after 2-3 days of heavy drinking) now i'd be damned interested to hear about someone drinking say 7 drinks a day for 6 or 8 weeks straight who experienced zero withdrawal symptoms.

  25. #25
    cameron_keys
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    Default Re: symptoms of alcohol withdrawal??

    Quote Originally Posted by miabella View Post
    alcohol tolerance does vary by person somewhat, but 'periods' of heavy/binge drinking that last a few days generally don't do it. it does take a few weeks to hit a point where withdrawal might occur (unless you are one of those unlucky few who experiences withdrawal symptoms after 2-3 days of heavy drinking) now i'd be damned interested to hear about someone drinking say 7 drinks a day for 6 or 8 weeks straight who experienced zero withdrawal symptoms.
    True...that was my point in differentiating between a habit and an addiction.

    I've done 6-7 drinks a day for 4-5 + days a week for months. Not EVERY day..but WAY more then what an average person would drink. And no withdrawl.
    But like I said...I was drinking it because it was there in the club. Because it became a habit...when I wasnt in the club I had no craving for it. So it was not an addiction..therefore, no withdrawl.
    But I also have an extremely high tolerance and dont have a particularly addictive personality, so someone else drinking like that may develop an addiction even though I did not.

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