Passing out and missing work after a night of binge drinking is not the worst thing that can happen to you. Even losing your job comes second to the worst part of heavy alcohol use.
The most severe consequence of drinking too much, and then trying to stop, is alcohol withdrawal and its symptoms. The most awful and even life-threatening part of this process is experiencing delirium tremens.
Delirium tremens (DTs), or ‘delirium,’ is an often misunderstood and incredibly frightening complication that arises from quitting alcohol abruptly. While it is one of many withdrawal symptoms, delirium tremens represents the most severe of the lot.
The Road to Alcohol Withdrawal
Increased alcohol use is a slippery slope, as they say. If you find yourself drinking more and more, you will eventually get to the point where you want to stop. If you have been drinking for a long time, it will not be easy just to quit.
Ongoing, heavy alcohol consumption has a devastating effect on your brain’s chemical balance. Moreover, alcohol depresses your central nervous system.
Over time, your brain must adapt to the new state of things by increasing the production of specific chemicals. It does this to compensate for the dampening effects of excessive alcohol.
When you suddenly stop drinking, your brain becomes hyperactive because its neurotransmitters are disrupted. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is no longer suppressed by alcohol, which means you will experience anxiety, irritability, and restlessness.
This leads to withdrawal symptoms that are commonly associated with ‘alcohol detox,’ including delirium tremens.
The Effects of Delirium Tremens
Experts continue to research the DT phenomenon, which is believed to happen because of several factors.
For instance, as mentioned above, chronic alcohol use affects GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter. It also disrupts glutamate, which is an excitatory neurotransmitter. When you take away alcohol from the brain’s balance equation, overstimulation occurs. This triggers the symptoms of DTs.
Furthermore, your nervous system regulates several important bodily functions, including heart rate and blood pressure. When you experience delirium tremens, your nervous system spirals. This causes symptoms like tremors, excessive sweating, and heart palpitations.
Some studies suggest heavy alcohol use could contribute to chronic low-grade inflammation in the body. If your body is already inflamed, DTs can worsen the situation and make your withdrawal symptoms more severe.
Confusion and Hallucinations
The hallmark symptoms of delirium tremens are what makes withdrawal so terrifying to most people. DTs often appear within 24 to 72 hours of having a last drink. For some, it can take up to a week for DTs to manifest.
A common but severe symptom of DTs is mental confusion. This means disorientation or being unable to focus on anything. If you already experience restlessness and anxiety, it will probably get worse when confusion sets in. Furthermore, you may also experience an unshakeable feeling of impending doom.
Even worse, when delirium tremens sets in, you may start hearing and seeing things that do not exist. These hallucinations may be auditory or visual and can become horrifyingly real, even though there is nothing in the room with you.
Another symptom that may worsen during DTs is tremors. You may experience your hands shaking uncontrollably one or two days into withdrawal.
Unfortunately, you may also suffer severe seizures, which is another complication of delirium tremens.
Delirium Tremens Constitute a Medical Emergency
Delirium tremens can be fatal if left untreated. This is why it should always be treated as a medical emergency and why you should never attempt to ‘detox’ from alcohol on your own.
Delirium tremens can and should only be treated by medical professionals. A doctor will observe and treat your symptoms to reduce the chance of further complications.
The treatment usually includes sedatives to calm an overly excited nervous system. Sometimes, sedatives do not work, so a doctor may use anaesthesia instead. If you are prescribed anaesthesia during your withdrawal, you will stay fully sedated until your symptoms stop.
Other medications you may need include anticonvulsants if you suffer seizures and antipsychotic drugs to prevent you from experiencing hallucinations. You may also need medication to lower your blood pressure and additional medication to regulate your heartbeat.
Several other complications make medical treatment a must during alcohol withdrawal. This includes dehydration due to sweating, vomiting, and fever. Even mild dehydration will disrupt your body’s electrolyte balance. Severe dehydration can cause organ failure.
Moreover, if you experience severe withdrawal symptoms, you are at risk of WKS (Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome). This is a permanent brain disorder caused by a thiamine deficiency which develops during severe withdrawal. This typically happens if the person going through withdrawal is malnourished.
Action Plan for Withdrawal Symptoms
If you decide to stop drinking, your first step should be to seek help from professionals. This could include contacting a medical or rehabilitation facility to guide you through the withdrawal process in person.
Eating nourishing foods and drinking plenty of water is important if you have already stopped drinking. Remember that this will not keep severe withdrawal symptoms at bay but can help prevent dehydration and support the healing process.
It is also important to remember that while delirium tremens is a serious condition, it can be treated successfully. If you get the medical intervention you need, you can recover and move on to a life of sobriety.
Let HARP Guide You on the Road to Recovery
The qualified clinical teams at the HARP Private Rehab facilities have years of lived and practical experience in guiding patients through the withdrawal process. They know exactly how hard delirium tremens is on the body and how to treat patients safely to the other side of these symptoms.
There is no need to try and go through withdrawal on your own. With the help of HARP, you can recover from alcohol addiction through a combination of clinical and therapeutic methods.
HARP focuses on healing and rehabilitating the mind, body, and soul. This means getting to the root of your drinking habits and eliminating dangerous triggers.
HARP will help you create and implement an action plan for the worst alcohol withdrawal symptoms and be there every step of the way as you heal and recover.
