What Is Alcohol Withdrawal?
Alcohol withdrawal is what happens to your body when you suddenly stop drinking. Because you have been drinking heavily and consistently for a long time, your body has almost gotten used to the presence of alcohol. When it is not there anymore, your body reacts, and you experience a range of symptoms.
Withdrawal can hit quickly, beginning as little as 8 hours after your last drink and beginning to intensify over the next 24-48 hours.
There’s no telling how bad withdrawal will be, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. The most common mild to moderate symptoms are:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Headaches
- Alcohol cravings
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Depression
- Vomiting
In some cases, withdrawal symptoms can be severe. If you experience symptoms such as hallucinations, fever, increased heart rate or disorientation, then you should seek medical attention immediately.
The Body and Brain During Withdrawal
Your brain and body go through many changes during withdrawal as they both are trying to reverse the damage that alcohol has been doing. This is happening in all systems of the body, which is why withdrawal can come with so many symptoms.
What Happens in the Brain?
Alcohol is a depressant that affects the central nervous system (CNS). It impacts your brain’s ability to produce key neurotransmitters like GABA, which is involved in helping you sleep and reducing stress. It also impacts dopamine and serotonin, which are involved in mood regulation.
Everything goes off-kilter, and when you suddenly stop drinking, your brain tries to recover. It experiences rebound agitation and everything goes into overdrive, leading to anxiety, stress and other mental health effects of withdrawal.
What Happens in the Body?
Alcohol causes nutrient deficiency because it can impact your body’s ability to absorb and efficiently use them. Heavy drinking will also impact your diet, leading you to eat a less nutritious and balanced diet. This depletion of key vitamins and nutrients leaves your body in a poor position to recover on its own. These deficiencies will cause oxidative stress, leading to many symptoms such as fatigue and memory loss. Your immune system will be less robust, and muscle cramps and stomach issues will develop.
Why is Nutritional Support Important?
When going through withdrawal, your body is starting in last place. Nutritional support is helpful to help push your body on in a natural way and boost the healing processes that are ongoing.
Common Supplements That May Help
If you are looking to completely stop alcohol withdrawal naturally, you’re taking the wrong approach. Supplements should be part of a wider strategy to help you through withdrawal. Luckily, there are plenty of supplements out there that can help.
Vitamins
Vitamins for alcohol detox are beneficial, as alcohol causes vitamin deficiencies over time.
- B-Complex: Can help replenish nutrients and combat insomnia. They are also important for metabolic processes in the liver, so supplements can help with energy and detoxification. Vitamin B1 deficiency can lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff, a potentially fatal condition, so this supplement is a must.
- Magnesium: People with an alcohol problem tend to have lower magnesium levels. Magnesium is involved in many processes in the body, including liver function and blood pressure control. Magnesium can help with fatigue and stomach issues during withdrawal.
- Vitamin C: Can help protect your liver from oxidative stress and will strengthen your immune system.
- Herbal Support: Easing alcohol withdrawal symptoms with herbs is also an avenue to explore, as there are plenty of natural things that the Earth provides to help us.
- Ashwagandha: A herb used in Ayurvedic Indian medicine, this can help reduce anxiety and stress during withdrawal. It may also help with cravings.
- Milk thistle: This herb can help support your liver, protecting the cells and combating free radicals.
- Valerian root: With a long history in Europe, this herb is commonly used to help with insomnia and anxiety due to its sedative effects. It can help with relaxation and stress, leaving you less likely to develop alcohol cravings.
How Supplements Support Alcohol Withdrawal Naturally
If you are searching for alcohol withdrawal supplements, Sober Relief is a natural and non-addictive option to consider.
Our high-strength formula supplement contains two powerful nootropics that are designed to boost NAD+ levels in your body which have been reduced by alcohol. With higher NAD+ levels, cell function in the body will improve and can help with withdrawal-related symptoms such as restlessness, low mood, and stress.
Key features:
- 100% natural, vegan ingredients – the main components are Bacopa Monnieri, Acetate and MCT Oil Powder.
- Formulated to support calm, clarity and balance – ingredients included aid in mental boost, improving energy and helping with sleep and stress.
- Easy to integrate into daily routine – to get the benefits all you need to do is take 2 capsules daily with water.
Explore how supplements can help ease the discomfort of early recovery. The journey will be hard, but it can be made easier.
When to Seek Professional Help
Whilst alcohol withdrawal supplements can help you if the symptoms you are experiencing are mild or moderate, at other times, it will not be enough. Withdrawal can be dangerous, and professional help might be the only thing that can help. A life-threatening form of alcohol withdrawal is called Delirium Tremens, you might have heard them called DTs. Symptoms include:
- Confusion
- Tremors
- Psychosis symptoms
- Seizures
- High body temperature
A more severe alcohol withdrawal is much more likely if you have a serious, long-term alcohol addiction. Before you think about stopping drinking you should talk to your GP or get in contact with an addiction professional to plan your next steps. With professional help, you are much more likely to go through withdrawal as comfortably as possible and achieve long-term recovery.
Learn More About Natural Remedies for Alcohol Withdrawal
When going through alcohol withdrawal, your body is fighting a battle to recover. Easing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, especially mild ones, with supplements can form part of a comprehensive recovery strategy.
As you begin the journey, it’s important to remember to be compassionate to yourself and others. Every step may seem small, but in the end, they all add up to a worthwhile journey.
Check out our products at Sober Relief to learn more about alcohol withdrawal supplements and how they can help you.
