Starting the path toward sobriety can be a scary one, especially when you realize that you’ll have to cope without alcohol. That said, you may eventually reach a breaking point where you accept that you have a drinking problem and it’s time to quit. When this realization hits, you might be tempted to immediately take action and throw out every last drop of alcohol. However, understanding safe approaches to alcohol detox is essential for your safety, and suddenly ceasing alcohol consumption when you’re dependent is dangerous.
Alcohol consumption varies from person to person from casual drinking to alcohol use disorder (AUD), but regardless of what your preconceived notions are about what alcoholism looks like, it can manifest differently in everyone. If you’re feeling the urge to stop drinking, you should know that this is a step in the direction, and acknowledging that you have a problem is an indication of healthy self reflection.
By seeking professional detox programs and understanding what happens to alcohol-dependent bodies when you suddenly stop drinking, you can build on this momentum of positive self-improvement and approach detox safely.
How Alcohol Dependency Impacts Your Body
When addressing your alcohol dependence, it’s important to understand how it’s affecting your brain and body. Having alcohol intertwined in your life can numb your emotions and prevent you from being present. This contributes to the apprehension of cutting back on alcohol, but by learning about how alcoholism leads to biological changes, you can ensure you take the proper safety measures.
How alcohol changes the brain
If you have developed an alcohol dependency, your brain adapts to the frequent presence of alcohol in your system and becomes damaged as pleasure receptors get overused 1 . Even short-term alcohol abuse impacts your coordination and memory, potentially leading to blackouts, loss of memory, and even seizures for those who are predisposed.
Over time, you become accustomed to the amount of alcohol in your body, leading to tolerance increases and drinking more to achieve the same desirable effects. However, your tolerance for alcohol poisoning does not adjust proportionally, making you increasingly more vulnerable to overdosing.
Risk factors and symptoms for severe alcohol withdrawal
Detoxing from alcohol under the supervision of medical professionals is critical for your safety and wellbeing, and self-detoxing at home is never recommended. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome comes with symptoms that vary in severity based on the amount and frequency you consume alcohol.
Milder to moderate withdrawal symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include:
- Tremors.
- Sleep disturbances.
- Excessive sweating.
- Intense cravings.
- Fever or headaches.
- Nausea or upset stomach.
- Increased heart rate.
- Irritability, mild anxiety, and fatigue.
More severe withdrawal symptoms that are medical emergencies include:
- Delirium tremens (DTs).
- Seizures.
- Extreme dehydration from profuse sweating and vomiting.
- Severe cardiovascular complications, such as irregular heart beat and palpitations.
- Hallucinations and complete disorientation.
Alcohol withdrawal seizures and DTs are particularly of note due to their fatality risk, rapid onset and progression, and tremendous stress that’s placed on your heart and central nervous system.
Delirium tremens: a medical emergency
If you’re experiencing DTs, call 911 and seek medical attention immediately. Reduce excessive stimulation, stay calm, and take note of your symptoms. If your supervising a person experiencing DTs, stay by their side even when they reach the hospital, and provide healthcare personnel with any relevant information about their medical history.
DTs are a life-threatening medical emergency that can result from alcohol withdrawal, and include symptoms like hallucinations, paranoia, excessive mood swings, and a concerningly high heart rate 2 . Co-occurring mental health disorders can further complicate these symptoms and increase the likelih0.ood that you’ll exhibit erratic or self-destructive behaviors. Therefore, alcoholism medication and carefully administered alcohol intake tapering are essential to help you go through this process with proper precautions.
Why “cold turkey” can be dangerous
When people decide to stop drinking, they may hold the belief that they just have to tough it out to get through it. Unfortunately, this can be extremely dangerous as lacking clinical guidance during detox can lead to life-threatening withdrawal complications.
Even if you aren’t on the moderate to severe end of the alcohol use spectrum, milder symptoms still deserve your attention. Going “cold turkey” has low success rates, as evidenced by research that shows that only 5% to 10% of people who attempt immediate abstinence without support achieve long-term sobriety 3 . If you’ve gone through multiple unsuccessful attempts to quit alcohol, you may relate to how frustrating and demoralizing this can be, and how it can potentially lead to more heavy drinking.
Related: Types of Medication for Addiction
The Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline and Symptoms
Noticing your alcohol withdrawal symptoms and how they progress can help you understand where you are in the recovery timeline. Here’s a breakdown to help you set expectations for your detox.
Early withdrawal phase (6-12 hours)
The beginning stages of detox are marked by symptoms like nausea, mild tremors, increased heart rate, excessive sweating, and headaches. During this time, you’ll experience abrupt changes in your body and brain chemistry, expressed through behavioral symptoms such as difficulty sleeping and irritability. Additionally, you may experience a loss of appetite and dramatic, unintended weight fluctuations as a result of your body reacclimating to the absence of alcohol.
Peak withdrawal phase (24-72 hours)
Once you have progressed past the 24-hour threshold of withdrawal, your symptoms may increase in intensity, with the severity determined by your AUD. During this stage, you may experience heart palpitations, elevated blood pressure, vomiting, intense migraines, and dramatic mood swings.
When you surpass 72 hours, severe symptoms may decrease in intensity. However, this is largely determined by your level of alcohol dependency, so keep this in mind before wondering why your condition isn’t getting better.
Extended withdrawal and post-acute withdrawal syndrome
After going through detox, some people have extended withdrawals, also known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). This means withdrawal symptoms like cravings, sleep issues, brain fog, and anxiety might persist, even after detox. PAWS might go on for months or years depending on your medical history, pre-existing conditions, and the severity and duration of your alcohol addiction.
Related: What Is Addiction Medicine?
Comprehensive Recovery Beyond Detoxification
Your work isn’t finished once you reach one week, one month, or even one year of sobriety — recovery is a lifelong journey. Post-detox care is just as important as initial detox in maintaining sobriety.
Why detox is just the beginning
Detoxing is the first step in long-term AUD treatment and primarily focuses on the controlled release of alcohol from your system. Once this process is complete, post-detox care and comprehensive addiction treatment is crucial to prevent relapse.
This is because detox only addresses the physical aspects of addiction, so if you don’t receive the proper mental health care that addresses the psychological roots and environmental factors of addiction, your relapse risk is higher. To give yourself the best chance at achieving long-term sobriety, you’ll need support systems such as relapse prevention groups, psychiatrists, therapists, counselors, or family.
Treatment options after medical detoxification
The period following detox will address the mental health factors that led to addictive behaviors, as many people drink to self-medicate and alleviate symptoms. Here’s an outline of treatment programs and support options to help you find success and happiness in sobriety.
Inpatient Programs
An inpatient detox program refers to a facility within the treatment center that provides 24/7 support from medical staff during your rehabilitation. After treatment, you’ll be invited to continue care by choosing a rehab program. These programs offer ample support through one-on-one therapy for alcoholism, family therapy, group therapy, addiction therapy, and support groups.
Outpatient Programs
There is also the option to enter an outpatient treatment program, which provides the same therapy options while allowing you to stay at your home instead of at the facility. This offers flexibility to continue with school or work, while getting the assistance you need during your recovery.
However, outpatient programs come with important limitations, such as less supervision, easier access to substances, prolonged crisis response time, and reduced intensity of treatment. If you struggle with severe AUD and have a history of relapse, outpatient programs may be discouraged in favor of inpatient treatment.
Support Groups
Support groups can help you build a sober network and provide a safe space to connect and relate with others as they navigate sobriety. Depending on your preference, you can attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Women For Sobriety (WFS), or SMART Recovery. SMART Recovery is an evidence-based approach, while AA and WFS are more closely aligned with spiritually-oriented treatment.
How Neuro Wellness Spa Can Support Alcoholism Recovery
At Neuro Wellness Spa, we welcome the opportunity to support you on your sobriety journey. We offer one-on-one talk therapy, in-person and online psychiatry, medication management, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy.
For those requiring specialized substance use treatment, we collaborate closely with our sister program Clear Behavioral Health, an independent rehabilitation center equipped to provide thorough assessment of substance use concerns and personalized rehabilitation programs. Their comprehensive services include medication-assisted detox and post-detox care designed to create a foundation for lasting recovery.
Once you have completed your treatment program, Neuro Wellness Spa is here for any ongoing needs you may have during your recovery journey. We have a compassionate care team of skilled therapists and psychiatrists that can continue your mental health care and support you on your sobriety journey. Seeking the proper detox support can not only save your life, but it’s a brave step. Make that call today and get the help you deserve.
References
- Cleveland Clinic. “Temperance Movement: Lower Alcohol Use and Avoid Delirium Tremens.” Cleveland Clinic, 5 June 2023, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25052-delirium-tremens.
- Devine, Patricia. “Medication-Assisted Treatment for Addiction – Region 5 Blog.” Nnlm.gov, 2025, news.nnlm.gov/region_5/medication-assisted-treatment-for-addiction/.
- MFT, M. W. M. (2024, December 16). Quitting alcohol Cold Turkey: Dangers of alcohol withdrawal. American Addiction Centers. https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcohol/withdrawal-detox/cold-turkey
- “Kaiser Permanente.” @Kpthrive, 2021, healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/health-encyclopedia/he.alcohol-withdrawal.aby3752.