Drinking culture in the UK is pretty aggressive, but if you’ve decided that enough is enough, there are a few symptoms you might need to prepare for.
If you feel like you’ve been spending too much time at the bottom of a glass, it might be time to stop altogether.
Depending on how heavy your drinking was, you might even need to consult a doctor first to ensure you’re doing it the safest way possible.
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Right now, the NHS advises that men and women should consume no more than 14 units a week on a regular basis.
If you exceed this amount and find that you’re drinking all the time, speak to someone professional to help you with your sober journey.
But beware, you could expect to feel pretty awful for a bit.
Brett Prylinski, D.O., a family medicine physician at Piedmont explained what can happen to you.
It's because your brain and body gets used to the amount of alcohol you’re consuming, and when it’s suddenly stripped away, it overreacts.
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Not only can you experience seizures, but you can also go on to have brain fog, fever, hallucinations, headaches, and shaky hands during this period.
Sometimes, withdrawal can be fatal, which is why if you drink extensively, your doctor may refer you to a detoxification clinic or a treatment facility to help you through it.
According to UK Addiction Treatment Centres, an alcohol detox ‘clears your system of addictive substances so that you can start treatment with a clear mind’.
The website states: “Although it is not an easy process, it is a very important first step on the road to long-term recovery. Alcohol detox is best done under the guidance of medical professionals because you are likely to experience some level of withdrawal.”
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If you drink excessively, the organisation explains that your brain creates a chemical imbalance. This is because it produces chemicals called neurotransmitters ‘that act as stimulants to balance out alcohol’s depressant effects’.
So, reducing or stopping alcohol and detoxing can cause these alcohol withdrawal symptoms to arise.
According to the organisation, you could even be at risk of stokes because of these symptoms, which are known as delirium tremens (DTs).
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If the symptoms continue for as long as a week, they can cause serious health issues such as a stroke, a heart attack, or even death.
On the other end of the stick, your early days of sobriety can be very healing.
Not only can your anxiety decrease, but your skin will look better, and you might even lose weight.
Your quality of sleep might also improve during the first couple of months.
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But the most important way you can reap the rewards is to steer clear of a relapse.
You could attend groups like AA so that you have your own support, and you’ll also be able to help others in their journey to sobriety too.
According to the NHS, there are more than seven and a half million people in the UK who all show signs of alcohol dependence.
Alcohol has even ranked as the third leading preventable cause of death in the UK after smoking and obesity-related diseases.
So, do yourself a favour and take care of your body and mind.
Topics: Alcohol, Mental Health, Health
Britt Jones