Signs of Alcohol Withdrawal
People who suddenly stop or decrease their alcohol intake after a period of regular or binge drinking may notice signs of alcohol withdrawal. These withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, low mood, excessive sweating, tremors, and headaches. They happen because the brain adjusts its chemistry to balance out alcohol’s depressant effects. This is why most signs of alcohol withdrawal correspond to those that occur when the brain is overstimulated.
Alcohol Misuse and Binge Drinking
It is not always obvious when your alcohol use has moved from casual drinking to misuse. Oftentimes, the first sign is the thought that your drinking may be affecting you more than you would like. For some people, alcohol misuse may show up as periods of heavier drinking that seem harmless initially, while for others it might mean stretches of moderation followed by nights where the drinking feels harder to manage. Binge drinking—having several drinks in a short time—can be especially tough on both the body and mind, often leaving people feeling exhausted, uneasy, or disconnected the next day.
Patterns like these can increase the likelihood of becoming physically dependent and developing alcohol use disorder. When someone becomes dependent, cutting back or stopping can trigger withdrawal. These symptoms can be overwhelming, and many people return to drinking to find relief.
What Causes Alcohol Withdrawal?
Alcohol withdrawal develops because long-term, heavy drinking changes the way the brain functions. Typically, the brain maintains a delicate balance between chemicals that calm activity and those that stimulate it. Alcohol disrupts that balance, and with repeated use, the brain adapts to this new “normal.” Those adaptations keep things in check as long as drinking continues, but once alcohol use stops or is cut back sharply, the brain is thrown into overdrive. This overactive state is what produces withdrawal.
Two brain chemicals are vital in this process: gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate. GABA is the brain’s main calming chemical, while glutamate is the main excitatory one. Drinking alcohol boosts GABA’s effects, slowing brain activity, while also suppressing glutamate, which is why drinking can bring on relaxation, sedation, or a temporary drop in anxiety. Over time, the brain compensates by releasing less GABA and increasing glutamate activity, essentially working against the effects of alcohol. This is why someone who drinks regularly often needs more alcohol over time to feel the same effects—a process known as tolerance.
When a person suddenly reduces or stops taking alcohol, that carefully adjusted balance falls apart. With less GABA and more glutamate firing, the brain becomes hyper-aroused. This state can trigger a wide range of withdrawal symptoms. Signs of alcohol withdrawal may start just a few hours after the last drink and can vary widely in intensity.
What Are the Signs of Alcohol Withdrawal?
When your brain has gotten used to heavy drinking, it needs time to find balance again once the alcohol is gone. During this adjustment period, signs of alcohol withdrawal can appear in a fairly predictable order. Everyone experiences withdrawal differently; some may notice only a few uncomfortable symptoms, while others may have more severe ones.
Tremors (shakes): These are often the first sign, showing up 5 to 10 hours after the last drink and usually peaking around 24 to 48 hours. Along with trembling, you may notice a rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, fast breathing, sweating, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, irritability, sleep problems, or even vivid dreams and nightmares.
Alcohol hallucinosis: This typically begins within 12 to 24 hours after your last drink and can last up to two days. During this time, people may see or feel things that aren’t really there. It’s common to see small moving shapes—like insects crawling or coins dropping—or even more detailed, vivid visions.
Alcohol withdrawal seizures: Seizures can happen anywhere from 6 to 48 hours after the last drink, often in clusters over several hours. The risk is highest around the 24-hour mark.
Delirium tremens (DTs): It is the most severe manifestation of alcohol withdrawal. It usually begins 2 to 3 days after stopping alcohol, but can sometimes be delayed up to a week. DTs peak at around 4 to 5 days and involve dangerous shifts in the body’s basic functions—breathing, circulation, and temperature control. Heart rate and blood pressure may climb to risky levels, dehydration can set in, and blood flow to the brain may be reduced. Symptoms include confusion, disorientation, extreme agitation or aggression, irrational thoughts, heavy sweating, sleep disturbances, hallucinations, and, in severe cases, loss of consciousness.
Pride Detox Will Support Your Alcohol Withdrawal Process
If you or someone you love is LGBTQ+ and struggling with alcohol, recovery is possible with Pride Detox. Alcohol use disorder is a real illness, and like any illness, it deserves care and treatment and we just happen to have an alcohol detox for the LGBTQ community. We will support you through the process, prescribe medications that ease withdrawal symptoms, and help you transition into our LGBTQ-affirming alcohol rehab program when the detox period is over. You can call us at 866-381-8221 if you are ready for a safe and sustainable recovery.
Many people do go back to feeling like themselves after alcohol withdrawal, though it takes time. In the early stages, sleep difficulties, low mood, or anxiety can still come up as your brain and body adjust. With steady support, your energy, focus, and emotional well-being often improve. And for many, recovery does not just take them back to “normal,” it transforms them into a more fulfilled, more grounded version of themselves, sometimes even discovering strengths they did not know they had.
You cannot prevent alcohol withdrawal symptoms if your body has become dependent, but you can take steps to make the process safer and more manageable. Stopping suddenly on your own is risky, especially if you have been drinking heavily. Entering a supervised detox program is the best way to lower risks and ease discomfort during withdrawal.
When you go through alcohol withdrawal in a treatment setting, you will have medical professionals by your side to keep you safe and as comfortable as possible. They may give you medications to ease the most difficult symptoms and check in regularly to see how you are feeling. You will also get hydration and nutrition support that helps your body recover and lowers the risk of complications. Medical detox eases the withdrawal process and prepares you for long-term recovery support.
Call us today for LGBTQ+ affirming substance use detox?
Our team of compassionate professionals understands the unique challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community in seeking treatment, and we are here to provide the support and care you need to begin your journey towards recovery.