How to Overcome a Fear of Alcohol Withdrawal After Quitting

If you have wanted to quit drinking alcohol but were hesitant to do so because you feared that the withdrawal symptoms would be too severe, you are not alone. Many people are afraid that if they quit drinking, withdrawal symptoms could be difficult to manage, or even dangerous.

You may have tried to quit drinking alcohol cold turkey and discovered that the symptoms you experienced were more severe than you anticipated. Maybe you decided to go back to drinking just to relieve those symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are the primary reason that many people quickly relapse when they attempt to quit.

Managing Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

Make no mistake about it, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be severe, and in some cases fatal. If you are a daily drinker, a heavy drinker, or a frequent binge drinker, suddenly quitting will likely produce a wide range of uncomfortable symptoms.

But there is help available for people trying to give up alcohol, even after a lifetime of heavy drinking. Treatments can greatly reduce or eliminate most of the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

Treatments for Alcohol Withdrawal

The best way to quit alcohol while avoiding unpleasant withdrawal symptoms is to ask for help. If you have decided that it is in your best interest to stop drinking, one option is to seek help from your family doctor or primary healthcare provider. There are specific medical treatments that will stop or reduce most of the symptoms you could experience if you quit cold turkey.

Benzodiazepines (tranquilizers) are the main treatment for symptoms of withdrawal, like the shakes, and are also key to preventing serious complications such as delirium tremens (DTs). Your healthcare provider may also suggest vitamins and dietary changes help with your withdrawal symptoms.

Professional Detox Programs

Another alternative, especially if you have experienced severe withdrawal in the past, is to check yourself into a professional detoxification facility. Detox programs involve short-term (usually less than seven days) inpatient treatment during which specially trained professionals monitor your withdrawal closely and administer medications as needed.

One advantage of in-patient detox is that you will be away from your usual drinking triggers and therefore be less likely to pick up a drink to stop symptoms when they begin. You do not have to have reached a crisis point to check into detox. People voluntarily check in every day.

A Word From Verywell

If you need to quit drinking, don't let alcohol withdrawal scare you off. There are medications and treatments available that can help you get through those first early days of no alcohol consumption. You don't have to do it on your own.