Have you noticed your hands shaking a bit a few hours after drinking alcohol? Do you tremble if it has been a while since your last drink? If so, you’re not alone. Alcohol-related shakes and tremors are more common than you might think. Though many people associate them with alcohol addiction, that’s not necessarily the case. Heavy drinking, occasional binge drinking, and other forms of alcohol consumption can also cause tremors.
What does that trembling mean, though? In short, it’s a symptom of alcohol withdrawal and the result of substance abuse. Tremors are often more noticeable in the hands, but they can extend to other parts of the body as well. They can interfere with your life in a few ways. Some people find them embarrassing, but they generally go away after a time. In some cases, though, seeking help from the best rehab in california may be necessary to overcome alcohol-related tremors and other symptoms of withdrawal.
What Causes Alcohol-Related Shakes and Tremors?
Now, let’s delve deeper into the causes of alcohol-related shakes and tremors. They’re a side effect of chronic alcohol abuse and its impact on the nervous system. Excessive and prolonged alcohol use can cause changes in the brain’s neurotransmitter levels. Those changes interfere with signals in the brain that keep you calm and steady.
Over time, your body becomes accustomed to the presence of alcohol. If you suddenly stop drinking, your nervous system essentially overreacts to stimuli that wouldn’t ordinarily affect you. Those reactions manifest themselves in your hands and other parts of the body. Consuming more alcohol can ease the tremors, but once it’s out of your system, they’ll return.
Understanding Other Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
It’s important to understand that shakes and tremors are only one of the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. They may seem relatively harmless other than making you feel a bit unsteady and self-conscious, but they’re warning signs of deeper and progressively more dangerous problems. Within a few hours after taking your last drink, you may start to notice tremors. From there, you may start feeling nauseous and anxious. Some other symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are mood swings, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. You may have trouble sleeping or experience unusually vivid nightmares as well.
Delirium tremens could also set in. This condition often arises within two days or so of your last drink. At that point, trembling could intensify and be accompanied by more serious symptoms. Those include rapid heartbeat, fever, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, and dangerously high blood pressure.
Dealing with Withdrawal Symptoms
Consuming more alcohol may keep those symptoms at bay, but that’s not the best way to deal with withdrawal. Trying to forge through it alone isn’t the best option, either. In fact, it could be dangerous or even deadly. Seeking professional help is recommended. Medically supervised detox programs allow you to go through withdrawal in a safe environment where physicians can intervene if needed. From there, a rehab program can further propel you toward recovery.
Overcoming Alcoholism
Alcohol-related tremors are a physical sign of the body’s dependence on alcohol. They mean your nervous system is reacting to the absence of alcohol. They’re often an early warning sign of more severe symptoms to come. If you tremble when there’s no alcohol in your system, consider turning to professionals for help. They can help you weather withdrawal and give you the tools your body and mind need to overcome alcohol abuse.
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I'm Alice and I live with a dizzying assortment of invisible disabilities, including ADHD and fibromyalgia. I write to raise awareness and end the stigma surrounding mental and chronic illnesses of all kinds.
