Giving up habitual drinking may be one of the best decisions you can make. However, whether you are a binge drinker or a suffering alcoholic, the truth of the matter is that alcohol withdrawal (though natural and healthy) is not an easy process, at all. Symptoms can range from extremely mild to painfully severe, based on your dependency on the chemical. However, scientists have recently determined that another factor could easily determine why victims suffer from different forms of withdrawal: genetics. Let’s take a closer look at this painful process and see why your gene pool can determine how much you suffer.
What Happens During Alcohol Withdrawal?
Doctors explain that alcohol depresses the nervous system. In other words, once you consume the substance, message travel at a slower pace along the nerve receptors in your brain. After a while, the central nervous system requires a boost of alcohol to function properly. Once you stop consuming alcohol, the brain begins to readjust, and this process is what we refer to as withdrawal.
Short-term, less severe side effects can involve:
- Shakiness and anxiety
- Nausea and vomiting
- Changes in sleeping patterns/sleeplessness
- Severe headaches
Alternatively, more severe side effects may include:
- Delirium and confusion
- Increased heartbeat and blood pressure
- Severe bouts of sweating and headaches
- Delirium tremors (including hallucinations)
How Genes Determine Withdrawal Severity
Recent studies indicate that a person’s genes can determine 50% of a risk for developing an alcohol abuse disorder or severe form of alcoholism, but scientists have also argued that this factor is also a determinant for the severity of withdrawal. As part of an association study on population groups, researchers discovered that SORCS2 may influence how the brain reacts to the removal of alcohol (based on chemical reactions in the central nervous system). Even more interesting, this same study confirmed that African American people do not appear to carry this gene.
In the end, scientists are hopeful that this genome study could open doorways for more investigative research and improvements in therapy and rehabilitation programs for recovering alcoholics and alcohol abusers.
Always remember that alcohol does not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from an alcohol abuse disorder or a severe form of alcoholism? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Out counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your alcoholism troubles today.
