Quitting alcohol cold turkey can put you at risk physically and psychologically. If you are concerned about the dangers of withdrawal from a physical dependency to alcohol, or if you are suffering from suicidal depression please do talk to a doctor before your quit date. In our online community, we are here 24/7 to encourage you. We hope you’ll share your story. We’ll share our support while you learn to live alcohol-free in a world that celebrates alcohol. However, please do detox safely with medical assistance if you are concerned about possible risk associated with alcohol detox.
Many members of our online community did indeed stop drinking alcohol cold turkey, from a level of consumption that might be considered dangerous, and suffered withdrawal symptoms that were not more intense than a hangover. But the risks involved in quitting alcohol cold turkey are specific to the individual and only a trained physician can determine the safety for you.
The following was written by one of our members, as an outline of possible withdrawal symptoms to be aware of :
If you are WITHIN THE FIRST FOUR DAYS of quitting alcohol, please pay close attention to your body as some TEMPORARY signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal may appear and can potentially be life-threatening. If you are experiencing any combination of the following:
Shaking in your hands and/or body, headaches, vomiting where you can’t keep anything down including water, racing heartbeat, confusion, or extreme weakness that does not go away or continues to get worse, please seek medical attention promptly.
In rare instances, you may have feelings of electrical shocks going through your body, hearing voices of people who are not there, seeing or feeling as if there are things touching you that you know are not physically present, please seek medical attention promptly.
Here is an online resource that may help you if you are questioning whether or not you need medical attention: https://www.mdcalc.com/ciwa-ar-alcohol-withdrawal
Please be advised that this site (BOOM) is not monitored by health professionals. We are a conglomerate of people who are working through our personal obstacles with removing alcohol from our lives in a private and relaxed forum. We are here to seek support ourselves and support others by sharing our knowledge, stories and experiences.
The BOOM Community is a sort of think tank and support group. We are quite literally here to Rethink the Drink, through writing and reading, and sharing our stories. For those of us who started BOOM Rethink the Drink and the Boozemusings Blog, this system of peer support and storytelling is the thing that helped us finally stop drinking, or learn to drink moderately, after many years of failed attempts.
As we say in our member guidelines
We are NOT trained addiction counselors. We do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, and or treatment, nor does anything on this website create a physician/patient relationship. If you require medical advice, diagnosis or treatment please seek out professional help.
This article on Stages of Alcohol-Withdrawal Symptoms From Day 1 to Day 30 and Beyond is excellent
We also recommend checking out this website AddictionGuide.Com for easily accessible information on alcohol detox. We do not recieve a commision for that link nor do we endorse the therapies that they link to, but the AddictionGuide.Com website is an excellent resource for understanding the details of alcohol detox.
In the event that you are in a crisis and need a contact hotline please refer to this list.
International Crisis Hotlines
Click here for International Online Suicide Prevention Chat Room, Hotlines and Emergency Numbers
CRISIS HOTLINES IN AUSTRALIA
Western Australia – South of Perth. Free Counselling service. South West Community Drug and Alcohol Services: 08 9721
9256
Sydney, Australia
Alcohol Drug Info Service
Phone: 02 9361 8000
Victoria, Australia
Directline Ph: 1800 888 236
Western Australia
MHC Ph: 9442500
Country Ph: 1800198024
South Australia
ADIS Ph: 1300131340
Northern Territory
ADIS ph: 1800131350
Queensland
ADIS Ph: 1800177833
Canberra
ADF ph: 1300858584
Canadian Crisis Hotlines
Get Help – Talk Suicide Canada
A website that helps with depression, suicide prevention and help finding free counselling.
Gov. of Canada Mental health support
Free and confidential mental health and substance use support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from Wellness Together Canada.
Crisis Hotlines in Portugal
SOS Voz Amiga offers emotional support to people in Portugal who are in distress or at risk of suicide.
Tel: 213544545
Tel: 912802660
Tel: 963524660
Suicide Hotlines
Suicide Hotlines provide emotional support and help to people across Portugal who are distress or at risk of suicide.
Tel: 21 854 0740
Tel: 8 96 898 2150
Voz de Apoio
Voz de Apoio provides free, punctual, anonymous, and confidential emotional support, without judgment to people in Portugal. The helpline is available from 21:00 to 00:00 in Mainland and Madeira. From 20:00 to 23:00 in Azores.
Tel: 225 50 60 70
Telefone da Amizade
Telefone da Amizade provides emotional support and help to people across Portugal who are in distress or at risk of suicide. The helpline is available every day from 16:00 to 23:00.
Tel: 22 832 35 35
Vozes Amigas de Esperança
Vozes Amigas de Esperança supports people in emotional crisis situations, helping them to find paths and tools for happiness. The helpline is available from 16:00 – 22:00.
Tel: 222 030 707
Crisis Hotlines in spain
HELPLINES
- 024 The new Spanish government free 24-hour 365-day helpline run by the Red Cross. Real time telephone interpreting service for non-Spanish speakers.
- Samaritans in Spain Free helpline in English for anyone feeling desperate, anxious or alone: 900525100 between 10am and 10pm or email pat@samaritansinspain.com. www.samaritansinspain.com
- Anar Helpline and chat for children and teens (Spanish). 900202010 www.anar.org
Crisis and Hotlines in the U.K.
Drinkline is the national alcohol helpline. If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s drinking, you can call this free helpline in complete confidence. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm).
Also worth including this link, as it lists everything for the heavy drinker and his/her family.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support/
UK SMART RECOVERY
Website: www.smartrecovery.org.uk
Crisis Hotlines in the United States
SAMHSA’s National Helpline
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
TTY: 1-800-487-4889
Website: www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
Also known as, the Treatment Referral Routing Service, this Helpline provides 24-hour free and confidential treatment referral and information about mental and/or substance use disorders, prevention, and recovery in English and Spanish.
If you are drinking too much too often maybe we can help.
WHO ARE WE?
Online Community Support to Stop Drinking – BOOM!
How to Participate in our Boom Rethink the Drink community
- check in – Daily Check in Posts
- read in BOOM – Advice from all of us for your first 30 days sober
- read in Boozemusings –30 posts for 30 days To Help You Quit Drinking
- write – How Posting in the BOOM Community can help you Rethink the Drink
- respond – A Question a Day for 31 Days to help You Quit Drinking
- discuss – A Book Club About Much More Than Quit Lit
- support – There is no “Quick Fix” – Community is the Cure
How do you go Sober?
B Be accountable Talk to Us We Understand
A Avoid alcohol like the plague Ideas Here
L Let yourself enjoy regular sober treats Ideas Here
A Allow yourself to cry when needed Ideas Here
N Nourish your body with good food Ideas Here
C Create happy & fun memories Ideas Here
E Enjoy the precious moments in your day Ideas Here
W Work hard to get what you want Ideas Here
O Organize things for less stress Ideas Here
R Realize you can’t control it all Ideas Here
K Keep going & prepare for success Ideas Here
S Sleep enough for body & mind rest Sleep Solutions
Boozemusings is a lifestyle blog and the BOOM Community is a peer support group. We are NOT trained addiction counselors but simply a community of people who have overcome or are overcoming alcohol issues. We do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor does anything on this website create a physician/patient relationship. If you require medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, please consult your physician.