Is Shaking After Drinking Normal?

Many people start out drinking occasionally or binge drinking during their younger years, only to end up developing an addiction to alcohol. It can be easy for someone to fool themselves that they have things under control, but some side effects can cause real concern. If someone finds they are shaking after drinking, they may need to look for treatment for alcohol addiction. Tampa Bay Recovery provides a highly effective detox in St. Petersburg and several outpatient programs that help people face their addiction. Our team provides discreet, compassionate care that helps people learn the power they have to stop drinking and enjoy sobriety.

What is Alcoholism?

When someone develops an addiction to alcohol and cannot quit on their own, they have an alcohol use disorder. This chronic disease is also known as alcoholism. The individual develops a physical and psychological reliance on alcohol and often increases the amount they drink due to developing a tolerance for it. When they try to quit drinking, they experience withdrawal symptoms that can be medical and emotional in nature. For some, this includes shaking after drinking. The person may not understand the correlation between shaking and alcoholism. As well, those close to them may not make the connection between this physical symptom and addiction to alcohol.

What Does Shaking After Drinking Mean?

When someone finds that they sometimes experience shaking after drinking, it can be a sign that they have developed an addiction to alcohol. In fact, the symptom happens so much that many refer to it as “the alcohol shakes”. Shaking after drinking is a withdrawal symptom, and anyone experiencing it should look for professional alcohol addiction treatment. Despite its reputation for being a mood elevator, alcohol is actually a depressant. When a person drinks, it interferes with the brain’s ability to naturally produce feel-good chemicals. After dependency on alcohol develops, a person’s brain becomes accustomed to a reduced level of these hormones and craves alcohol to produce them.

After several hours or more have passed without a person consuming alcohol, the nervous system becomes hyperactive. The body demonstrates a need for alcohol by shaking. Once the person begins drinking again, the shaking stops. Someone who binge drinks may also find that part of their hangover symptoms includes shaking. Their hands or entire body may shake, depending on the amount of alcohol they consumed. 

Symptoms of Alcoholism That Contribute to Shaking After Drinking

Someone who has become an alcoholic will exhibit symptoms of their disease. In fact, there are certain symptoms that, if an individual has them, make it more likely they will experience shaking after drinking. The symptoms include:

• Develops a tolerance for alcohol and drinks increased amounts
• Tries to quit drinking without professional help and fails
• Consumes alcohol daily or several days per week
• Work, school, and interest in hobbies and pastimes suffer due to drinking
• Relationships are damaged because of alcohol consumption, including romantic partners, family, and friendships
• Development of medical symptoms attributable to alcoholism

Is Shaking After Drinking the Same Thing as Delirium Tremens?

It’s important to understand the difference between shaking after drinking and delirium tremens. Delirium tremens, often called “the DTs”, is a severe withdrawal symptom that can happen when someone stops drinking alcohol. It can cause a person to shake and have seizures and, if untreated, can even lead to death. The possibility of developing delirium tremens is an important reason for people who want to stop drinking to attend professional treatment. A detox program provides medical supervision that can quickly respond to the development of delirium tremens and keep the person safe. 

How is Alcohol Addiction Treated?

Someone who experiences shaking after drinking and goes to alcohol rehab may not know exactly what to expect. Rehab covers several levels of treatment that prepare a person to live a sober life. The first step is going to a detox program. This can mean moving into a facility for several days. For those who qualify, outpatient detox can provide the safe supervision they need during the all-important first days of sobriety. After detox, some people transition to continued care in a residential facility.

After residential care or as an alternative to it, several levels of outpatient care are available to people recovering from alcoholism. These levels include:

• Outpatient Rehab (OP)
• Tampa Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
• Virtual IOP
• Long-term Addiction Treatment
• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

Additionally, many people do well staying in a sober living home while they attend outpatient treatment sessions. 

Get Help For Alcoholism Today

Do you find yourself shaking after drinking and are concerned about what to do? Physical effects like shaking can indicate a serious medical situation, as well as a true addition to alcohol. When this happens, you need a program designed to treat alcoholism by using the latest modern treatment modalities. Tampa Bay Recovery uses evidence-based types of therapies to help you get sober and stay that way. We also provide prescription medications to help ease withdrawal symptoms and make completing our detox and other outpatient levels of care easier to accomplish. 

Is it time to get serious about your alcohol addiction and reach out for the quality help you deserve? Contact us now and we can answer any questions you have about our program.