Is there danger in withdrawal from alcohol, and what, exactly, is alcohol withdrawal?
Withdrawal from alcohol, (as with any other drug), is simply a set of symptoms that occur when a person suddenly stops using it after a long period of time. Through observation and experience over time, it is observed that there is a set of symptoms that is readily identifiable. Though not everybody may have all symptoms, they are generally easily recognized and can occur in varying degrees from light to severe. Some of the more common alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be observed by simply looking at a hangover. Headache, mild shakiness, upset stomach, and sweats are all common symptoms. The more severe symptoms that generally occur with long-term exposure to high amounts of continuous alcohol use are the "DTs". These are called delirium tremens. People would DTs generally experience anxiety, confusion, visual, aural hallucinations and seeing things that really aren't there. Stories that illustrate DTs are seeing pink elephants, the feelings of bugs crawling on a person...