Choosing not to drink can be challenging, not just in your body, but in the world around you.

There may be temptation.
Questions from others.
Moments where you feel the need to explain yourself, justify your choice, or make people comfortable with it.

A gentle reminder: you don’t owe anyone an explanation.
This is about choosing yourself.

If you’re here, even considering change, that already deserves recognition.
It takes courage to step away from what’s been normalised, especially when society often questions those who don’t drink.

As your body and mind adjust, things may feel unfamiliar, sometimes uncomfortable.
That doesn’t mean something is wrong.
It means something is changing.

Which brings us to something important to understand:

Alcohol Withdrawal: What Causes It, What It Feels Like, and How Long It Lasts

If you’ve ever stopped drinking and felt shaky, anxious, foggy, or “off,” you’re not imagining it — and you’re not failing.

Alcohol withdrawal happens because the body and brain adapt to regular alcohol use over time. When alcohol is suddenly removed, the nervous system needs time to recalibrate. That adjustment period is what we call withdrawal.

Understanding what’s happening, and knowing when to seek support, can make the process safer, calmer, and far less frightening.

Why Alcohol Withdrawal Happens

Alcohol is a depressant. It slows down the nervous system and dampens brain activity.

Over time, the brain compensates by becoming more alert and reactive — essentially turning up its own “stimulating” systems to balance the alcohol.

When alcohol is removed suddenly:

• the calming effect disappears

• but the heightened stimulation remains

This can lead to symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, nausea, tremors, and in more severe cases, seizures or delirium.

Withdrawal isn’t weakness.
It’s the nervous system re-learning how to regulate itself.

How Long Does Alcohol Withdrawal Last?

The duration and intensity of withdrawal vary widely and depend on:

• how much alcohol was consumed

• how often and for how long

• overall physical and mental health

That said, most people follow a general pattern.

Physical withdrawal

• Usually peaks 48–72 hours after the last drink

• Often improves within 7–10 days

• In some cases, symptoms can last up to two weeks

Psychological withdrawal

• Symptoms like anxiety, low mood, cravings, or sleep disruption

• Can persist for weeks or months as the brain fully recalibrates

The Four Stages of Alcohol Withdrawal

Stage 1: Early Withdrawal (6–12 hours)

Symptoms may include:

• headache

• anxiety or restlessness

• nausea or stomach pain

• poor appetite

• insomnia

This stage can feel uncomfortable but is often manageable with support.

Stage 2: Intensifying Symptoms (12–48 hours)

Withdrawal may escalate to include:

• increased anxiety or agitation

• tremors

• nausea and vomiting

• hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)

• seizures (in some cases)

This stage can be more serious and should be monitored closely.

Stage 3: Peak Withdrawal (48–72 hours)

This is usually the most intense and dangerous phase of alcohol withdrawal.

By this point, the nervous system — which has adapted to alcohol’s depressant effects — is suddenly left overstimulated. The brain is firing too fast, stress hormones surge, and the body struggles to regulate itself.

Symptoms can include:

• Fever and heavy sweating

• Severe anxiety or agitation

• Confusion, disorientation, or inability to focus

• Rapid heart rate (tachycardia)

• High blood pressure

• Tremors or shaking

In severe cases, this stage can progress to delirium tremens (DTs). Delirium tremens is the most severe form of alcohol withdrawal and is considered a medical emergency.

It typically occurs 48–72 hours after the last drink, but can appear later in some people.

DTs are caused by extreme nervous system instability after prolonged heavy drinking, especially in people who:

• have been drinking heavily for years

• have had previous withdrawal episodes

• have underlying health issues

Symptoms of DTs can include:

• Severe confusion or delirium

• Visual or auditory hallucinations

• Extreme agitation or restlessness

• Seizures

• Very high heart rate and blood pressure

• Fever

Without treatment, DTs can be life-threatening, with risks including heart complications, seizures, and severe dehydration.

Not everyone who stops drinking will experience DTs.
But for heavy or long-term drinkers, suddenly quitting without medical support can be dangerous.

This is why alcohol withdrawal is not just about “willpower.”
It’s a physiological process, rooted in how the brain and nervous system adapt to alcohol over time.

Stage 4: Recovery Phase (After 72 hours)

After the peak:

• physical symptoms usually begin to ease

• sleep gradually improves

• appetite returns

• anxiety and shakiness reduce

Over the next 4–7 days, most physical symptoms continue to fade.

A Crucial Safety Note

Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous, especially for people who:

• drink heavily or daily

• have experienced withdrawal before

• have underlying health conditions

Never attempt to detox alone if you’re unsure of your risk. Medical support can make withdrawal safer, more comfortable, and far less frightening.

If symptoms escalate or feel unmanageable, seek medical help immediately.

What Helps With Alcohol Withdrawal

Support makes a real difference. Alcohol withdrawal isn’t something the body and mind need to navigate alone. Depending on the person and level of use, helpful support can include:

• Medical guidance or supervised detox, especially for moderate to severe withdrawal

• Hydration and nutrition, to support physical recovery and stabilise the body

• Nervous system support, such as rest, gentle movement, and stress reduction

• Psychological and emotional support, to address fear, anxiety, and overwhelm

Beyond the acute withdrawal phase, longer-term support becomes equally important.

This is where approaches that work with the subconscious and nervous system, such as hypnotherapy, can be particularly helpful.

Hypnotherapy doesn’t replace medical care, but it can support recovery by helping the brain and nervous system relearn safety and regulation without alcohol. Many drinking behaviours are driven by subconscious patterns — stress relief, emotional numbing, habit loops — rather than conscious choice alone.

By working at this deeper level, hypnotherapy may help:

• reduce anxiety and nervous system hyperarousal

• ease cravings by addressing underlying triggers

• shift automatic coping patterns linked to alcohol

• support emotional regulation and resilience

• reduce the risk of relapse by making change feel calmer and more sustainable

Rather than relying on willpower, hypnotherapy supports the mind and body in building new responses — helping recovery extend beyond “getting through withdrawal” toward a more stable, regulated relationship with alcohol, stress, and self-care.

Final thought

Alcohol withdrawal isn’t a sign that you “can’t cope.”
It’s a sign that your body adapted,  and now it needs support to find balance again.

This isn’t about pushing through or proving strength.
It’s about regulation.
Safety.
Letting your nervous system relearn calm.

With the right information and the right support, withdrawal doesn’t have to be something you endure alone.
It can be the beginning of a steadier, more regulated relationship with yourself and your health.

For many people, approaches like hypnotherapy can help by working with the subconscious patterns behind drinking,  supporting calm, reducing cravings, and making long-term change feel more natural, not forced.

You don’t have to do this perfectly.
You just don’t have to do it alone.

If you’re curious about change, our 30-day sober challenge is a gentle place to begin.