Are you afraid of going back to work? Doctor warns feeling sick and having the shakes can actually be withdrawal symptoms of alcohol by drinking too much during Christmas and New Year
- Back to work after the festive period fills millions of people with fear
- But suffering from the shakes and nausea cannot be caused by anxiety
- Dr. Mark Wright, from Southampton, says it could be withdrawal symptoms
- He said that huge amounts of alcohol are drunk during Christmas and New Year
It is the time of year that fills millions of people – they have to get back to work after drinking alcohol for two weeks and surrendering to chocolate.
But now a doctor has warned that the significant anxiety symptoms may actually be alcohol withdrawal symptoms, not the fear of returning to reality.
Dr. Mark Wright, a consultant in liver medicine at Southampton University Hospital, said that huge amounts of alcohol are drunk during Christmas and New Year.
And he warned to feel nauseous, to have the shakes, or to be irritated, may be signs that the body experiences withdrawal symptoms with such regular drinking.
But now a doctor has warned that the significant anxiety symptoms may in fact be alcohol withdrawal symptoms, not the fear of going back to reality
Dr. Wright said: ‘People up and down in the country will now feel anxious about their upcoming return to work and can also feel nauseous, shaky and irritable.
‘Far from worrying about the end of the Christmas and New Year period and the reality of work, the cause of this is for many people withdrawal symptoms of alcohol after prolonged heavy drinking.
“For those who don’t realize this, drinking more to calm that feeling is very tempting – but it’s also a great way to get addicted.”
Dr. Wright urged people not to drink to try to suppress their symptoms, and urged revelers to reduce their alcohol intake after New Year’s Eve.
He said: “Many people have had a very intense festive period in which they have consumed considerably more alcohol than normal, which will undoubtedly affect their mental state.
“The danger is that people will not realize how the body will respond to alcohol withdrawal and confuse it with fear of returning to work, which could cause more drinking.
“It is essential to avoid that and people should also use the time to think and think about how to moderate their drinking habits during special occasions and holiday seasons.”
Data released by NHS Digital earlier this year showed that there were more than 1.2 million alcohol-related admissions to hospitals in England 2017/18.
While a study published in the journal Addiction showed that 20 percent of people admitted to British hospitals were harmful drinkers and another 10 percent were alcohol dependent.
Dr. Wright added that Dry January can be used by some as an excuse to drink heavily the rest of the year.
He said: “Although I appreciate the good intentions behind the January campaign, it remains up to me to be the perfect lure for problem drinkers.
“My preference is, as I have consistently maintained, that people should be aware of their consumption all year round and strive for about 14 units per week with three to four dry days.”
“What we can say with certainty is that if someone tries a dry January and knows only a few days, they may have more problems with drinking than they think and should seek help and support immediately.”
The NHS advises men and women to drink no more than 14 units per week on a regular basis – such as weekly – to prevent health risks.
For example, a bottle of lager would contain about 1.7 units and a large glass of wine would have about three units.
Some surveys have suggested that Britons drink around 25 units every day during Christmas, simply because it is the festive period.
DO YOU DRINK TOO MUCH ALCOHOL? THE 10 QUESTIONS THAT DISCLOSE YOUR RISK
A screening tool that is widely used by medical professionals is the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tests). Developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization, the 10-question test is considered the gold standard to help determine if anyone has problems with alcohol abuse.
The test has been reproduced here with the permission of the WHO.
Answer each question and note the corresponding score to complete it.
YOUR SCORE:
0-7: You are within the sensible drinking range and have a low risk of alcohol-related problems.
About 8: Indicate harmful or hazardous drinking.
8-15: Average risk level. If you drink at your current level, you run the risk of developing problems with your health and life in general, such as work and relationships. Consider cutting back (see below for tips).
16-19: Higher risk of complications from alcohol. Cutting back on your own can be difficult at this level because you can depend on it, so you may need professional help from your doctor and / or counselor.
20 and older: Possible dependence. Your drinking is already causing problems and you could be dependent. You should definitely consider stopping gradually or at least reducing your drinking. You must seek professional help to determine your dependence level and the safest way to escape from alcohol.
Severe dependence may require medically assisted withdrawal or detox in a hospital or specialist clinic. This is due to the likelihood of severe withdrawal symptoms of alcohol in the first 48 hours that require specialist treatment.
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