Congratulations Punish, well done. However, please be careful. Quitting cold turkey can be dangerous to life threatening. Same with Valium, Heroin, and others.

What Happens When You Quit Drinking Cold Turkey?

According to an article on Industrial Safety & Hygiene News, quitting drinking abruptly when you’re dependent on alcohol can kill you. Alcohol changes your brain chemistry, especially if you have developed an addiction. This means that when you regularly consume large amounts of alcohol, the function of your brain’s neurotransmitters may change over time.

Stopping alcohol immediately can cause a sudden neurotransmitter imbalance that can impair your brain’s functions and its ability to manage other vital organs.

When people stop drinking, they may experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Sometimes, these signs and symptoms may even be more than discomfort. They may be fatal. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you stop drinking alcohol cold turkey, here are some potential complications that can occur, ranging from mild to severe.

Mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms

Nausea: You may feel sick to your stomach as the body tries to adjust without alcohol.
Headache: This is a common occurrence for people who binge drink and may be part of a hangover as the body struggles to return to normal.
Fatigue: Alcohol is a depressant and your body may experience fatigue as it tries to recuperate and function without alcohol.

Moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms

Rapid heartbeat: This is a symptom caused by impaired neurotransmitters in the vital organs. A rapid heartbeat may produce discomfort, dizziness, difficulty breathing, or chest pains.
Flu-like symptoms: Alcohol withdrawal can also feel like you’re coming down with the flu. The symptoms may include a headache, fever, runny nose, muscle pain, and fatigue.
Diarrhea: Alcohol withdrawal diarrhea is a sign of impaired bowel functioning. It is important to drink fluids when experiencing this symptom because diarrhea can lead to more serious complications, such as dehydration.
Cravings: This symptom can be difficult to ignore. Not only do you feel discomfort when you’re trying to quit abruptly, but you may also experience the intense need to drink alcohol.

Severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms

Seizures: An alcohol withdrawal seizure can be deadly, because it can also represent brain cell death. When brain cells malfunction or die, they cannot operate vital organs. Additionally, seizures in risky settings can cause fatal accidents.
Dehydration: When diarrhea is persistent and untreated, the lack of water in the body may cause confusion, seizures, kidney problems, low blood volume, or death.
Organ failure: More than a rapid or irregular heartbeat, heart failure or other organ malfunctions may occur if people quit drinking cold turkey. In 2017, actor Nelsan Ellis died of heart failure because of sudden alcohol withdrawal.
Delirium tremens (DT): Delirium tremens or DT is a serious alcohol withdrawal complication for 3-5% of people who quit abruptly. DT can produce shaking, hallucinations, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular collapse. If left untreated, the condition can be fatal.

An article in USA Today states that hundreds of people die each year because of alcohol withdrawal. Without medical supervision, people may experience serious symptoms when quitting drinking. Depending on your individual addiction it may be vital to seek professional help when attempting to recover from alcohol addiction to prevent life-threatening complications. Medical staff may monitor you or also additionally give you medication so your body can adjust to the removal of alcohol. This can be done in-patient or out-patient. https://www.sunshinebehavioralhealth.com/alcohol-addiction/quitting-alcohol-cold-turkey/