The first week, up close
Someone close to you has just stopped drinking. You see restlessness, poor sleep, maybe a short fuse. And you wonder what is normal, and when you should worry.
For most people, the first week is the hardest. The good news: by the end of that week, the worst of the withdrawal is behind most people. Below you can read what often happens in each phase, and what you can do as someone close to them.
First: safety
Someone who has drunk heavily for a long time can be thrown seriously off balance physically when they stop suddenly. That can be dangerous. Encourage your loved one to talk to their GP, ideally before they stop.
Call your local emergency number straight away (112 in the Netherlands and the rest of the EU) in case of a seizure, hallucinations, severe confusion or heavy shaking. Also seek medical help immediately in case of repeated vomiting. These are not things to wait out.
The first hours to a day
The body has got used to alcohol as a sedative. When that falls away, the nervous system shifts into overdrive. The first symptoms usually start within 6 to 24 hours of the last drink, for some people after just a few hours.
Your loved one may feel restless or slightly anxious, have a headache, feel sick, sweat, have shaky hands or sleep badly. The symptoms often get stronger over the first days before they ease. That is part of the process.
Day 1 to 3: often the hardest days
Around now, withdrawal reaches its peak for many people. Poor sleep, irritability, strong restlessness, and sometimes a strong urge to drink again, just to make the symptoms stop.
This is the peak, not the new normal. For most people, the physical symptoms ease after these days. During these days especially, watch for the signs above and call for help if you see them.
Day 3 to 7: getting through the week
The worst physical symptoms often ease around day 3 to 5. Emotionally it can still be a rollercoaster, and sleep is often still unsettled. But in between there are clear, relieved moments too.
The end of the first week is a big milestone. You can read more about what happens next on the timeline.
What you can do this week
- Know the line. Know which signs mean help is needed right away. Then you won't have to hesitate when it matters.
- Don't take a short fuse personally. Irritability is part of these days. It usually says more about what the body is going through than about you.
- Help with everyday life. A meal, the shopping, taking the kids or the dog for a while. Small things take pressure off.
- Be reachable. Especially in the first days, it helps when they know they can call you, even in the middle of the night. For more on what to say, read What do you say to someone who has just stopped drinking?
- Celebrate the first week. Small and quiet is enough. Getting through a week is no small thing.
"During that first period, we gave extra attention as a family and, above all, showed a lot of understanding."
Friso, maker of Sobreasy
And don't forget yourself. This week can be hard for you too.
And after that?
After the first week, many people feel better physically. But the craving for alcohol can come back in the weeks that follow, sometimes out of nowhere. That is normal and doesn't mean things are going wrong: cravings come in waves and usually ease again. Good to know, so neither of you is caught off guard.
This is a guide, not a guarantee. Everyone's body is different, and how the first week goes depends on how much and for how long someone drank. If it goes differently, nothing has gone wrong. If in doubt, talk to a GP.