Have you or a loved one ever experienced frightening shakes or tremors upon cutting alcohol out of your diet? Or maybe you’ve been discouraged from going substance-free because the shakes are too distracting or alarming. You may feel your body trembling right now while in early recovery at our Port Matilda-based location.
If you’re in detox or residential treatment for drinking, you might experience shaking at some point. Unfortunately, these tremors can be a common part of withdrawal, but while they may be uncomfortable, they’re usually temporary. Understanding why they happen can help you feel more at ease and prepared.
What Are The Neurological Effects of Alcohol?
Since alcohol can slow brain activity by setting off receptors that both increase and decrease nerve activity at the same time, drinking creates quite a bit of neurological confusion. As one medical professional explains, alcohol acts like both a stimulant and a sedative, and the effects of that upping and downing depend on how much you drink and how long you’ve been drinking.
Long-term drinking can cause the brain and body to become more sensitive to the absence of alcohol if and when you do choose to stop drinking. And since drinking also blocks brain receptors tied to memory and learning, your brain tries to make more of them, further increasing uncomfortable nervous system activity during a potential withdrawal period.
Drinking may also lead to:
- An interference in brain development, especially in teens and young adults
- Alcohol-induced blackouts occur when the transfer of short-term memories to long-term storage in the hippocampus is blocked
- Shrunken neurons in certain brain areas that control coordination and movement, especially in cases of heavy drinking
Other research backs up the fact that alcohol disrupts general communication between brain cells, affecting balance, memory, speech, and even judgment. And over time, tremors may appear, especially in early withdrawal.
What Are Alcohol-Induced Tremors?
Alcohol-induced tremors, or alcohol shakes, usually affect the hands and fingers but can involve other body parts. They often happen after you stop drinking or significantly reduce your alcohol intake. The sensation of alcohol shakes can range from a faint, barely noticeable vibration to an obvious shake that interferes with daily tasks.
You may also feel discomfort or pain with the tremor. How intense the shakes feel often depends on your overall health, how much you used to drink, and how long you drank.
Why and When Do People Shake From Alcohol?
Alcohol tremors can happen for a few reasons, all of which are generally tied to how alcohol impacts your brain and nervous system.
- During withdrawal. When alcohol’s calming effect wears off, your brain may become overstimulated, sending erratic signals to your muscles, making them shake.
- With alcohol use disorder (AUD). Long-term drinking can often damage the nervous system, disrupting how your brain communicates with your muscles. Shakes may appear even when you’re not actively withdrawing.
- During a hangover. After heavy drinking, your nervous system may rebound into a state of overactivity. For people with AUD, this rebound may be more intense, increasing the likelihood of tremors.
If you’ve been drinking heavily for a long time, these scenarios may be more likely to overlap.
Tips For Managing Tremors in Recovery
Practical steps that may help ease tremors include:
- Resting in a calm, quiet space to reduce nervous system stress
- Eating nutrient-rich meals and drinking plenty of fluids
- Checking in regularly with your doctor, who may suggest supplements like B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, and zinc to support brain and nerve health if nutrient levels are low
- Joining therapy sessions—individual, group, or family—to address emotional challenges
- Considering short-term medication, such as benzodiazepines, if recommended
- Attending support groups to maintain motivation
Tremors can improve with the proper support, whether you’re in a residential program or recovering at home. We can help provide medical oversight, therapy, and tools to help manage symptoms. If your alcohol shakes are intense, our detox program can provide 24/7 monitoring, too.
Here’s what to expect:
- We may administer medications to ease withdrawal
- We provide nutritional support to replenish vitamins like thiamine and folate
- We can recommend next steps and counseling opportunities to help you manage tremors throughout recovery and in the event of a relapse
Lifestyle habits may also make a noticeable difference in how strongly your body reacts to alcohol’s absence. Stress management through meditation, light exercise, or hobbies may help calm your system..
Find Support for AUD Recovery in Pennsylvania
Tremors during early recovery can feel unsettling, but they’re often a sign your body is adjusting to life without alcohol. With time and care, you can remain hopeful that they’ll ease up or even disappear altogether.
If you’re ready to work toward recovery and find relief from withdrawal symptoms, our team is here to help you start your journey in a safe, supportive setting. Contact us today to get started.
