It’s not uncommon for those who are withdrawing from alcohol abuse to feel fatigued. It can be a frustrating part of early sobriety and difficult to cope with. In this article, I explain what sobriety fatigue is, describe some of its characteristics, and how to cope with it.,
What is Sobriety Fatigue?
Staying sober means abstinence from using alcohol or drugs. Sobriety fatigue is a natural response to the level of energy, effort, and time you’ve put into becoming sober. Letting go of alcohol means that any underlying issues, such as anxiety or depression, may emerge, and it can be fatiguing to deal with them.
Typical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome include mild anxiety, headache, gastrointestinal discomfort, and insomnia. Since alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, alcohol withdrawal involves changes in the brain to adapt.
Insomnia is a very common side effect of giving up alcohol. [1] Since alcohol is a sedative, without it, you may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. This creates more fatigue, causing your body to feel tired. This may be even more noticeable if you use alcohol to manage sleep problems.
While alcohol may make you feel like you’re falling asleep, it can lead to worse sleep quality, creating a vicious circle of fatigue. With alcohol, you actually tend to wake more often, and this reduces the amount of deeper REM sleep, which is where the body truly refreshes itself.
Withdrawal from alcohol can also cause your body to feel stressed and anxious. This can affect sleep and also how you feel during the day, leading to fatigue.
Over time, however, lowering or stopping your alcohol abuse can help improve sleep and lower your fatigue. But this takes time, and everyone is different.
Other Effects of Quitting Alcohol
There are a wide variety of effects from alcohol withdrawal. Among these are:
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How Long Does Post-Alcohol Fatigue Last?
This varies greatly with each individual. Typical mild detox and withdrawal usually lasts from 3-8 days. More severe withdrawal can be 30 days or more. However, the feeling of fatigue may last longer than this as the body adjusts to being alcohol-free.
Tips for Overcoming Sobriety Fatigue
Here are some ideas that may help:
- Remove all substances from your home to better withstand cravings.
- Stay hydrated, as alcohol has a dehydrating effect, which can affect overall well-being.
- Focus on getting plenty of rest, insomnia notwithstanding.
- Speak with your doctor about whether you need any vitamins such as thiamine and folic acid or supplements.
- Understand your triggers. If you have done therapy work, you should have identified the main triggers that could cause you to drink alcohol again. Remove yourself from them.
- Stay with the right people: Avoid former drinking friends or places. Connect with those who are supportive during early withdrawal and fatigue.
- Accept your feelings as they present themselves. They’re all a natural part of the process. Physical reactions like those listed above are a normal part of the withdrawal process.
How to Properly Overcome Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol can temporarily alleviate unwanted thoughts and feelings—but this often turns into unhealthy dependence and addiction.
There are two phases to withdrawal when combatting fatigue issues is greatest:
Acute withdrawal: Medical withdrawal symptoms that require immediate medical attention to help keep you comfortable during this initial detox phase. Many substance users believe this phase is the main effort in getting clean, but this is a fantasy.
Post-acute withdrawal (PAWS): Dealing with the psychological symptoms requiring continuous therapeutic treatment to safely manage. This much longer phase of maintaining abstinence, including relapses, which are common, is where most of the work lies.
Following detox, it can be very challenging to go it alone. Residential recovery programs are a highly recommended critical factor for successful sobriety, especially during PAWS. During our residential Program, individuals are met with compassion, respect, and a tailored strategy to address specific needs that will foster a sustainable recovery. Clients will develop therapeutic relationships that promote health, creativity, stability, and recovery. We believe in the power of connection and that healthy relationships can support long-term recovery.
Our Program creates an opportunity to form such healthy connections under the supervision of our empathetic team. Trained staff are equipped to offer clinically excellent care and provide the support, guidance, and interventions necessary for residents to reach their treatment goals.
The best way to address this is by getting into a treatment program such as:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- 12-Step Program
- Refuge Recovery
- Somatic Experiencing and Body Work
- Therapeutic activities in group and individual settings (yoga, meditation, art therapy)
Alcohol Withdrawal Help Is always one call away
Participating in a medical detox program is the safest and most comfortable way to cleanse from alcohol or drug abuse. After detoxing, you may enter a residential treatment center, which helps a lot by having trained staff equipped to offer clinical care. They will provide the support, guidance, and interventions necessary for you to reach your treatment goals. Participating in residential care greatly enhances your success rate at avoiding relapses.
Sources
[1] Cancer B et al. 2024. Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. StatPearls Publishing. Treasure Island (FL).
