Symptoms of withdrawal are the opposite of the pharmacological effects of alcohol consumption. As noted above, alcohol inhibits the activity of central nervous system and therefore produces sedation. During the withdrawal the central nervous system is experiencing the opposite effect: they increase the active processes while the processes are diminished depressants. These changes lead to an overactivation of central nervous system in pain from the patient, such as withdrawal symptoms.

This overactivation, which has been observed in clinical trials in patients with moderate withdrawal symptoms, is experienced sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity and an increase, which can be toxic to nerve cells, production of hormones such as cortisol and norepinephrine . It has been seen, even in people who abuse alcohol only occasionally, the hangover of the “morning after” is actually a mild form of the withdrawal symptoms while the amount of alcohol in the blood decreases.

In some patients have a lower chemical dependency, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be so “soft” and experience tremors, sweating, nausea, headaches, anxiety or increased heart rate and blood pressure. Although these symptoms are uncomfortable, are not necessarily dangerous. But are often accompanied by a strong desire or craving to consume more alcohol, so the decision to continue abstinence or to stop drinking is much more difficult.

When treating alcoholism must ask a series of goals to achieve, and the end of all therapy program seeks to motivate the patient to continue his treatment and once made, remain abstinent, if possible, throughout life.

Must be made to the patient that if you take too much alcohol, decrease this amount will improve their lives and health, and how to improve it?, For improving disturbance of the nervous system or gastrointestinal tract, caused by alcohol intake , sleeping better in both time and quality and ultimately improve your relationship with family, friends or in the
workplace.

To achieve complete recovery of the alcoholic patient will have to raise a number of objectives in the short, medium and long term and to undertake and complete up gradually, so we’ll use all available therapeutic options, both pharmacological and level psychological or psychosocial.

Have to perform two main steps:
* Stop drinking at the moment, which leads to a withdrawal syndrome in patients with alcohol dependence, which must be correctly treated. This phase is known as detoxification.
* Stop drinking for the rest of our lives, applying medication therapy or psychological support. Phase is known as detoxification.

The whole therapeutic process is based on three points:
* Drug Therapy
* Psychotherapy
* Self-Help Groups

Inpatient treatment versus outpatient treatment.

People with symptoms of mild to moderate lifting are usually treated as outpatients and are assigned to support groups, guidance, or both. Inpatient treatment, which could take place in a general or psychiatric hospital or in a center dedicated to alcohol and substance abuse, is recommended for patients with delirium tremens. The usual system there is made by physical examination and psychiatric, detoxification, treatment with psychotherapy or behavioral therapy and an introduction to Alcoholics Anonymous. Due to the high cost of inpatient care, people are now questioning its advantages over outpatient care. One study compared to alcoholics who were hospitalized or employees who were treated as outpatients with compulsory attendance at AA meetings or who were allowed to choose their own choice, including no treatment at all. After two years, all experienced fewer problems at work, but among those in the hospital group had significantly fewer rehospitalizations and remained abstinent over time people in the other two groups. Another study looking at treatment programs for substance and alcohol found that 75% of hospitalized patients completed therapy compared with only 18% of outpatients. Other studies, however, revealed no difference in outcomes between those programs and outpatient hospitalization. Studies have attempted to discover the features that can make people more likely to get out of hospital programs or clinics. One study found that people who leave outpatient treatment are more likely to be women, young, unskilled and be people with more than one type of addiction. Another reported that leaving treatment hospital against medical advice tend to have jobs, have a college education and have had a history of leaving treatment.

Psychotherapy and behavioral therapy.

Two different forms of psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychotherapy group interaction, have been beneficial to persons with alcoholism. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), founded in 1935, is an excellent example of interaction in group psychotherapy and remains the most-known for helping people with alcoholism. It offers a strong support network which uses group meetings available seven days a week at locations throughout the world. A system of friends (buddy system), a group understanding of alcoholism and forgiveness of relapses are AA’s standard methods to increase self-esteem and alleviate feelings of isolation. The approximation of the AA 12 steps to recovery include a spiritual component that can deter people who lack religious convictions. Prayer and Meditation, however, have been known to be of great value in the process of healing many diseases, even in people without particular religious beliefs. Associated programs for members, Al-Anon and Alateen, offer help to family members and friends. The cognitive-behavioral therapy use a structured approach to teaching. People with alcoholism are given instructions and are assigned tasks with the intention of improving their ability to cope with basic living situations, to control behavior and to change the way they think about drinking. For example, they may ask patients to write a history of alcohol-related experiences and describe what they consider to be risky situations. Then they were assigned activities to help them cope when exposed to the “signs”-places or experiences that trigger the desire to drink. Also be assigned tasks to patients that are designed to replace the drink. An interesting example of such a program successful was one in which patients were recruited on a softball team (softball), which gave them the opportunity to practice skills to address, develop supportive relationships and engage in healthy alternative activities. A study aimed to determine whether individuals can do better in a therapy under another. Alcoholics researchers categorized as being either Type A or Type B. Type A individuals became alcoholics at a later age, had symptoms or less severe psychiatric problems and better prospects than those of Type B. People in the group of type A responded well to psychotherapy group interaction, focusing on the emotions of the individual and the relationship with the group. They did so well with behavioral therapy. Type B people became alcoholics at an early age, had a high family risk for alcoholism, more severe symptoms and worse prospects. This group was very bad interaction with group therapy, but tended to do better with behavioral therapy. This difference in response to both treatments lasted two years later still.