What is Dry Drunk Syndrome? Get to Know its Consequences

As you know, stopping drugs and alcohol was just the first step towards recovery, but it was a huge step and you should always celebrate yourself for that. When you come up against difficult emotions or negative self-talk, remember that recovery isn’t linear and that it’s going to be an up and down process. You’re not a failure for struggling, and what you’re going through is completely normal. Having compassion and acceptance words yourself will make the early stages of recovery much more bearable easier to get through.

However, there are many various ways that one of these illnesses can lead to another. Carole Bennett, M.A., is a family substance abuse counselor, lecturer, columnist and author based at her Family Recovery Solutions Counseling Center in Santa Barbara, CA. Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available. In addition, the early stages of sobriety are overwhelming and emotional.

Dry Drunk Syndrome and What is a Dry Drunk?

In other words, someone who’s sober might still “act drunk” or deal with the same issues that led them to quit drinking in the first place. When it comes to affected demographics, the dry drunk syndrome is far more common among individuals who quit the addiction by themselves. The dry drunk syndrome is a condition that demands full understanding by those suffering from it and those looking to treat it. In recent years, more light has had to be shed on the topic itself because of its common fixture in the narratives of journeys that former alcoholics experience as recovering from alcohol abuse. Although the syndrome itself isn’t common knowledge amongst alcohol dependents and affected families, it’s a critical concept to know about because it is a legitimate psychological phenomenon.

• The person may think that once they stop using or drinking, their life will miraculously be better.
• If you suspect you might be dealing with this syndrome, try not to be too hard on yourself.
• This condition is known as “dry drunk syndrome,” or what researchers call post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS).
• A complete substance abuse treatment program can help teach those skills.
• Detoxification is the first step to beating alcohol addiction, but it doesn’t often end there.

Additionally, you can volunteer for an organisation or help others in recovery on their journey. All of these things offer an opportunity to dive into what makes you feel good and purposeful. This can offer you a sense of hope, direction, and clarity, and guide you in shifting out of dry drunk syndrome. Even with this, it takes a level of vulnerability to be able to be honest about what you’ve been thinking, feeling, and struggling with.

How Can You Deal With Dry Drunk Syndrome?

It’s also crucial to identify and manage other mental health issues like depression, anxiety, PTSD, or anything else that may have sparked a relationship to alcohol as a coping mechanism. For instance, a co-occurring disorder is the presence of addiction combined with a mental health issue. One condition can amplify or worsen the symptoms of the other unless both are treated together at the same time, known as dual diagnosis treatment. In some cases, we may know someone who was struggling with addiction and sought recovery. If you think this is a possibility, perhaps it is time to stage an intervention.

• This is problematic because even though the substance use has ended, there hasn’t been any inner work done to resolve the internal issues that led to addiction in the first place.
• As someone who has struggled with substance abuse or is currently facing such a problem with a loved one, you’re guaranteed to become more acquainted with the dry drunk syndrome than you’d expect.
• If you think that you, or someone you know, are suffering with dry drunk syndrome, please speak to a member of the team at Delamere and we’ll show you how we can help.
• The colloquial term is used to describe someone who is sober but is still struggling with the emotional and psychological issues that contributed to their drinking.
• Once withdrawal symptoms begin to set in, the body ends up experiencing the condition in question after the repair process causes varying degrees of disorder.
• There are useful treatment options that can help lead the individual back onto a path of sustainable recovery.

It is worth noting that dry drunk syndrome is less common for those who attend a treatment program with a support system, such as inpatient, outpatient, or a 12-step program. This is likely because the individual has a need to explore the reasons they began drinking in the first place. For many people in recovery, dry drunk symptoms can make cravings and a desire to drink again very difficult to resist. It’s important to work with your loved one’s treatment provider to watch for the warning signs of relapse.

What are the symptoms?

Dry drunk syndrome can be overcome; it simply requires a willingness to uncover the root of one’s addiction. You can’t be of much help to your loved one if you’re burned out and neglecting your own needs. Show support by asking about new skills they learn or milestones they reach, like creating a fancy dish sober alcoholic or participating in a 5K. Instead, focus on taking small steps to build some of them into your routine. Still, there are things you can do to manage these symptoms and minimize their impact on your life. “Given that relapse is a process, it can be identified and interpreted before use happens,” she says.