Dry drunk syndrome doesn’t just make a non-drinking alcoholic more difficult to be around. It can also be dangerous, increasing the risk for relapse or falling into other addictive patterns. Dry drunks may also act as if they are above going to addiction support groups like AA and 12-Step programs. They may refuse to go to therapy and be in denial of their need to address factors that triggered or contributed to their harmful drinking habits.

Substance Use Treatment

Dry drunk symptoms occur when an individual has physically given up alcohol but has not made any behavioral or emotional changes. These individuals may still carry alcoholism symptoms around the emotional baggage or unhealthy thought patterns that contributed to their addiction in the first place. When you quit drinking, your brain must adjust to the impairment that alcohol caused. This adjustment period can last a couple of weeks or as long as several years. Giving up alcohol completely can be an important step in a person’s recovery from AUD. However, this can be a long, difficult process during which some people may experience dry drunk syndrome.

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If some time goes by and you still feel the same way, you can always give a different coping technique a try or explore a new hobby. It’s not always easy to open up about alcohol use and recovery, especially to people who don’t have any experience with it, but it’s a crucial part of the process. If you suspect you might be dealing with this syndrome, try not to be too hard on yourself. 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. The syndrome is one that is exclusively a part of an individual’s mindset. The strength to take such a step is incredible, and everyone will be behind this person 100 percent, but not everyone realizes the scope of the journey this person has in front of them.

• The characteristics of this phenomenon may share similarities with the feelings and behaviors you might experience while still drinking.
• If you’re already coping with depression or other mental health concerns, these symptoms might further complicate matters and make you feel even worse.
• When dealing with problems overwhelming you to the point of driving you to become an alcoholic, without that crutch, you’re essentially “white-knuckling” each day to get through to the next.
• The therapy that coincides with detox is essential because it helps you deal with what made you depend on that crutch, but the work is twice as hard.

How ‘Dry Drunk Syndrome’ Affects Recovery

Getting sober in and of itself doesn’t magically solve or erase these previous or ongoing struggles. People that stop drinking but still struggle with anxiety, depression, or other unresolved issues are going to continue to struggle without treatment. A “dry drunk” is someone who is sober but continues exhibiting unhealthy habits similar to when they were drunk.

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Specialists can guide you through therapy to work through the underlying causes so you’re not left with those feelings and emotions, albeit not drinking. Since 1968, our goal has been to help individuals achieve a life of sobriety free from addiction. Our highly credentialed staff provide high-quality addiction treatment as well as nine medically researched evidence-based practices. If someone you know is exhibiting the symptoms of dry drunk syndrome, encourage them to continue treatment.

Dry Drunk Symptoms and Behavior Patterns

If you have quit drinking alcohol but still struggle with the same behavior patterns as during addiction, you’re not alone. HBO’s Addiction Project postulates that addicts only fully recover after four to five years of support after the initial sobriety period. For some addicts, especially those who opt out of follow-up treatment after becoming sober, the emotional and psychological issues that accompanied their addiction can remain. Non-drinking alcoholics with dry drunk syndrome tend to have a negative outlook on their recovery and life in general. This can make it hard to mend relationships with loved ones and get back into a normal, healthy routine. Although getting sober is the first step to recovering from alcohol addiction, it is not the only one.

Is it always a sign of a relapse?

Of course, it’s important to set (and enforce) clear boundaries around behavior that dry drunk syndrome affects you negatively, like angry outbursts or dishonesty. But it’s also important to cultivate patience as they work toward making changes. Even if they direct these emotions toward themselves, their emotional state can affect yours. Try to remember this isn’t necessarily a situation they chose to be in. Maybe you start by simply going to the gym at a certain time most days of the week. Don’t stress too much about doing a huge workout; just focus on getting yourself there.

Even the people who you alienated before you quit drinking may welcome the opportunity to spend time with you. PAWS symptoms are reasonably common among people recovering from AUD. If a person has concerns about their PAWS symptoms, they can try using various methods to manage them. They can also speak with a healthcare professional, join a support group, or both. People recovering from alcohol misuse or addiction often experience difficult, painful emotions. They might feel frustrated or angry, struggle with their desire to drink, or express a lot of negative thoughts.