Delirium Tremens in their 20's
Delirium Tremens in their 20's
My seasoned psychiatrist told me I wouldn't get the DTs at my age (27). Yet I did get them 2 weeks ago. At the peak, I couldn't distinguish between hallucination and reality. (I had a "girlfriend" at the time who wouldn't stay with me. I'm wondering who else had this experience.
Sounds like time for a new psychiatrist. You've known for a few weeks that you had DT's and most likely you had them before when you posted about similar symptoms.
The silver lining is that they are 100% preventable, and you can simply choose if you want to have them again or not.
The silver lining is that they are 100% preventable, and you can simply choose if you want to have them again or not.
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 43
I must defend the psychiatrist; Delirium Tremens is a medical diagnosis, which a very small fraction of alcoholics ever develop.
It is completely possible for you to have vivid hallucinations without it qualifying for the diagnosis of DTs.
To make a point, allow me to paraphrase a previous poster: "Sounds like time for a new doctor. You've known for a few weeks that you had appendicitis and most likely you had them before when you posted about similar symptoms."
That's like the people who go to their GP with printouts from WebMD and insist that they have super-rare-ooga-booga disease.
It is completely possible for you to have vivid hallucinations without it qualifying for the diagnosis of DTs.
To make a point, allow me to paraphrase a previous poster: "Sounds like time for a new doctor. You've known for a few weeks that you had appendicitis and most likely you had them before when you posted about similar symptoms."
That's like the people who go to their GP with printouts from WebMD and insist that they have super-rare-ooga-booga disease.
To make a point, allow me to paraphrase a previous poster: "Sounds like time for a new doctor. You've known for a few weeks that you had appendicitis and most likely you had them before when you posted about similar symptoms."
That's like the people who go to their GP with printouts from WebMD and insist that they have super-rare-ooga-booga disease.
That's like the people who go to their GP with printouts from WebMD and insist that they have super-rare-ooga-booga disease.
I also think that it would rare to find a psychiatrist who is qualified to diagnose DTs. It is even worse to project a diagnosis (or lack thereof) as this one did.
A lot of factors contribute to your likelihood of getting DTs. Age isn't actually an important one of those factors. For me, I had alcoholic hallucinosis at 20 years old. I had been on a bender for 12 days and durin that time had not eaten anything and had not slept properly. The combination of sleep deprivation, nutritional deprivation and an inordinate amount of straight vodka led to me hallucinating during withdrawal.
Based on my experience, lack of sleep and food during heavy periods of drinking is far likely to increase risk of delirium tremens than merely being older in age.
Based on my experience, lack of sleep and food during heavy periods of drinking is far likely to increase risk of delirium tremens than merely being older in age.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Here, EH!!!
Posts: 1,337
Most medical field people have no clue at all about alcoholism. They are given a certain amount of hours on the subject then they move on. Some will say its a matter of will power, others will snub their nose at you. Its all in the amount of alcohol that you drink, and DT's is quite normal for heavy daily drinkers. I wish you could see a person with Korsakoff's Disease.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 638
Yes I agree it doesn't have anything to do with age the phenomenon, although it is regarded that to get "real" DTs you need to have drunk and drunk good. I also once had something that was clearly DTs, even when I was 25 then. The most frightening psychotic episode. And that was exactly at a time when I wasn't drunk but just felt strange. And then it was hell time.
I think that belittleing the whole issue of delirium tremens and making it a veteran disease is often just an excuse to keep drinking, and not the reality.
I think that belittleing the whole issue of delirium tremens and making it a veteran disease is often just an excuse to keep drinking, and not the reality.
I actually had alcoholic hallucinosis, not DTs. My psychiatrist runs a rehab program in a wealthy area, so I trust her. She said it was basically a very light form of DTs. I just didn't have the tremors.
The psychiatrist didn't specifically say that it was impossible to get DTs, she just said it was extremely unlikely after taking my blood pressure and checking my heart of a lungs, as well as my overall composure.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)