https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholic_hallucinosis

My sister has had a problem with alcoholism for some time. She got a DWI over a year ago. She lost her job after playing the points + FMLA game too much (because of her drinking).

It’s gotten to the point where she constantly has the shakes and is now experiencing audio hallucinations. Maybe visual that she’s not communicating well, but definately audio. She hears music from a disconnected radio in a room. She thinks it’s supernatural in origin.

I even went over with all kinds of high tech recording, ghost hunting equipment, sensors everything. It was all negative for that stuff. I did multiple experiements trying to prove to her this including her recording what she thought she heard and me recording at the same time. Both recordings were just background static. Except she swears she hears it on hers. I understand she thinks it’s real, but it’s absolutely advanced withdrawl. She is in denial. She’s been trying to be clean but in denial of the symptoms and how dangerous her current conditions are.

Does anyone have experience themselves or friends / family dealing with this? How to approach or convince them to seek treatment before it kills her. Anything to give them outside of a hospital ride?

Edit -

Thank you for all the kind responses. meow-hug

Edit 2 -

I went to go check on her, give her a care package and maybe try to convince her to go to the hospital. The first thing before I said anything was “I think you’re right. I’m hallucinating. I’m sorry.”

Her tremors were down but still there. She said she was starting to visibly hallucinate and trying to understand what the triggers were. She declined to go to the hospital still, but it’s a step in the right direction with her able to start thinking critically about it and acknowledging her condition.

Thank you all again. rat-salute-2

  • ReadFanon [any, any]@hexbear.net
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    19
    ·
    11 days ago

    Hard to say without knowing more but if it’s that severe, either mental health-wise or alcohol withdrawal-wise, then hospital is gonna be the safest bet.

    I get why you don’t want to do the hospital thing but if she’s going through severe alcohol withdrawal then she risks seizures and in the worst case scenario even death. Alcohol and benzo withdrawal are the two withdrawals that are known to kill people. It ain’t worth the risk. A hospital can manage the withdrawal and if shit goes sideways, being in hospital means they can respond immediately.

    If she’s not at the point of risking seizures or death from DTs but she’s hallucinating for some other reasons then you’re looking at the possibility of a psychotic break. And hospital is where a person needs to be in that situation so that the psychosis can be managed while mitigating the risk.

    In all honesty though, it sounds like delirium tremens based off of your description. The mortality rate for untreated DTs is between 15-40% and those are not odds that anyone should gamble a life on.

    • LeylaLove [she/her, love/loves]@hexbear.net
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      11 days ago

      Yeah, I’m very well versed in withdrawal and psychosis. You need to get her into a hospital. They will give her some Librium and maybe shoot her up with Ativan. Alcohol withdrawal is capable of killing, she could literally just seize out because she puts down the bottle for too long one day. I came into my outpatient place with crazy bad shakes but relatively low alcohol consumption. They called an ambulance for me immediately because of just how bad I was doing. They were worried I was going to die right there.

      She’s also probably self medicating to some degree. Getting into treatment for mental health was a game changer that made not drinking worth it.

    • v_krishna@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      11 days ago

      Def sounds like the DTs and a hospital is definitely the best place for her. Alcohol and benzos are the only withdrawal that will outright kill you.

      • ReadFanon [any, any]@hexbear.net
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        11 days ago

        I’m sorry that this is how things are for you and for her. You’re doing your best. I get what it’s like when you know someone needs to get to hospital but they are refusing. I’m hoping for the best for both of you.