Posted on September 1, 2026July 27, 2026 by Stephen Brumwell

Article Snapshot (AI Generated)

Chronic alcohol use can create what I like to call the seesaw effect of glutamate and GABA.
The more heavily and regularly alcohol is used, the harder the brain may have to work to keep things balanced.
When alcohol is suddenly reduced or removed, the opposite effect can happen: the nervous system can become overstimulated.
This is one reason alcohol withdrawal can involve anxiety, shaking, sweating, insomnia, agitation and, in more serious cases, seizures or delirium.
Alcohol withdrawal can be medically serious. If you have been drinking heavily or for a long time, speak with a medical professional before stopping suddenly.

Chronic alcohol use creates what I like to call the seesaw effect of glutamate and GABA, and the more alcohol is used, the larger the swing can become.

When we wake up the next day, depending on the amount of alcohol consumed, we can often see the opposite of alcohol’s sedating effect.

Instead of relaxed, we feel anxious. Instead of sleepy, we feel wired.

Instead of calm, the nervous system feels like it has been turned up too high.

In this article, I’ll help you understand what alcohol withdrawal actually is, and unpack what’s known as the seesaw effect of glutamate and GABA.

Understanding Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Alcohol withdrawal can happen when someone who has been drinking heavily or regularly suddenly stops drinking or significantly cuts down.

This is not the same as a standard hangover. A hangover is unpleasant, but alcohol withdrawal involves a nervous system that has adapted to alcohol and is now trying to function without it.

Common alcohol withdrawal symptoms may include:

anxiety
sweating
shaking or tremors
nausea or vomiting
poor appetite
poor sleep
increased heart rate
agitation or irritability
sensitivity to light, sound or stress
difficulty concentrating

More severe alcohol withdrawal can include seizures, hallucinations, severe confusion or delirium tremens. These symptoms require urgent medical care.

Alcohol withdrawal can also present as a potentially serious syndrome that can occur after abrupt cessation or reduction of heavy, sustained alcohol intake, with symptoms ranging from autonomic hyperactivity and tremor through to seizures and delirium in more severe cases (Jesse et al., 2017).

If you or someone else has severe confusion, seizures, hallucinations, chest pain, severe dehydration or looks seriously unwell, seek urgent medical help. In Australia, call 000 in an emergency. For non-emergency alcohol and drug support, the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline is 1800 250 015.

GABA and Glutamate

GABA and glutamate are two important neurotransmitters in the brain, and neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that help our nerve cells communicate.

GABA is generally inhibitory. It slows things down. It is associated with calm, relaxation, sleep and reduced nervous system activity.

Glutamate is generally excitatory. It speeds things up. It is involved in alertness, learning, memory and normal brain activation.

We need a tightly regulated balance of both, otherwise we may feel too sedated or hyper stimulated. Our body is always trying to maintain this balance.

This is where the seesaw analogy will come into play, we’ll discuss a bit more on this soon.

When both sides are balanced, the nervous system can respond appropriately. When one side is pushed too far, the body tries to compensate.

How Alcohol Affects GABA and Glutamate

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant.

This means it can slow brain and nervous system activity. Part of this effect happens through GABA and glutamate.

Alcohol can increase GABA activity, which is one reason it may initially feel calming, sedating or relaxing. At the same time, alcohol can reduce glutamate activity, which further slows things down.

So, in simple terms:

GABA goes up
glutamate goes down
the nervous system becomes more sedated
We generally, feel pretty good!

The downside? Our brain doesn’t like being pushed out of balance.

When alcohol is used repeatedly, the brain starts compensating. It may reduce some GABA-related activity and increase glutamate-related activity to try to keep the nervous system functioning.

Chronic alcohol consumption creates neuroadaptive changes, including downregulation of GABA receptors and increased NMDA receptor expression, which is part of glutamate signaling (Haber & Lintzeris, 2021).

This is the body trying to restore that balance, and when we drink chronically, it’s almost a never ending cycle that worsens over time..

The Seesaw Effect

Think of alcohol as pushing down on one side of the seesaw. We first, experience the lovely, pleasant, sedating effects that come with it – Queue GABA.

When alcohol is removed after a good nights sleep, the sedating effect begins to dissipate.

The brains compensatory mechanics begin to kick in, and some level of anxiety, stimulation or uncomfortable…ness arises – Queue Glutamate.

This is why alcohol withdrawal can feel like the opposite of alcohol intoxication. Alcohol makes us feel relaxed, numb, sometimes sleepy. When we wake up the morning after, we start to feel more anxious, shaky, jittery, and wired..

StatPearls describes alcohol withdrawal as involving a relative reduction in GABA signaling alongside excess glutamate activity, contributing to the hyperactive state seen in withdrawal (Newman & Duby, 2024).

This does not mean every person will have severe withdrawal. It depends on the person’s drinking history, health, previous withdrawal episodes, medications, nutrition status and other factors.

The more we chronically indulge in repeated episodes of drinking though, the larger our seesaw swings, and the worse the symptoms become.

Why Alcohol Withdrawal Can Feel So Uncomfortable

When the nervous system is overstimulated, the symptoms can feel physical, mental and emotional, all at the same time.

Some key withdrawal symptoms you may see (or familiar with) include:

shaking hands
sweating
racing heart
nausea
poor sleep
anxiety
irritability
agitation
panic-like feelings
strong cravings

Most of these symptoms are our nervous system trying to recalibrate.

For some people, this process is uncomfortable but manageable with appropriate support. For others, it can become dangerous.

In individuals with severe alcohol withdrawal, this glutamate/GABA ratio gap can widen significantly (Brousse et al., 2012). If alcohol has been used heavily, daily, or for a long time, get medical advice before stopping suddenly.

That is why also to not guess your own risk level from just a simple blog post alone (Yes, even this one).

The Kindling Effect

Another important concept is kindling.

Kindling refers to the way repeated withdrawal episodes may make the nervous system more sensitive over time.

In practical terms, this means repeated cycles of heavy drinking, stopping, withdrawing and drinking again can sometimes make future withdrawal episodes more severe.

Repeated withdrawal experiences can progressively intensify withdrawal symptoms, and this includes an increased risk of seizure vulnerability (Becker, 2014).

It’s one reason why the stop-start cycle becomes so difficult. The swing is so great that we swing ourselves back to alcohol for comfort. We also just try do it alone, which when it comes to quitting alcohol, you should always get help.

For more on the wider neurochemistry involved in alcohol use and recovery, see Substance Abuse and Neurotransmitters: Understanding the Neurochemistry Behind Addiction and Sobriety.

Best Approaches for Alcohol Withdrawal

If you are drinking heavily or think you may be physically dependent on alcohol, the safest first step is to make it known to others.

This can be your loved one, friends, or other related family. You then need to get medical support; speak to your GP or related health professional before stopping suddenly.

This caveat is important here, because if you have been drinking for a long time, you can experience seizures and your life can be at risk.

Once you have spoken with a health professional for medical assessment/monitoring (and medication where appropriate) you can then look at habits, foundational nutrition, and ongoing peer support.

I would recommend looking at the articles below as well to support cravings and getting your foundations on track.

If you’re still unsure, please reach out or book a discovery call.

The Takeaway

Alcohol withdrawal is not simply a rough hangover. It can be the nervous system rebounding after adapting to regular or heavy alcohol use.

GABA and glutamate are only part of the picture, but they give us a useful way to understand why withdrawal can feel shaky, anxious, wired and physically intense.

The brain has been trying to keep the seesaw balanced. When alcohol is suddenly removed, the swing back can be uncomfortable and, for some people, dangerous.

If you are planning to reduce or stop heavy alcohol use, get medical guidance first. With the right support, withdrawal can be managed more safely, and the next stage of recovery can begin from a steadier place.

FAQ

Is alcohol withdrawal the same as a hangover?

No. A hangover usually follows a drinking episode and may include headache, nausea, fatigue and dehydration. Alcohol withdrawal occurs when someone who is physically dependent on alcohol reduces or stops drinking. It can involve nervous system overactivity and may become medically serious.

Why does alcohol withdrawal cause anxiety?

Alcohol can temporarily increase calming GABA-related activity and reduce excitatory glutamate-related activity. With repeated heavy use, the brain adapts. When alcohol is removed, the nervous system can rebound toward overactivity, which may feel like anxiety, agitation, poor sleep or internal restlessness.

Can alcohol withdrawal cause seizures?

Yes. Alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures in some people, especially when there is heavy long-term alcohol use, previous withdrawal seizures or other risk factors. This is one reason medical advice is important before stopping suddenly.

What is delirium tremens?

Delirium tremens, also called alcohol withdrawal delirium, is a severe form of alcohol withdrawal. It can involve confusion, agitation, hallucinations, tremor, unstable blood pressure and other serious symptoms. It is a medical emergency.

What should I do if I want to stop drinking?

Speak with a GP, addiction medicine clinician or alcohol and other drug service before stopping suddenly, especially if you drink heavily or daily. In Australia, you can call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015. In an emergency, call 000.

References

Becker, H. C. (2014). Neurochemical mechanisms of alcohol withdrawal. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 125, 133-156. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6943828/

Brousse, G., Arnaud, B., Vorspan, F., Richard, D., Dissard, A., Dubois, M., Pic, D., Geneste, J., Xavier, L., Authier, N., Sapin, V., Llorca, P.-M., De Chazeron, I., Minet-Quinard, R., & Schmidt, J. (2012). Alteration of glutamate/GABA balance during acute alcohol withdrawal in emergency department: A prospective analysis. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 47(5), 501-508. https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/ags078

Haber, P. S., & Lintzeris, N. (2021). Alcohol withdrawal. In P. S. Haber & B. C. Riordan (Eds.), Guidelines for the Treatment of Alcohol Problems (4th ed.). Specialty of Addiction Medicine, University of Sydney. https://alcoholtreatmentguidelines.com.au/chapter-8-alcohol-withdrawal

Jesse, S., Brathen, G., Ferrara, M., Keindl, M., Ben-Menachem, E., Tanasescu, R., Brodtkorb, E., Hillbom, M., Leone, M. A., & Ludolph, A. C. (2017). Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: Mechanisms, manifestations, and management. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, 135(1), 4-16. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6084325/

Newman, R. K., & Duby, J. J. (2024). Alcohol withdrawal syndrome. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441882/