Over time, alcohol abuse leads to a condition where alcoholics have to take in alcohol just to be “normal.” If at any time they stop drinking alcohol, or even try to reduce their intake, they go into alcohol withdrawal. The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are startling and dramatic: nervousness, anxiety, emotionalism, and the shakes, insomnia, palpitations, tremors, hallucinations, blackouts and the dreaded “DTs”. DT stands for delirium tremens, Latin for the “trembling madness.” The “DTs” are an extreme condition wherein the alcoholic’s body starts shutting down, and the alcoholic no longer recognizes his surroundings. Alcoholics can die from this.