Final answer:
Anxiety is the most common symptom that emerges once an alcoholic is sober, due to the increased brain activity resulting from the sudden lack of alcohol's suppressive effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a person with Alcohol Use Disorder becomes sober, they may experience a variety of withdrawal symptoms due to the brain's adaptations to chronic alcohol use. The correct answer to what usually emerges once the alcoholic is sober is b. Anxiety.
Anxiety, along with other withdrawal symptoms like tremors, seizures, insomnia, and confusion, is commonly reported due to the increase in glutamatergic activity in the brain, which can occur when the suppressive effects of alcohol are no longer present.
This adaptation leads to a hyperactive state that was previously counterbalanced by alcohol's inhibitory effects.
These symptoms are part of the body's physical and psychological dependence on alcohol.
As the body adjusts to the absence of alcohol, individuals may also experience other negative effects such as those associated with psychological dependence, including drug craving and increased motivational salience of drug-associated stimuli.