If you’re interested in quitting your drinking habit, you may be concerned with the withdrawal experience. This can be a painful and difficult process, so it’s important to understand how to quit safely. Over time, this can help you slow down and make more intentional choices about how much you’re drinking.
- In these settings, they use a taper-off method that sometimes includes medications to help mitigate the effects of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
- If you notice severe hallucinations, extreme brain fog, the world slows down around you; you feel drunk when you’re not, you may have warning signs of delirium tremens (DTs).
- People who try tapering off alcohol won’t have the guided support of medical professionals that they would at inpatient treatment.
- Likewise if your average consumption is 6 standard drinks per day you can set a taper schedule of 4, 2, 0.
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It can help you reach goals and can minimize some of the unpleasant and severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. If you want to change your relationship with alcohol, it’s important to have an honest conversation with a doctor about your drinking habits before you start tapering off. They’ll be able to help you create a tapering schedule that won’t only raise your chance of success but also avoid severe symptoms.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction
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Consuming a lighter alcoholic drink like beer also makes it easier for someone to stay hydrated throughout the taper. It is important to only attempt a taper while under a doctor’s care. However, understanding how an alcohol taper works and what the process is like can help you prepare yourself and find the support you need. Michael is the Community Outreach Coordinator and Alumni Director.
Things to Consider Before Reconciling With Family
Tapering off involves gradually reducing alcohol consumption over time, allowing the body to adjust and minimize potential withdrawal symptoms. Reducing alcohol intake can have significant positive effects on mental health. As you reduce your alcohol consumption, you may notice improvements in mood, anxiety, and overall mental well-being. However, the initial stages of tapering can also bring emotional challenges, as your body and mind adjust to lower levels of alcohol. Engaging in therapy during this time can provide essential support and coping strategies.
Evaluate Your Drinking Habits
This can happen whether you’re quitting alcohol cold turkey or tapering. One approach to tapering off alcohol is to gradually reduce the amount consumed over time. This method allows your body to adjust to decreasing levels of alcohol, minimizing the risk of severe withdrawal symptoms. It’s important to create a tapering plan that suits your specific needs and drinking habits. For those at risk for severe withdrawal symptoms, medically-supervised detox is often the safest choice for beginning their sobriety or moderation journey. Others may discover after consulting with a doctor that it’s safe for them to quit alcohol cold turkey if they choose to.
You can start building the foundation for a happy future by going to rehab for alcohol. Tapering is meant to reduce the withdrawal symptoms from quitting alcohol, but this isn’t a guarantee. As mentioned above, many people will still experience some level of withdrawal, just to a lesser degree.
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It can be easy to underestimate how much you drink, and being as accurate as possible is important. Xenia Ellenbogen (she/they) is a journalist specializing in health, mental health, and wellness. Her writing has appeared in publications such as Everyday Health, Well+Good, Rewire News Group, Prism, and more. Keep the big picture in mind through a goal such as reducing your drinking overall in a week, month, or year,” Dr Lee said. In fact, a relapse can be a valuable learning experience that helps you avoid slipping in the future.
Attending a residential rehab or outpatient program gives you coping mechanisms and life skills that can help you for years to come after treatment. You can strengthen your emotional and communication techniques to help you work through any tough situations that may arise in the future. Now that you’ve successfully completed the detoxification process, it’s time to build your sobriety toolkit through treatment. Studies show that those who receive some type of formal treatment after detox are more likely to maintain sobriety8. While this process isn’t enjoyable, there are so many benefits in the new sober life that you’re creating for yourself. You’ll look and feel healthier, have more energy, and save money.
It becomes easy to talk yourself into drinking more, breaking your promise to yourself. They have no idea that an immediate ceasing of drinking alcohol can create more problems, serious physical problems, depending on how much alcohol you consume daily. In this article, we’re taking a closer look at how to taper off alcohol to avoid withdrawal. As you navigate this question, it can be helpful to think about how you typically prefer to approach change. Metaphorically speaking, do you like to dip your toe in first, or cannonball right in?
Smaller drinks with a higher percentage of alcohol are stronger than the same size drink containing a lower-proof liquor. Find an accountability partner or someone you can call to keep you on track when you want to drink. Build a network of people you can go to when you need help, join a support group or see a therapist.
- This is especially true of heavy drinkers who are surrounded by the triggers that encourage drinking and lack the support needed to encourage change.
- Remember, you’re not alone in this journey, and there are many resources available to help you along the way.
- When attempting to understand how to wean yourself off alcohol safely, it’s essential to first comprehend the concept of alcohol withdrawal.
- You don’t have to mention anything about your drinking if you don’t want to, but make sure you’re in good shape.
Tapering Off Alcohol vs. Quitting Alcohol Cold Turkey
Despite the challenges, tapering off alcohol can lead to significant health improvements and overall quality of life. It is a crucial step in breaking the chains of alcohol dependency and moving towards a healthier future. Abstinence, or Sober Houses Rules That You Should Follow total and lifelong avoidance of alcohol, is the best treatment for those who have gone through alcohol withdrawal.
When someone stops drinking, they must decide whether to quit “cold turkey” or taper their alcohol use. Quitting cold turkey involves suddenly stopping all alcohol use, while tapering involves slowly decreasing the amount of alcohol a person drinks daily. Weaning off alcohol reduces the chance of experiencing withdrawal or the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Tapering off alcohol is generally safer and more effective than quitting cold turkey. The withdrawal symptoms are less severe and dangerous, and the individual is more likely to achieve a lasting sobriety.
As such, there is only limited guidance available about the best ways to taper. BetterHelp offers affordable mental health care via phone, video, or live-chat. Depending on the organ and whether or not there has been relapse(s), recovery is possible. There is hope that even after years of heavy alcohol use, the liver has the ability to regenerate or regrow. During recovery, the liver may return to its original mass and function. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, or a substance that reduces arousal and stimulation.
