If you properly taper your alcohol use, you’re less likely to experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Gradually reducing the amount of alcohol you drink can help give your body the time it needs to adjust to the lack of alcohol. If drinking has become a regular part of your life and you’re worried about overconsumption, quitting is the right decision.
Can Tapering Down Alcohol Use Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms?
You can use the guidelines to get an idea of how many standard drinks you’re used to. These can indicate a life threatening condition called delirium tremens. It’s important to seek urgent medical care if you experience any of these symptoms. Most people experience the most severe symptoms from about 36–72 hours after stopping drinking. If you’ve decided to taper off alcohol, you’ll need to be prepared with some strategies to make the process easier.
- This is no small task, as it is easy to keep drinking once you’ve started.
- Don’t wait— reach out today to take the first step toward taking control of your life.
- It’s important to note that stopping drinking can be dangerous and even life-threatening.
- Encourage them in their progress and offer non-judgmental support when they struggle.
- Insomnia, anxiety and paranoia — the opposite effects of alcohol — are the expected results.
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It is possible to rehab your taste buds to desire fewer sweets, just as many have reduced their dependence on salt when faced with heart disease, he said. Establishing boundaries means a lot of things, such as refusing invites from well-meaning drinking buddies. Establishing boundaries also means being honest with yourself about your drinking. If you are reliant on alcohol, you need to replace it with newer, healthier habits. You can engage in exercise, hobbies, or creative outlets that don’t involve alcohol. Focusing on such activities is rewarding, boosts dopamine, and helps distract you from cravings for alcohol.
Making a schedule to slowly reduce your alcohol intake is a safe way to taper off the substance. This will ensure that you are not quitting cold turkey which could result in severe and debilitating withdrawal symptoms or even death. Depending on how much alcohol you’ve been consuming, it can take days or over a week to gradually reduce your dose safely and get off alcohol.
Strategize for Your Goals
Getting professional treatment and long-term support are two of the most valuable strategies for avoiding relapse. People who want to reduce their alcohol consumption often do not realize how much of their social and daily routines alcohol has become. Tapering alcohol may be uncomfortable, and there may be subconscious triggers that stimulate the desire to drink alcohol. Stress is a common trigger that makes it hard to modify your alcohol intake. Finding a different, more healthy way to unload stress may go a long way in helping someone succeed in cutting back on their alcohol use.
Bedrock Recovery
If you do relapse, talk to your therapist or addiction treatment specialist who can help you quickly get back on track and prevent it from happening again. In fact, a relapse can be a valuable learning experience that helps you avoid slipping in the future. A relapse can serve as an opportunity for you to refocus on your larger goals, practice self-forgiveness, and find ways to stay motivated. Nanci Stockwell of Advanced Recovery Systems discusses the risks of detoxing at home and the benefits of detoxing from alcohol and other drugs in a safe environment.
Seek The Joy Of A Sober Life
Quitting any addictive substance can be extremely difficult, but quitting alcohol is often especially so. Many people fail to successfully quit drinking at least once before managing to attain sobriety. Building a support system is essential as you navigate the challenges of tapering off alcohol. This system can include family members, friends, or support groups who understand and empathize with your journey. Having a supportive network can provide a safe space for you to share your struggles, seek advice, and celebrate your successes.
This is why it is essential to determine https://www.inkl.com/news/sober-house-rules-a-comprehensive-overview your method of tapering and your tapering schedule with the supervision of a medical professional experienced in an alcohol addiction recovery treatment. If alcohol withdrawal is so dangerous, is tapering off alcohol necessary for everyone who drinks? If you’ve been drinking consistently for a long time, it’s a good idea to consider the safest way to stop when it’s time to cut back. However, weaning off alcohol isn’t always necessary for people who want to cut back or stop drinking. The most significant factor is whether or not you’ve become chemically dependent.
Your risk of certain diseases decreases, you will begin sleeping better, and your overall health can significantly benefit. If you drink alcohol and are thinking about quitting, it is important to make sure you do so safely. One potential way to quit drinking is through tapering, which involves slowly reducing your alcohol intake over time. Are you looking to cut back on excessive drinking and take control of your health? Tapering off alcohol can be a safe and effective way to achieve this goal.
Moreover, physical withdrawal can be challenging, and there’s also a phenomenon called the kindling effect to consider. A substitution taper can involve substituting a prescription drug for alcohol. It can also involve substituting the drink of choice with another drink; for example, a person may taper off hard alcohol with beer. Individualized detox and residential care for addiction and co-occurring conditions using experiential healing activities like dolphin therapy on beautiful Kona. Blending modern and traditional approaches, a residential treatment center addressing substance use disorders with equine therapy in Scottsdale, Arizona. Bespoke addiction and dual diagnosis recovery with personalized treatment programs, holistic therapies, and upscale amenities with sweeping mountain views.
To keep yourself motivated, you can celebrate small wins, track how far you’ve come, and remind yourself of the reasons you chose to quit throughout the process. She spends most of her time interviewing expert sources about the latest fitness trends, nutrition tips, and practical advice for living a healthier life. Olivia previously wrote for New York Magazine’s The Cut, PS (formerly POPSUGAR), and Salon, where she also did on-camera interviews with celebrity guests. She’s currently training for her first half marathon, inspired by her many colleagues at WH who have run one. You can also take the lead in other ways by volunteering to host or inviting people to get togethers where alcohol isn’t center-stage or even present at all, says Young. Game or craft nights, bowling, museum-exploring, and pottery are all things that can be done sans-alcohol (though your friends might bring some anyway).
- Besides its positive health benefits, it can help you quit drinking after weeks or months.
- However, weaning off alcohol isn’t always necessary for people who want to cut back or stop drinking.
- Alcohol tapering should be personalized, based on how much and the length of time someone has been drinking.
- We’ve gathered some tips and tricks on the best ways to cut down on drinking alcohol that can help you practice mindful drinking.
- At the same time levels of a hormone called leptin that tells the brain when the stomach is full plummet.
As you have a hard time fighting your cravings and working on ways to stop drinking, you may lose motivation now and then. The key is to stay focused on the benefits and reflect on the positive changes, improved physical health, better relationships, and mental clarity. Cravings are inevitable, and they’ll sober house hit you during stressful moments. You can try indulging in a therapeutic activity, connecting with a supportive person, or trying something healthier.
A direct taper means drinking the regular substance of choice but lowering the amount consumed daily. Someone should typically only direct taper if their drink of choice is beer with a low alcohol percentage. The timeline for alcohol withdrawal will be different for each individual. However, here is a sample timeline of what the average person can expect. 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.
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.
Sitting and talking with others who share your struggle can help you feel supported. Local groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) can give you the moral support and strength you need. Delamere describes the different stages that you go through while detoxing from alcohol6. A countryside campus on the Brazos River providing modern-style homes and a focus on full continuum care with detox, residential, and long-term options. Weaning off alcohol is a hard process, but it is something that you should be immensely proud of. That’s why it’s important to remember that relapse is not failure.
