How Does Tapering Off Alcohol Work?

So, if you normally have 6 beers a day, you could be done tapering within one week. It’s always best to consult a physician on the best strategy, especially if you drink heavily. When you quit alcohol cold turkey, you quit Top 5 Advantages of Staying in a Sober Living House drinking completely and suddenly. Tapering helps people stop using alcohol and other substances in small and manageable steps. This can help your body adjust, and it can be easier to manage than quitting cold turkey.

  • Becoming more aware of your alcohol triggers and reasons for drinking can help you plan ways to help manage the urge to drink.
  • There is even a branch of recovery coaching geared towards caregivers.
  • Becoming aware of where, when, and why you consume alcohol lets you assess your own habits.
  • Professional detox is highly recommended for those likely to experience moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms and will support you during detox.
  • The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
  • Adjustments should be made in consultation with a medical professional, particularly when medication-assisted treatment is indicated.

How to safely taper off your alcohol consumption

  • The experience of withdrawing from alcohol can be uncomfortable and difficult.
  • If you find it is difficult to prevent yourself from drinking too much and getting drunk, locking your alcohol up in a cabinet and giving your friend or family member the key can help.
  • Some elements of the program, including the belief in a higher power, aren’t the right fit for everyone.
  • For those at risk for severe withdrawal symptoms, medically-supervised detox is often the safest choice for beginning their sobriety or moderation journey.

Fortunately, if AA doesn’t work for you, there are other options. In order to change your drinking habits, your first step is to take a close look at your current behaviors and find patterns. Take the first step toward addiction treatment by contacting us today. Give https://stocktondaily.com/top-5-advantages-of-staying-in-a-sober-living-house/ your loved ones as much information as you can about your self-tapering strategy. Let them know your plan, your progress, and how withdrawals are going for you. At the end of the day, one of the most important tools you have at your disposal is self-compassion.

  • Changing daily habits, avoiding drinking triggers, managing anxiety or insomnia as your internal chemistry rebalances, and rebuilding your social life are among the challenges you may face.
  • Luckily, this nationwide issue has resources available to help you heal.
  • There are a range of symptoms you can experience when you stop drinking.
  • But if you’re living with alcohol use disorder, drinking is more than a habit.
  • Staffed by medical professionals, these programs offer 24-hour monitoring so you always have support if any complications arise.

Recognize Dangerous Withdrawal Symptoms

Alcohol tapering, the gradual reduction of alcohol intake, presents several challenges, each requiring strategic solutions to ensure a safe and successful journey towards sobriety. One of the primary challenges is managing withdrawal symptoms, which can range from mild discomfort to severe health risks. Monitoring these symptoms closely and adjusting the tapering schedule is crucial.

Triggers: How to Manage and Avoid Them

  • In order to fully recover, you can start your healing process by safely ridding yourself of alcohol.
  • The tapering process is tailored to the individual’s needs, considering the severity of dependence and any comorbid conditions.
  • Although going cold turkey on opioids is dangerous and can cause significant withdrawal symptoms, quitting alcohol cold turkey can be fatal.
  • This condition affects individuals and profoundly impacts their families and society, with social and economic costs.

Attempting to stop drinking “cold turkey” is not only dangerous, but could also cause serious implications or be fatal. Ark Behavioral Health offers 100% confidential substance abuse assessment and treatment placement tailored to your individual needs. Delirium tremens (DTs) can begin 48 hours after your last drink and last up to five days.

how to taper off alcohol

Lincoln Recovery

For some people, alcohol has been or continues to be a problem in their lives, and they have chosen to avoid it. For others, it seems to fulfill an ordinary social role—easing communication, helping them feel relaxed in new situations, or simply helping them unwind after a long day. However, the boundary between healthy and unhealthy alcohol use can sometimes get blurry. Finally, even if your long-term goal is abstinence, moderation can be an effective bridge.

Contaminated Drugs: What You Need to Know

how to taper off alcohol

This can be tough, especially if you feel that their drinking is hurting you. However, approaching the subject with a clear message of support, and without judgement, is generally the most effective strategy. As Johann Hari explains in his Ted Talk,7 addiction is partially a disease of shame and isolation.

Reach out and get support

April 15, 2022