Tapering Off Alcohol: Strategies, Challenges, and Effects

In the next sections, we will explore strategies for quitting drinking safely, coping with withdrawal symptoms, and maintaining sobriety. It’s essential to remember that seeking professional help and support from loved ones are valuable resources on this journey. If you are struggling with severe alcohol use or addiction, tapering off alcohol at home may not be a safe option. The most effective option for alcoholics to stop drinking is to find a treatment program that offers medical detox services. If you are interested in medical detox, contact one of our Vertava Health treatment specialists to find alcohol detox programs near you.

If you decide to taper with benzos, don’t mix them with alcohol.
You can try out any of the things in my guide on Alternatives To Inpatient Drug Rehab.
When you’ve stabilised your drinking level for one week, you can start slowly cutting down the amount you drink.
Feeling at your best physically can boost resilience and emotional strength, equipping you to weather challenges that trigger the desire to drink.
Alcohol detox medications can make the process safer and more comfortable.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are the primary reason that many people relapse when they attempt to quit. Detoxification (detox) from alcohol is often the first step in treating alcohol use disorder (AUD). Dietary guidelines recommend that if you drink, men limit daily drinking to two drinks or less per day and women limit their drinking to one drink or less per day. Consuming more than that can lead to liver damage and heart disease, and increase your risk for some cancers.

What Does “Tapering Off Alcohol” Mean?

It might help to set goals and reward yourself when you reach them. 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). http://alcatraz-club.ru/novostyi/index.php/cat04/1897-iskusstvo-bunta-greatest-hits-ot-pink Always have one of your drinks late at night before you go to bed, to prevent this from happening while you’re sleeping. The chance of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms increases if you’ve had them before, or if you’re older.

how to ween yourself off alcohol

You may be biologically predisposed to abusing it, and if you’re physically addicted, your brain isn’t working right. 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. But, perhaps most importantly, understand that setbacks happen and that progress takes time or may look different than imagined. It is all part of the process, and no one’s process is the same. Make sure you read and follow the advice carefully, and always be prepared to call an ambulance in an emergency.

Who Can Benefit From Tapering Their Alcohol Intake

If you want to cut back your alcohol consumption or stop drinking alcohol altogether, tapering may help. Tapering is the process of gradually weaning off alcohol rather than quitting cold turkey. Depending on how much alcohol you drink to start with, the amount of time an alcohol weaning schedule takes may vary. For example, those who drink more heavily may need more time to taper than those who drink less alcohol. Further, if you start to develop alcohol withdrawal symptoms during the taper, your doctor may instruct you to pause or slow the taper as a result. These factors can make one person’s taper last longer than another person’s taper.

how to ween yourself off alcohol

Instead, you should try to reduce the amount you drink slowly, over a few weeks. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. Keep a list of emergency phone numbers on hand that includes contact info for your doctor, the police, http://aquariumlib.ru/books/item/f00/s00/z0000020/st000.shtml a nearby hospital, and someone you trust. And consider joining a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous. It might also be worth checking out a 12-step program in your area, like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery, to see if it feels like something that might be useful for you.

Can You Stop Drinking Alcohol Cold Turkey?

Stay focused, stay determined, and know that a healthier and happier future awaits you. If you’re struggling to control your drinking habits, it’s important to seek help. However, quitting alcohol cold turkey can be dangerous and even life-threatening in some cases. http://muhom.org/2007/09/25/himicheskiy-sostav-tabachnogo-dyima/ That’s why it’s important to learn how to wean yourself off alcohol safely. In this article, we’ll discuss some tips to help you gradually reduce your alcohol intake. If you drink heavily on a regular basis, it can be dangerous to stop alcohol cold turkey.