Slowly reduce the amount of alcohol you consume each day until you reach sobriety. If you begin to experience serious withdrawal symptoms, drink enough to make the symptoms subside. If your body is used to a certain amount of alcohol, you may feel certain effects when you stop.
Eat before and in between drinks.
Some people may also find it easier to just taper off their alcohol use rather than jumping immediately into an abstinence day even if they do not have significant withdrawal symptoms. Before you decide to go through alcohol withdrawal, write yourself a letter and keep it nearby for quick reference. The letter’s content should be encouraging and remind you why you are going through the challenge of detox in the first place.
Symptoms timeline
Another clue that can be an indication of an unhealthy relationship with alcohol is if you make “rules” around drinking. Therapy can help you understand why you drink and learn new habits so you can live a healthy lifestyle that doesn’t rely on alcohol as a crutch. It can also help you gain a new perspective as you consider how your life will change without alcohol. Sunnyside uses a psychology-based approach to help you drink more mindfully, no matter what your goal is.
Why Is Alcohol Withdrawal Dangerous?
- Weaning off alcohol should be done with a well-structured plan, which includes assessing current alcohol consumption, setting achievable goals, and establishing milestones to track progress.
- The process of tapering off alcohol involves gradually reducing alcohol consumption over time.
- Medical experts now use the term “alcohol use disorder” rather than “alcohol abuse” to address the concern of excessive drinking.
- If it’s safe for you to quit cold turkey, you may find that cutting alcohol out entirely from the start helps you clearly uphold your boundaries.
- Or, if you’re ready to begin your recovery journey, choose from three easy options to get started today.
If you turn to alcohol to manage emotional distress, the added overwhelm can prompt the urge to drink, making success seem even more out of reach. What’s most important is looking at your drinking habits and Top 5 Advantages of Staying in a Sober Living House finding a way to cut back that works for you. From month-long sobriety challenges to the Sober Curious movement, more and more people are taking a closer look at the role alcohol plays in their lives.
The point is that eventually, your craving will go away — the wave will crash. Tell your close friends and family before you begin your detox, and ask them to support you. Consider https://financeinquirer.com/top-5-advantages-of-staying-in-a-sober-living-house/ creating a visiting schedule so you are never alone during the first week of detox. A supportive friend or family member can help you in many ways during withdrawal.
- Quitting cold turkey involves suddenly stopping all alcohol use, while tapering involves slowly decreasing the amount of alcohol a person drinks daily.
- The exact benefits will depend on how much alcohol you were drinking and on factors such as your genetics, overall health, and how your body responds.
- Alcohol addiction can be difficult and sometimes dangerous to handle on your own.
- If you’ve confirmed it is safe for you to wean off alcohol at home, set goals for yourself and make a plan as to how you will achieve those goals.
- Jeff’s work has been used in rehabs across the country as tools to help patients achieve sobriety.
- Maintaining a calm and comfortable environment, staying hydrated and avoiding stimulants like caffeine is also helpful.
Besides its positive health benefits, it can help you quit drinking after weeks or months. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that affects your brain. When you quit drinking or wean off alcohol, your body will adjust to the lack of alcohol in your body. Contact emergency health services if you or someone you know experiences more than one symptom of severe alcohol withdrawal. Some find tapering is not a suitable option to stop drinking due to various factors such as social responsibilities or peer pressure.
- Late symptoms begin between two and four days after the last drink, and they usually include changes in heart rate, breathing and blood pressure.
- That said, you need to make sure you are safe, and that you have a plan you can stick to.
- It’s crucial to consult with a doctor before starting an alcohol taper.
- The recent sober curious movement, for example, has inspired a lot of people to think about why they drink, and whether they really need alcohol in their social lives.
- A person may need to detox at home for many reasons, including cost or time.
Free Support Group: Beginning a sobriety or moderation journey
It’s a good idea to talk with a medical professional before you begin a taper. They can help you decide if it’s the safest way to start your recovery, and they can help you make a taper plan. 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. The exact symptoms you experience will depend on factors such as how much alcohol you’re consuming, other medical conditions you have, medications you take, and your body’s response to the taper.
How To Wean Yourself off Alcohol Safely
In outpatient settings, monitoring techniques and follow-up care are essential to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the tapering process. Comprehensive care includes education on withdrawal, maintaining a low-stimulation environment, and nutritional support. Medications such as benzodiazepines, gabapentin, or valproate may be used adjunctively to manage persistent symptoms and support the tapering process. Ultimately, the purpose of alcohol tapering is to provide a safer and more controlled pathway toward sobriety, to minimize withdrawal symptoms and to reduce the likelihood of relapse. Your doctor can determine if tapering alcohol is safe for your unique situation and help you create a plan to quit drinking alcohol. Only a licensed medical professional can accurately assess your current condition and whether it’s safe for you to taper down.
In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues. Maybe you’ve never been interested in logging your innermost thoughts, but journaling can be a great tool to track your feelings as you work on quitting alcohol. By avoiding alcohol, you’re taking a big step toward improving physical health. As you begin to notice those health benefits, you’ll likely feel more energized and inspired to keep up your progress. Research shows that most people believe that drinking can make them feel better.
