You’ll likely face the urge to drink more than you’ve planned each day, but there are some good tricks to help you delay that next serving and keep yourself honest. Tapering is also a strategy used by people with a substance or alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, improper tapering could lead to relapse, overdose, and severe health consequences. Serenity Lane offers rehabilitation for alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder. Our hope is to create the safest, most comfortable environment for you to begin your treatment journey. Some people withdrawing from alcohol could be at risk for delirium tremens (DTs).
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, you may find that quitting all at once is too drastic and decide to start by practicing harm reduction. That said, tapering off alcohol doesn’t completely eliminate withdrawal symptoms.
If you are serious about mindful drinking, ask your friends, family, or other trusted member of your community to help you cut back. You can plan fun events that don’t center around alcohol, and they can assist in keeping you accountable to your goals. The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper offers comprehensive addiction treatment for drug and alcohol addictions and co-occurring mental health conditions.
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Insomnia, anxiety and paranoia — the opposite effects of alcohol — are the expected results. Thus, a user will likely seek out alcohol again to rid themselves of the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. If you were to suddenly stop drinking alcohol, your receptors would become hyperactive because they are no longer being depressed. This is why you should taper off alcohol, or use a prescribed medication like benzodiazepines, during detox3. It’s vital to do this under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure the process is safe and smooth. After two weeks, continue to listen to your body, adding more alcohol-free days and seeking support as needed.
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These numbers highlight the urgent need for effective strategies to mitigate the harm caused by alcohol. Our programs are designed to treat alcohol use disorder effectively and with dignity. If you or your loved one is suffering, contact us to learn more about a brighter, sober tomorrow. To lower your alcohol consumption, try to stick to only one alcoholic drink per hour. In between drinks, you can have soda, water, or even a non-alcoholic beer or mocktail. Not only does pacing yourself help cut back on alcohol consumption, but it also gives you confidence and self-discipline.
It can also help you gain a new perspective as you consider how your life will change without alcohol. A sober life doesn’t have to mean more time at home as you try to block out triggers. It can mean more time for your other interests, and even new interests. More time to meet new people, catch up with old friends and try new things. In order to change your drinking habits, your first step is to take a close look at your current behaviors and find patterns. By acknowledging the need for change, individuals can start to take control of their relationship with alcohol and work towards a brighter future.
With kindling, the brain becomes increasingly sensitized to stopping alcohol. In turn, you can suffer from increasingly severe withdrawal symptoms every time you try to stop drinking. An alcohol taper is a way to wean yourself off alcohol and avoid withdrawal symptoms. Although all forms of alcohol cessation should be done with medical guidance, tapering your alcohol intake may allow you to self-wean from drinking at home.
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- This is why it’s always best to find some form of long-term support in sobriety.
- When it comes to tapering off alcohol safely, seeking support and professional guidance can play a crucial role in your journey towards sobriety.
- With the right strategies and support in place, you can take control of your relationship with alcohol and pave the way for a brighter, alcohol-free future.
- Exercise, family time, or cooking may provide distraction and promote your wellness,” Dr Lee said.
- A healthcare provider or counselor specializing in addiction treatment can provide guidance, support, and evidence-based interventions to aid in recovery.
Along with withdrawal symptoms, it may be even more difficult to cut back or taper your alcohol use if you struggle with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). AUD makes it difficult to control alcohol use — it may seem like the alcohol is controlling you. A taper may not be right for you if you frequently drink more than you intended, try to cut back but cannot or feel that your alcohol use is affecting your life. People with AUD may be unable to quit drinking alcohol on their own or have attempted to quit before and relapsed.
How to Wean Off Alcohol Safely
Gradual reduction, professional support, and smart strategies for success. To drop the number of drinks you have each week, start with a daily limit. The federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends not drinking at all, but suggests that if you do, keep it under two drinks a day for men and one for women.
Withdrawal and Safety When Tapering Off Alcohol
Once you know it is medically safe to stop drinking, you should loop in a therapist or addiction specialist. They will be able to help you uncover the underlying causes of your drinking issues and properly diagnose any co-occurring mental health conditions that you may be suffering from. Weaning off alcohol is considerably safer and more effective than going cold turkey.
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You can strengthen your emotional and communication techniques to help you work through any tough situations that may arise sober house in the future. Bespoke addiction and dual diagnosis recovery with personalized treatment programs, holistic therapies, and upscale amenities with sweeping mountain views. Your body has become used to, and dependent on, certain levels of alcohol. Alcohol depresses your nervous system2, so your body creates more receptors for neurotransmitters, or messengers, to stimulate the nervous system. You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings.
In lieu of an alcoholic beverage before sleep, try other alternatives like decaffeinated warm tea or warm milk. Perhaps one of the immediate changes you will see after coming off alcohol is clearer skin. Alcohol causes the body and skin to lose fluid and dehydrate, creating a dullish, gray appearance. Depending on the organ and whether or not there has been relapse(s), recovery is possible. There is hope that even after years of https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ heavy alcohol use, the liver has the ability to regenerate or regrow.
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. A strong community can go a long way to helping cut down on alcohol use.
Take the Next Step
With tapering, you start slowly to minimize the chances of severe withdrawal and relapse, avoiding the shock quitting cold turkey can cause. Alcohol tapering should be personalized, based on how much and the length of time someone has been drinking. Because symptoms such as seizures and delirium tremens can be fatal, reducing alcohol consumption can be dangerous for some.