The amount of time it takes to taper off of alcohol can vary greatly from person to person. Some people can taper quickly and quit alcohol completely, while others may take longer. But deciding to cut back on drinking is much more important than the length of your alcohol taper. You don’t have to let the fear of alcohol withdrawal stop you from cutting back or quitting. The long and the short of it is–tapering off alcohol with medical support can help you quit drinking.
What are the risks of quitting alcohol cold turkey?
You need to make your own schedule and determine what’s best for you. If you try a slower taper, you risk dragging it out too long and decreasing your chances of quitting. If you do it too fast, you increase your chance of severe withdrawal. You will probably notice them if you’ve been drinking for extended periods of time. They might not mean you need to call 911, but you may need to slow your taper if they’re bothering you too much.
How To Taper off Alcohol Safely and Effectively
The kindling effect refers to the increasing severity of withdrawal symptoms each time you go through alcohol detox. If you’ve tried to quit multiple times, each subsequent withdrawal can become more severe. This means that an unsuccessful tapering attempt isn’t just a failed attempt; it can actually be harder to try again in the future. The kindling effect is an important reason to approach quitting and seek professional guidance seriously. Deciding to reduce or eliminate your alcohol consumption is a big step and will open up a whole new world of improved health and well-being. Adjusting the tapering schedule to the individual’s needs is also crucial.
- Making a plan for tapering alcohol is a crucial part of the process to ensure a healthy outcome.
- Still, it has a decreased level of success when compared to the alternative and requires discipline that can be difficult for those with an addiction.
- In this schedule, the biggest drop occurs during the first couple days.
- Force your self to do normal activities, but nothing too strenuous or physical beyond what you might normally do.
Tell Someone What You’re Doing
It doesn’t mean you have to go to rehab (though that’s certainly an option). You can try support groups, therapy, psychiatrists, spiritual groups, and outpatient rehab services. I have a complete guide on Alternatives to Rehab, which has over a dozen different options to select from.
Will I Have a Seizure? Will I have DTs?I don’t know.
This reflection can unveil all the positive outcomes of quitting or reducing alcohol intake. Keeping a drink diary is a powerful tool for anyone looking to reduce their alcohol consumption. By recording each drink consumed, individuals gain insights into their drinking habits and how these patterns align with their goals. This practice fosters self-awareness and accountability, helping to identify triggers and times when cravings are strongest. In most cases, the longer you Sober Houses Rules That You Should Follow take to wean off the effects of alcohol, the less severe your withdrawal symptoms should be.
Tapering with Support: Key Tools for Alcohol Recovery
- If you’ve tried to quit multiple times, each subsequent withdrawal can become more severe.
- Reducing alcohol intake can have significant positive effects on mental health.
- Ria Health offers several FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder.
- If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol or other drugs, call us now to speak with a Recovery Advocate.
- Medications like Naltrexone, Acamprosate, and Disulfiram can assist in managing cravings and deterring alcohol use.
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Soothing the Storm: Coping Tips for Alcohol Withdrawal
Excessive drinking can weaken the immune system, increasing the body’s likelihood of developing an infection. Diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis are more frequent in individuals who chronically drink. Generally, light to moderate drinkers should plan to taper for a week or more. Discover how drug abuse definition might help decide to get help and overcome the challenges of addiction. Discovering that your spouse is struggling with alcoholism can be a challenging and emotionally overwhelming experience.
It is all part of the process, and no one’s process is the same. Alcohol withdrawal can cause many symptoms, some of which can be fatal. At Ria, we offer weekly meetings with certified counselors to help members stay on track and build skills for long-term change. 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.
Reducing Temptation
- But from a harm reduction standpoint, it’s much less likely to get you into trouble than alcohol, pills, or harder drugs.
- This method can lessen withdrawal symptoms, allowing your body to adjust to decreased alcohol levels slowly.
- Alcohol also changes your brain chemistry, which can result in higher levels of anxiety and depression for the first several months.
- Setting realistic goals and rewarding progress can help maintain motivation throughout the tapering journey.
Additionally, consider how alcohol affects your relationships and daily routines, and reflect on any negative consequences, such as arguments or reduced productivity. If you find yourself struggling with these issues, reaching out to resources like SAMHSA’s National Helpline can provide guidance and support. 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. It depends on your individual metabolism and withdrawal symptoms. The purpose of alcohol tapering is typically to avoid some of the more dangerous symptoms of detox.
But, it might also come with seemingly some discomfort or disappointment from friends. Those moments can be thought of as a “them thing, and less of a you thing,” says Shani Gardner, LCSW, a therapist at Soulful Grace Therapy. Switching up your behavior might make people question their own and result in them projecting onto you. Approach that with kindness and compassion—but don’t take it personally, she says.