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 alcohol withdrawal is so dangerous, is tapering off alcohol necessary for everyone who drinks? If you’ve been drinking consistently for a long time, it’s a good idea to consider the safest way to stop when it’s time to cut back. However, weaning off alcohol isn’t always necessary for people who want to cut back or stop drinking. The most significant factor is whether or not you’ve become chemically dependent.
Strategize for Your Goals
However, some groups have published tapering examples to assist those trying to quit drinking. Direct tapering is not recommended for liquor drinkers as it is challenging to measure amounts and can result in binge drinking. Additionally, mixed drinks may contain sugar or other additives that could exacerbate withdrawal symptoms and should be avoided during the taper. Creating a structured plan including more resources and increased self-care builds a strong foundation for recovery.
How to Taper Off Alcohol in a Safe, Effective Way
The goal may be a long way off, but eventually they can get it down to 0 drinks. The Recovery Village Indianapolis offers comprehensive addiction treatment for drug and alcohol addictions and co-occurring mental health conditions. The HAMS Taper is a harm reduction strategy designed for individuals who want to reduce or quit alcohol consumption in a controlled and safe manner. The benefit is that it can make it easier to stop drinking alcohol. This is because you may continue your regular routine while reducing your alcohol use. This means that there is little data about the best way to taper your drinking.
Over time, this can progress to dependence, where the body becomes reliant on alcohol to function normally. Remember, seeking help and support is a sign of strength, and there are resources available to guide you on your journey towards a healthier, alcohol-free life. People with stronger physical dependence on alcohol may initially experience only the above-listed mild symptoms of withdrawal.
Relapse Prevention Strategies
You should also consider an alcohol withdrawal taper if you’ve ever gone through withdrawal from alcohol, or any other depressant, in the past. Alcohol withdrawal can cause something called kindling to occur in your brain. Kindling refers to lasting physical changes in the brain that cause each subsequent withdrawal period to be worse. Someone who has https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ gone through alcohol withdrawal several times is more likely to experience severe withdrawal symptoms than someone going through it for the first time.
- They can help you decide if tapering is the safest option for you.
- Every person has unique needs, and tapering off may not be an adequate solution to reduce or stop drinking.
- Involving family and friends in your journey can build a vital support system, enhancing your chances of success.
- Gradually decreasing alcohol intake through supervised tapering can make quitting safer and ease withdrawal severity.
- There are several ways to taper your alcohol consumption without therapy.
Identify a Support Network
This not only reduces temptation but also helps to establish a fresh atmosphere that supports your commitment to sobriety. Research shows that reducing alcohol consumption lowers the risk of heart disease, enhances mood, and contributes to better sleep quality. Always remember that if the taper is not working for you or if you are having major withdrawal that it is safest to check into a medical detox because alcohol withdrawal can kill you. For instance, many people binge drink on the weekend without drinking during the week. They may have a mild-to-moderate substance use problem without being chemically dependent. Still, they may need to consider cutting back for other physical, mental, and social health reasons.
- However, tapering is not necessarily the best strategy for everyone.
- Cutting back your drinking each day can help your body and mind adjust to a new normal.
- Even if the tapering process is not ultimately successful, even a short period of time of reduced alcohol consumption can lessen the likelihood of severe harms.
- Tapering off alcohol is a step in the right direction, but there’s more to the story.
Mental Health
This is especially true of heavy drinkers who are surrounded by the triggers that encourage drinking and lack the support needed to encourage change. If you plan to taper your drinking in order to stop, make sure you limit your intake consistently, avoid fluctuations, and adhere to a weekly reduction schedule with a set date to stop. If you or someone you know is quitting alcohol and experiences seizures, DTs, hallucinations, or other major effects, seek immediate medical attention or call 911 for help. For example, healthcare providers usually don’t take patients off antidepressants suddenly; rather, they gradually lower the dosages to help reduce antidepressant discontinuation symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal is potentially fatal, especially for people with an alcohol addiction. Sometimes, they may experience seizures and delirium tremens (DTs).
Preparing To Wean Off Alcohol
- 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.
- Drinking a glass of water between each alcoholic drink can also help people avoid acute intoxication and further slow down their liquor consumption.
- If you find that you cannot stop drinking, even if it is obvious that it is negatively impacting your life, you may need to seek help for alcohol use disorder.
- Some people are facing problems with their health or personal lives which require them to quit immediately.
This can be done by reducing the number of drinks, increasing time between drinks or choosing a weaker drink with a lower alcohol content. Moreover, substituting one kind of beverage for another does not help you taper off alcohol if you consume the same number of standard drinks as you usually have. For example, one 12-ounce can of beer contains roughly the same amount of alcohol as a 5-ounce glass of wine or a mixed drink containing 1.5 ounces of alcohol. Individuals who’ve consumed higher amounts of alcohol over time can develop life-threatening complications when trying to quit.
The risk of tapering too slowly is that you won’t stick with it, while the risk of tapering too fast is severe withdrawal. If you experience dangerous signs such as high blood pressure, racing heart, or arrhythmias, slow your taper and seek assistance. When you quit alcohol cold turkey, you quit 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.
Minimized Risk of Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
For example, if you normally drink 6 glasses of wine each night, you can try reducing that to 5 glasses of wine a night. After several days of 5 glasses of wine, you can reduce that down to 4. Eventually, after a period of time, you will have tapered down to zero drinks. If you’re interested in medication-assisted treatment, medication to curb Sober House Rules: What You Should Know Before Moving In cravings can be a helpful tool for reducing your consumption. Quitting alcohol is a journey that requires dedication, patience, and the willingness to change.
Remember your motivation for cutting back and set realistic goals. This is why it is important to stop regular, heavy drinking only under the supervision of medical staff. They can provide medications and additional support to make quitting alcohol safer, and more comfortable. Tapering off alcohol involves gradually reducing the amount of alcohol you drink. Besides its positive health benefits, it can help you quit drinking after weeks or months.
Generally speaking, alcohol home detox is neither the most effective nor the safest method of quitting alcohol. However, it may be suitable for someone with a lower risk of experiencing alcohol withdrawal, or a person who has access to medical professionals at home. Reducing alcohol intake can have significant positive effects on mental health.
