Alcohol is the third-leading preventable cause of mortality in the United States, with approximately 95,000 people dying from alcohol-related causes each year. By gradually tapering off alcohol, you can lower your risk for alcohol-related accidents or death. If you’re struggling to wean off alcohol, it might be best to seek addiction treatment. Various treatment programs are available to help you recover from addiction.
The individual must push through the resulting withdrawal symptoms. To taper off, you reduce the number of drinks you consume in a given day or week. People who drink every day can start by cutting out one drink per day. Binge drinkers can start tapering off by cutting out one drink per episode. The process involves cutting back on the number of drinks consumed each day or week. People with alcohol use disorder may experience symptoms including alcohol cravings and an inability to stop drinking.
It can also contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment. Whether you are struggling with addiction, mental health or both, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way. Don’t wait— reach out today to take the first step toward taking control of your life. We believe everyone deserves access to accurate, unbiased information about mental health and addiction. That’s why we have a comprehensive set of treatment providers and don’t charge for inclusion. We do not and have never accepted fees for referring someone to a particular center.
How to Taper off Alcohol Safely and Effectively
Drinking beer can also help maintain hydration throughout the taper. It is important to note that prescription medication should not be used for a substitution taper unless it has been prescribed as part of a medical detox program. Taking days off within the week is a common strategy to encourage drinking less overall.
What Happens When You Stop Drinking Alcohol
To assess your relationship with alcohol, start by examining whether your drinking habits are impacting your social, psychological, and physical life. Keeping an alcohol use journal can help track your patterns, triggers, and emotions related to drinking, offering valuable insight. Be mindful of withdrawal symptoms like shakiness, restlessness, and nausea, which may indicate alcohol dependence and require professional help.
Identify and Manage Personal Triggers
- Or maybe you are just tired of a casual night out leading to a day-long debilitating hangover.
- The typical warning signs that someone is going to experience Delirium tremens include tremors, an extremely elevated heart rate, and a drastic increase in body temperature.
- All your goals should follow SMART rules; they should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time bound.
- Engaging in hobbies and social activities that don’t involve alcohol can help fill time previously spent drinking and build a supportive environment.
Orlando Recovery Center says that when you taper your alcohol intake over time, you reduce the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms7. This is because this process gives your brain more time to get used to the changes and damage that alcohol originally created. If you were to suddenly stop drinking alcohol, your receptors would become hyperactive because they are no longer being depressed.
Preparing To Wean Off Alcohol
We utilize a three-pronged, holistic approach that combines the right psychotropic medications, cutting-edge clinical therapy, and an environment of supportive peers. You should include strategies to both reduce drinking and prevent relapse. Before you attempt to quit alcohol, it is critically important that you first consult with a medical professional. But, as many in recovery will tell you, it is only the first chapter in a long process. Having a plan can help you stay on track and it can keep you safe.
A variety of factors can determine a person’s withdrawal symptoms and the proper tapering procedure. These include their level of dependence, level of tolerance, the individual biology of the drinker, and the circumstances under which they normally drink. Together, these factors can make people’s addictions more emotionally and physically debilitating. Progressively tapering off of alcohol rather than stopping abruptly can mitigate both the discomfort and the dangers of quitting this powerful substance. Tapering off may be a safer option than quitting cold turkey for many people because it can reduce withdrawal symptoms.
- Alcohol’s central nervous system-inhibiting effects decrease the neural activity, and it is this effect that is responsible for alcohol’s perceived positive side effects.
- Alcohol also inhibits the glutamate receptor–which is the cause of staggering, slurring, and general interference with muscular coordination.
- This is why many of the alcohol withdrawal symptoms seem to be related to overstimulation, like shaky hands, racing thoughts, and insomnia.
- Talk to a medical professional if you have any concerns about tapering off alcohol.
- Ordering a drink upon arrival to your destination might feel like an icebreaker or a way to ease yourself into a social situation, and it often happens out of habit.
Tapering off alcohol involves gradually reducing your alcohol consumption over time. This method can help minimize withdrawal symptoms, making the process more manageable. Tapering allows the body to adjust slowly to lower levels of alcohol. Stopping alcohol can seem like Sober House Rules: What You Should Know Before Moving In a daunting task, but there are many benefits to this decision.
This can cause seizures and delirium tremens, a severe form of withdrawal marked by tremors and hallucinations. If you taper off alcohol slowly or with medical supervision, the brain has time to adapt without causing severe side effects. 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.
Dr Lee explains that choosing a non-alcoholic beer or a caffeinated beverage can help provide a small buzz. “Using a medication such as naltrexone increases the overall chances that people can cut down or quit,” Lee said. Relapse is a very normal part of the recovery process, and a majority of those in recovery will relapse at some point. It will take time and effort to grow these newfound friendships—but it will be worth it.
Sometimes it is helpful to reward oneself by replacing alcohol consumption with alternative healthy habits, such as exercise or delicious meals. Many people benefit from talking to friends and family members about their goals, or even tapering off of alcohol alongside a close friend or partner. By communicating your https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ goals and struggles, you not only increase your accountability but you obtain valuable support.
Talk to Your Doctor
Remember, you are not alone on this journey, and there are resources available to support you every step of the way. Design for Recovery, a structured sober living home located in West Los Angeles, works with young men to help them develop a new way of life in sobriety. Residents work daily with our trained and dedicated staff to develop new values and coping tools. They also have the opportunity to live with and benefit from the experiences of other young men in the house who are equally committed to building new lives. If you are ready to say goodbye to alcohol and begin to take steps toward new life goals, reach out to us today. It is no surprise, then, that many people’s physical dependence on alcohol tends to increase.
- This can taper you off alcohol while still helping you keep up with your normal drinking routine, making the process easier.
- Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that leads to an increase in brain neurotransmitters that slow down your brain’s functions, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
- She’s currently training for her first half marathon, inspired by her many colleagues at WH who have run one.
- Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website.
- It can take between two to four days for the symptoms of delirium tremens to fully manifest, and at least another three days for them to run their course.
The thing is, your shared experience doesn’t have to be with alcohol. It also can reduce the risk of relapse by not trying to attempt too much too soon, failing, and then going back to regularly using alcohol to cope with the feelings of failure. We specialize in compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to your needs. Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or a loved one, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Consistently using alcohol for a long time causes your brain to adjust to its suppressing effect.
The 20-minute rule is a great tool for cutting down on alcohol use. After you finish an alcoholic beverage, wait 20 minutes before consuming another. This 20-minute break allows the alcohol to hit your bloodstream and reduces the cravings for another drink, preventing you from overdoing it. A strong community can go a long way to helping cut down on alcohol use. 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.
