Even if you’re not someone who struggles with alcohol addiction, it can be hard to https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ decrease your alcohol intake. When attempting to understand how to wean yourself off alcohol safely, it’s essential to first comprehend the concept of alcohol withdrawal. Adjust your goals and milestones based on your personal circumstances and progress. It’s important to celebrate each milestone achieved, as it signifies your commitment and dedication towards a healthier and brighter future without alcohol. However, some groups have stepped in to try to bridge this gap and have published sample tapering schedules to help those trying to stop drinking.
Cold turkey is a common slang term for quitting alcohol (or any substance) all at once. Tapering or weaning means ramping down your alcohol use until you get to zero—or to a more moderate level of drinking that you prefer. That said, tapering off alcohol doesn’t completely eliminate withdrawal symptoms.
What Is an Alcohol Taper?
Discover the benefits, support, and triumphs on your journey to seek joy and sobriety. If you’re having trouble doing the same things you used to do, try new hobbies to fill your time. Join a gym, learn a new skill, or find sober social groups you can enjoy. And practice what you might say as a follow-up explanation if someone ask. Whether it’s improved relationships, better health, or weight loss, keeping the “why” in sight can help boost your motivation. You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings.
Long-Term Alcohol Use and Weaning
But, perhaps most importantly, understand that setbacks happen and that progress takes time or may look different than imagined. Emotionally, you may feel some anxiety or sadness about ending a chapter of your life and nervousness about the future. Our online health insurance verification system will estimate your in-network and out-of-network deductibles, coinsurance percentages and out-of-pocket maximums. Within 5 minutes, you’ll receive an email with these details – free of charge. Delamere describes the different stages that you go through while detoxing from alcohol6. An evidence-based rehab offering holistic and experiential therapies, tailoring treatment to each client on a comfortable campus near Austin.
How do you wean off alcohol at home?
Alcohol detox medications can make the process safer and more comfortable. They can also ensure your alcohol detox is successful by making it nigh impossible to relapse if symptoms get difficult. 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.
Healthy tips for your inbox
We’ve gathered some tips and tricks on the best ways to cut down on drinking alcohol that can help you practice mindful drinking. To learn about how our substance abuse treatment programs address alcohol dependence and withdrawal management, please contact us today. Here are some tips and strategies for how to taper off alcohol safely. Weaning off alcohol involves gradually decreasing the amount of alcohol you drink. This can be done by reducing the number of drinks, increasing time between drinks or choosing a weaker drink with a lower alcohol content.
Qualities of Effective Addiction Treatment Centers
- Abruptly stopping alcohol consumption can trigger withdrawal symptoms such as tremors, hallucinations, and seizures, which may require medical attention.
- The support of an alcohol detox program may help you wean off alcohol more quickly and with fewer unpleasant side effects.
- A strong community can go a long way to helping cut down on alcohol use.
- Make sure to share your successes with your loved ones and especially your sober support network.
- They often try to not drink at all during the week, and allow for moderate drinking Friday through Sunday,” Dr Lee said.
Little data is available about the safety and effectiveness of alcohol tapers. In contrast, robust evidence supports quitting alcohol while under medical supervision. If you struggle with drinking, the safest way to quit is under a doctor’s care. If you drink heavily, your doctor may recommend quitting with the help of a medical detox center. In medical detox, you receive around-the-clock care from doctors and nurses to help prevent and treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms and their complications. This can set you up for a safe and effective detox and put you in a good position to continue your recovery in rehab.
Olivia previously wrote for New York Magazine’s The Cut, PS (formerly POPSUGAR), and Salon, where she also did on-camera interviews with celebrity guests. She’s currently training for her first half marathon, inspired by her many colleagues at WH who have run one. At the end of the day, remember that drinking is just one of the many activities you can do with loved ones, says Gardner. Adding some variety can help not only decrease your weekly drink count, but also expose you to new hobbies. You can also take the lead in other ways by volunteering to host or inviting people to get togethers where alcohol isn’t center-stage or even present at all, says Young.
Each of these challenges requires a unique approach and often the support of professionals, loved ones and sober house support groups. Understanding and preparing for these difficulties can greatly enhance the chances of successful recovery. The second situation involves counting the daily drinks and switching them to a beverage with lower alcohol content, such as beer. Switching to beer from hard liquor is safer because it is easier to control the amount of beer that is consumed and is harder to binge drink. Consuming a lighter alcoholic drink like beer also makes it easier for someone to stay hydrated throughout the taper.
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, or a substance that reduces arousal and stimulation. Alcohol, or ethanol (the type of alcohol in beverages), is an intoxicating or strong ingredient found in beer, wine, and liquor. Alcohol is produced by the fermentation, or the breakdown, of yeast, sugars, and starches.
