A healthcare professional can provide personalized advice and support, taking into account individual circumstances and health considerations. Before embarking on the journey to quit drinking alcohol, it is essential to acknowledge the need for change and understand the impact of alcohol addiction. Quitting cold turkey is likely to cause more intense withdrawal symptoms than if you taper off alcohol slowly.
Tapering vs Cold Turkey
It may adapt by producing more excitatory chemicals and fewer of its native inhibitory chemicals. When you stop drinking, your brain will stop getting the inhibitory effects of alcohol and become overstimulated. Alcohol withdrawal often involves restlessness, anxiety, and insomnia, among other symptoms. 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 are tapering off of alcohol, the time it takes depends entirely on how long the taper is and how well you adhere to it.
Avoid Triggers
- You may be able to detox at home and recover from alcoholism with the help of support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
- As your body gets used to alcohol, you will need more and more of it over time, which is called tolerance.
- Your doctor can determine if tapering alcohol is safe for your unique situation and help you create a plan to quit drinking alcohol.
- But, with a little prior knowledge on how to taper off alcohol, adequate planning and professional consultation from a healthcare provider, it can certainly be done.
- Or, you may find that quitting all at once is too drastic and decide to start by practicing harm reduction.
Someone should typically only direct taper if their drink of choice is beer with a low alcohol percentage. Avoid taking prescription drugs that your doctor hasn’t prescribed to you. If withdrawal is so uncomfortable that you’re turning to drugs for comfort, you should contact your doctor or a rehab center to discuss medically supervised withdrawal. You should start by determining how much alcohol you drink per day in terms of standard drinks.
Ways to Stop Drinking
For women and older men, the guideline suggests no more than one drink per day, while younger men may have up to two. This establishes a foundation for healthier drinking patterns and serves as a guiding structure to avoid overindulgence. Before you begin an alcohol taper, a little preparation can Sober Houses Rules That You Should Follow go a long way, especially when it involves handling your triggers and tracking how much you drink. If you find it difficult to cut down on your number of drinks per day, try making your drinks weaker by using less alcohol per drink.
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Licensed medical professionals and highly qualified addiction specialists at The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper can help guide you toward a life without alcohol. 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.
The Importance of Routine in Maintaining Sobriety
Research different support groups in your area or consider online options to find the one that resonates with you. Overall, do whatever you can to make yourself as comfortable as possible. If you’re sweating, place a cold towel on your forehead or on the back of your neck. Prepare a playlist of your favorite songs or movies to pass the time. But, perhaps most importantly, understand that setbacks happen and that progress takes time or may look different than imagined.
As you reduce your alcohol consumption, you may notice improvements in mood, anxiety, and overall mental well-being. However, the initial stages of tapering can also bring emotional challenges, as your body and mind adjust to lower levels https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ of alcohol. Engaging in therapy during this time can provide essential support and coping strategies. You don’t have to let the fear of alcohol withdrawal stop you from cutting back or quitting. For others, simply cutting back the number of drinks can bring on alcohol withdrawal symptoms, making it more difficult to stop.
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The time it takes to taper will depend on how long you’ve been drinking, how much you’ve been drinking and a variety of personal factors. When they suddenly quit drinking, the brain continues its hyperactivity, but alcohol no longer suppresses the effects. 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.
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For instance, consider stocking your pantry with non-alcoholic beverages that you enjoy, such as flavored seltzers or herbal teas. This way, you can still have refreshing drinks that don’t involve alcohol, making it easier to resist cravings. Figuring out where to start your alcohol taper schedule can be challenging. Counting each drink you consume may seem simple, but all drinks are not created equal. The alcohol content itself is important, and it depends on the percentage of alcohol, the proof of the alcohol and the actual amount of alcohol in the drink. After you finish an alcoholic beverage, wait 20 minutes before consuming another.
If you continue to drink, your body will come to rely on alcohol to maintain its chemical balance. As your body adapts to alcohol, it will change its natural chemical balance to include alcohol. Quitting will cause your body’s chemical balance to be thrown off suddenly, leading to withdrawal symptoms. Minor symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can start as soon as six hours after the last drink of alcohol.
