Weaning Off Alcohol: Risks, Methods & Benefits
Becoming more aware of your alcohol triggers and reasons for drinking can help you plan ways to help manage the urge to drink. Maybe you don’t think you depend on alcohol exactly, but you still wonder whether you might be drinking too much. Within 5 minutes, you’ll receive an email with these details – free of charge.
- Direct tapering is not recommended for liquor drinkers as it is challenging to measure amounts and can result in binge drinking.
- If you plan to taper, you must create a schedule that is right for you.
- Ria Health offers access to many of these tools, including prescription medications, recovery coaching, and online support groups—all through a HIPAA-compliant smartphone app.
- Satisfying hobbies can distract you from wanting to drink, but they also help you relax — something everyone needs to do.
How to safely taper off your alcohol consumption
- Essentially, when an individual drinks, the brain amplifies certain activities to counterbalance the depressive effect alcohol has on it.
- If your health, wellness, and even life may be at risk, quitting alcohol should only be attempted with the help of a medical professional.
- This way, the process of breaking free from alcohol dependency becomes safer and more achievable.
- It is of the utmost importance that anyone considering tapering off alcohol first consult with a medical professional to determine their treatment needs.
- It is important to only attempt a taper while under a doctor’s care.
Gradual reduction strategies include slowly decreasing the amount of alcohol consumed over time and extending the time between drinks. Both methods allow the body to adjust gradually and reduce overall alcohol intake. These strategies should be implemented according to an individual’s specific needs and drinking habits, under the guidance of a healthcare professional or addiction specialist.
How Long Does it Take to Detox from Alcohol at Home?
When attempting to wean off alcohol, it’s important to be aware of the potential withdrawal symptoms that may arise. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and can vary depending on several factors, including the duration and intensity of alcohol use. Understanding the symptoms and timeline of alcohol withdrawal is crucial for a safe and successful recovery process. Individuals with undiagnosed alcohol use disorder may struggle more when trying to cut back and may be better suited to medical detox rather than tapering.
Identifying a Standard Drink
Finding a different, more healthy way to unload stress may go a long way in helping someone succeed in cutting back on their alcohol use. Weaning off alcohol gives your body chemistry a chance to adjust, reducing the shock to your system. It also lets you start working new habits and routines into your day to replace drinking, starting the transition. Rather than beginning your sober life drained and dazed from a week of feeling ill, you can already be getting on your feet. When you quit through tapering, you drink a little less each day until you’re able to have no alcohol at all. It can lower the severity of symptoms, and it can make you more likely to meet your goals.
Challenges to Weaning Off Alcohol
This article discusses some of the common withdrawal symptoms and what helps with alcohol withdrawal. It also covers some of the different treatment options that are available. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ If you need help figuring out how to taper off alcohol, or want to find alcohol detox services near you, our treatment specialists at Vertava Health can help.
Insurance May Cover The Cost of Alcohol Detox
Some symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, especially Delirium Tremens (DT) and seizures can be fatal, and hundreds of Americans die every year as a result. If you experience how to taper off alcohol severe withdrawal symptoms while tapering off alcohol, adjust your plan. The goal of tapering is to make the withdrawal process safer and more bearable.