For example, if you typically drink five beers a night, you might cut down to four, then three, and so on. It’s best to enroll in an experienced detox and alcohol rehab program in situations like this. Many people struggle with alcohol use, turning to hard liquor to achieve the intoxication that allows them to feel better. You might substitute those spirits with beer or wine in a substitution taper.
Tapering is the process of gradually weaning off alcohol rather than quitting cold turkey. Many patients don’t realize the toxicity of prolonged alcohol abuse and how it affects the body. Alcohol detox at the luxurious rehab addiction centers at Gratitude Lodge leeches your body of these toxins in preparation for successful treatment for drugs and alcohol abuse. Alcohol detox may not take as long or produce severe withdrawal symptoms, but it is still an essential beginning to your recovery. Tapering off alcohol at home can be safe for some individuals, but it carries risks, and it’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider to assess your suitability for this approach.
It’s a significant step towards recovery, and while it may be challenging, it’s a journey worth undertaking for improved health and well-being. Outpatient treatment can be an option for individuals with mild-to-moderate alcohol withdrawal symptoms. AUD is characterized by an inability to control alcohol consumption despite the negative consequences it brings to one’s health, relationships, and daily responsibilities. People with AUD may feel intense cravings for alcohol, experience withdrawal symptoms without it, and spend significant time and energy on drinking.
- Other people use medication-assisted treatment, which can help reduce alcohol cravings as you cut back.
- This is often a great choice for anyone who has been through medical detox and inpatient treatment already.
- You’ll likely face the urge to drink more than you’ve planned each day, but there are some good tricks to help you delay that next serving and keep yourself honest.
- Easy-to-digest or bland foods such as toast, cereal, or oatmeal can help provide nutrition and energy without contributing to nausea or heartburn hangover symptoms.
- It’s best to enroll in an experienced detox and alcohol rehab program in situations like this.
Is it Safe to Taper off Alcohol at Home?
Find an accountability partner or someone you can call to keep you on track when you want to drink. Build a network of people you can go to when you need help, join a support group or see a therapist. To create an effective taper, you must know how much you drink daily on average. It can be easy to underestimate how much you drink, and being as accurate as possible is important. This is offered to patients with moderate to severe Alcohol Use Disorder, having the goal of achieving abstinence.
How to Overcome Shame and Guilt During Recovery
- Once you get further into a taper, you may switch to non-alcoholic drinks to soothe the need for routine.
- Because of the risk of a lower success rate and prolonged alcohol exposure, most healthcare professionals will recommend a professional detox over tapering.
- This means that there is little data about the best way to taper your drinking.
- Smaller drinks with a higher percentage of alcohol are stronger than the same size drink containing a lower-proof liquor.
- This will not only support your overall health but also help you feel more energized during the day.
Whatever schedule is chosen, it’s important to commit so you can build upon your progress and avoid withdrawal symptoms as much as possible. Quitting abruptly can be dangerous without medical supervision due to potential withdrawal symptoms. Gradually decreasing alcohol intake through supervised tapering can make quitting safer and ease withdrawal severity.
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If you notice signs of DTs in yourself or someone else, seek emergency medical help immediately by calling 911. Because DTs are potentially fatal, prompt and professional treatment in a hospital or rehab setting is crucial. Set up therapy, counseling and support groups, a plan for sober living, and follow-up medical evaluations.
Understanding Morphine Withdrawal
While AUD can vary in severity, ranging from mild to severe, all levels can impact a person’s life in meaningful ways. If you properly taper your alcohol use, you’re less likely to experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Gradually reducing the amount of alcohol you drink can help give your body the time it needs to adjust to the lack of alcohol. Consulting with medical professionals and therapists is an essential step in tapering off alcohol safely. They can offer expert advice, monitor your progress, and provide personalized recommendations based on your specific needs.
The goal of tapering down is to make a gradual change while causing less stress on your body, both physically and emotionally. Withdrawal symptoms can vary in severity and depend on many factors, such as drinking history, metabolism, age, medical condition, what other substances or medication you take, and more. Because everyone’s body reacts differently, there’s not a lot of research that proves tapering can decrease the effects of alcohol withdrawal. Even with tapering, you may still experience some withdrawal symptoms.
Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
One possible approach is known as tapering, which involves gradually lowering your alcohol use over a period of time. As the name suggests, this method involves gradually reducing the amount of alcohol you drink over time, so you consume less and less alcohol each day or week. The gradual reduction method can be difficult, as you must strictly control how much you drink daily.
Treatment is the best way to ensure long-term abstinence from alcohol. This is especially true if you are suffering from an alcohol use disorder. Addiction alters the chemical balance in a person’s brain, making it extremely difficult to quit drinking alcohol on one’s how to ween off alcohol own. Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or sober living houses can help you get connected with peers who are going through the same journey as you are.
You also run the risk of experiencing another hangover the following day, as your body needs adequate time to recover from the effects of drinking alcohol. If you experience a relapse, it’s important not to give up on your goals. Consider talking with a therapist or counselor to help identify triggers and develop strategies for avoiding future relapses. Once your body has stabilised, you’ll take part in therapy sessions that help you explore the reasons behind your drinking and develop healthier ways to cope. Our team will also work with you to create an aftercare plan, so you feel supported once you leave. After detox, you can move into our residential treatment program, where you will stay for thirty to ninety days.
Before you begin an alcohol taper, a little preparation can go a long way, especially when it involves handling your triggers and tracking how much you drink. 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. During medical detox, you are closely monitored round the clock by medical staff who can intervene if withdrawal symptoms become severe. An alcohol taper should only be undertaken under the supervision of a medical professional.
Tapering off alcohol is the act of slowly reducing alcohol intake until a person becomes completely abstinent. Unless a person has a serious health condition or has experienced severe withdrawals before, they may not need more than a supportive environment to help them through alcohol withdrawal. However, in cases of severe symptoms like seizures and hallucinations, seeking medical care is crucial. 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. Seeking the help of professionals trained in addiction treatment can help identify the best treatment approach for each individual.
We’ll treat you with individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, yoga, music, and art to help equip you with new coping skills that don’t revolve around substance misuse. By this time, you may be committed to the idea of tapering because of the potential side effects if you suddenly quit drinking. You can do this without entering into ICU and ER settings, but it will require a lot of self-discipline to stick with it.