If you drink heavily, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be harsh, dangerous, and even fatal. For this reason, it’s generally best to avoid quitting abruptly, or at bare minimum speak with a doctor first and have someone looking out for you. Reducing alcohol intake can have significant positive effects on mental health. As you reduce your alcohol consumption, you may notice improvements in mood, anxiety, and overall mental well-being.

• Although it is possible to taper your alcohol use alone, professionals highly advise that you seek medical attention.
• Research has shown that professional help improves your ability to overcome an addiction to alcohol or cut back if you have found it difficult.
• 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.
• This is a key part of understanding how to wean yourself off alcohol safely.

How to safely taper off your alcohol consumption

Minor symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can start as soon as six hours after the last drink of alcohol. Slowly decreasing the amount you drink over time can spare your body from withdrawal symptoms. This is because drinking heavily over a long period can cause your body to become physically dependent on alcohol.

• Getting curious about a life without alcohol is already an incredible step, and a healthier lifestyle is within reach.
• Both methods allow the body to adjust gradually and reduce overall alcohol intake.
• “It’s hard to go anywhere without someone offering you a drink,” says Leah Young, LCPC, Clinical Manager at Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center.
• Tapering is also a strategy used by people with a substance or alcohol use disorder (AUD).
• Establishing new habits and routines, and dealing with the underlying causes of your drinking habits, are essential to lasting recovery.

It’s crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before starting an alcohol tapering plan. Tapering involves gradually and progressively reducing your alcohol consumption over time. This Sober House Rules: A Comprehensive Overview method can lessen withdrawal symptoms, allowing your body to adjust to decreased alcohol levels slowly. It does, however, result in any withdrawal symptoms that do occur being prolonged over the entire period of the taper.

A person may need to detox at home for many reasons, including cost or time. 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.

• Guidance for tapering off alcohol can vary, and there’s limited specific advice available.
• However, various strategies can help you cope with these symptoms and make the journey toward sobriety more manageable.
• Tapering involves gradually and progressively reducing your alcohol consumption over time.
• Explore how to wean yourself off alcohol safely, from tapering plans to handling severe symptoms.
• Someone will slowly diminish the amount they drink with the intention of avoiding the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal completely and will hopefully be able to avoid a relapse as well.

Talk to Your Doctor

Attempting to stop drinking “cold turkey” is not only dangerous, but could also cause serious implications or be fatal. Alcohol dependence can lead to fatal outcomes, with rising death rates linked to excessive alcohol use, as reported by Psychology Today. This condition not only affects individuals but also has profound social and economic impacts on families and society at large. As you prepare to wean off alcohol, consider taking the following steps ahead of time to have a clear path to success. Did you know most insurance companies will cover the cost of drug and alcohol detox?

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But, it might also come https://appsychology.com/living-in-a-sober-house/ with seemingly some discomfort or disappointment from friends. Those moments can be thought of as a “them thing, and less of a you thing,” says Shani Gardner, LCSW, a therapist at Soulful Grace Therapy. Switching up your behavior might make people question their own and result in them projecting onto you.

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An evidence-based rehab offering holistic and experiential therapies, tailoring treatment to each client on a comfortable campus near Austin. Your body has become used to, and dependent on, certain levels of alcohol. Alcohol depresses your nervous system2, so your body creates more receptors for neurotransmitters, or messengers, to stimulate the nervous system. To successfully taper your alcohol use, finding what works best for you is important. Alcohol proof is the amount of alcohol found in distilled spirits or liquor. Smaller drinks with a higher percentage of alcohol are stronger than the same size drink containing a lower-proof liquor.

Can You Taper Off Alcohol Safely At Home?

Chronic alcohol use also suppresses glutamate activity, the neurotransmitter that produces feelings of excitement. In excessive alcohol users, the glutamate system has to function at a higher level to maintain equilibrium. In summary, while it is possible to wean oneself off alcohol safely, it is essential to be aware of the potential for severe symptoms. It is always recommended to seek professional medical help in these cases to ensure safety and proper care during the withdrawal process.

Mental Health Resources

“Many people still want to enjoy socializing but are mindful of wanting to average one to two drinks per day. They often try to not drink at all during the week, and allow for moderate drinking Friday through Sunday,” Dr Lee said. Below are some ideas to help people reduce their drinking by alcohol tapering. Depending on how much you drink and for how long, one rule of thumb is to avoid cutting more than 25% of your drinking intake at a single time to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

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This may work for many people, but in practice each individual will respond best to a different pace, and each doctor will have their own recommendations. The risk of tapering too slowly is that you won’t stick with it, while the risk of tapering too fast is severe withdrawal. If you experience dangerous signs such as high blood pressure, racing heart, or arrhythmias, slow your taper and seek assistance. When you quit through tapering, you drink a little less each day until you’re able to have no alcohol at all.