Excessive drinking has numerous impacts on your body and mind, ranging from mild to severe. Learn which signs to look out for, and how to care for your well-being. Excessive drinking can weaken the immune system, increasing the body’s likelihood of developing an infection. Diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis are more frequent in individuals who chronically drink. There are several ways to taper your alcohol consumption without therapy.
Understanding Tapering Off as a Method
Additionally, mixed drinks may contain sugar or other additives that could exacerbate withdrawal symptoms and should be avoided during the taper. Once you know it is medically safe to stop drinking, you should loop in a therapist or addiction specialist. They will be able to help you uncover the underlying causes of your drinking issues and properly diagnose any co-occurring mental health conditions that you may be suffering from. Quitting drinking, “cold turkey,” means you suddenly stop consuming alcohol. Tapering off (or tapering down) alcohol means you gradually reduce the amount of alcohol that you consume over time. Alcoholism, more correctly known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), impacts more than 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 12.
This method allows your body to adjust to decreasing levels of alcohol, minimizing the risk of severe withdrawal symptoms. It’s important to create a tapering plan that suits your specific needs and drinking habits. For those at risk for severe withdrawal symptoms, medically-supervised detox is often the safest choice for beginning their sobriety or moderation journey.
What Is Alcohol Tapering?
There is a residential inpatient treatment program with medical supervision. During rehab, you will have the opportunity to participate in group therapy. Some people withdrawing from alcohol could be at risk for delirium tremens (DTs). According to MedLinePlus, delirium tremens is a severe form of alcohol withdrawal. If you or someone you know is quitting alcohol and experiences seizures, DTs, hallucinations, or other major effects, seek immediate medical attention or call 911 for help.
How to Wean Yourself Off Alcohol Safely
- The severity of withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening.
- Quitting alcohol can be extremely hard, especially without medical support.
- Programs such as inpatient or outpatient rehab, medical detox, individual or family therapy and support groups are available.
- For many people, tapering alone is insufficient to help heal their addiction.
As long as safety precautions are taken, there’s no wrong way to begin a sobriety or moderation journey. This journey is often non-linear, and your goals can change over time. But, as many in recovery will tell you, it is only the first chapter in a long process. Withdrawal usually begins 6 to 8 hours after the last drink and peaks within 72 hours.
How to Taper Off Alcohol
Unlike inpatient treatment, tapering allows people to maintain their lifestyles while improving their drinking habits. If you’re struggling to wean off alcohol, it might be best to seek addiction treatment. Various treatment programs are available to help you recover from addiction.
The Empowering Steps of Addiction Recovery
Whether you feel like you drink too much alcohol, or you have an alcohol abuse issue, quitting drinking cold turkey can be dangerous. Knowing how to safely taper off alcohol can make all the difference in how successful you are in quitting drinking. Usually, alcohol withdrawal symptoms occur within 12–24 hours after stopping alcohol and can last 2–10 days. In addition to these strategies, it’s important to build a support system and consider seeking professional guidance to increase your chances of successfully tapering off alcohol. With the right strategies and support in place, you can take control of your relationship with alcohol and pave the way for a brighter, alcohol-free future. Anyone wanting to stop using alcohol may benefit from tapering if they first consult with their doctor to ensure they are tapering safely.
Featured Programs
Explore inpatient detox support services, from tailored treatment plans to 24-hour care for lasting recovery. There is no shame in admitting this — the National Survey on Drug sober house Use and Health found that 28.9 million Americans suffered from alcohol use disorder in 2023 alone. Make sure your plan to cut back on drinking alcohol has a specific, measurable goal.
This method can lead to withdrawal symptoms, especially if you’ve been a heavy drinker. Making a clean break, however, provides a sense of finality and commitment. While it https://appsychology.com/living-in-a-sober-house/ is possible for some to wean off alcohol at home, it is highly inadvisable to do so without first consulting with medical and addiction treatment professionals.