It can help you reach goals and can minimize some of the unpleasant and severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. If you want to change your relationship with alcohol, it’s important to have an honest conversation with a doctor about your drinking habits before you start tapering off. They’ll be able to help you create a tapering schedule that won’t only raise your chance of success but also avoid severe symptoms. When you’re reducing alcohol consumption, it’s important to focus on your physical health. Drinking plenty of water and eating balanced, nutritious meals can help your body recover from the effects of alcohol dependency. Proper hydration and nutrition also make it easier to manage withdrawal symptoms like headaches, nausea, and fatigue.

Sustained Recovery

Insomnia, anxiety and paranoia — the opposite effects of alcohol — are the expected results. Thus, a user will likely seek out alcohol again to rid themselves of the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Anyone wanting to stop using alcohol may benefit from tapering if they first consult with their doctor to ensure they are tapering safely. Tapering is a more cost-effective method of stopping alcohol use, especially for those who do not have healthcare insurance or the resources needed to get a professional detox.

Share your goal with others

If you’re going to be spending time with family or friends you know well, you might decide to be upfront with them about what you’re doing. Taking a couple of shots, for example, might be the same amount of alcohol as a few beers, but because of how quickly you’re consuming it, it can do a lot more damage to your liver. Same goes for a straight-up cocktail versus a beverage like a spritz or a mixed drink, which has a lower alcohol by volume, or ABV. “We know that there are patterns of drinking that are more dangerous than others,” says Carr. You’ll have to find what works for you, but it starts with identifying what you’re perceiving alcohol to help you with and finding something else that does the same, says Gardner. When the 30 minutes is up, feel free to order an alcoholic drink if you want one—or maybe you end up opting to wait another 30 minutes, and then another 30, and so on.

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Always remember that if the taper is not working for you or if you are having major withdrawal that it is safest to check into a medical detox because alcohol withdrawal can kill you. On the second day drink one beer every hour Alcohol Use Disorder and a half for a total of ten beers. Then continue to taper down by reducing the amounts by two beers per day until you are down to zero.

• There’s an additional piece that’s important in accomplishing a dry January, experts say.
• Tapering is meant to reduce the withdrawal symptoms from quitting alcohol, but this isn’t a guarantee.
• As many as 71% of people who go through alcohol detox experience symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

Stay in tune with your mental health and seek professional support if needed. Talking to a counselor or joining a support group can help you stay emotionally balanced as you learn how to taper off alcohol. Having a structured plan is crucial when learning how to wean off alcohol safely. Determine how much alcohol you currently consume and create a timeline for reducing your intake. A good rule of thumb is to cut back by 10% to 20% each day or every few days, depending on your doctor’s recommendations. A popular way to taper off alcohol is to gradually reduce the number of drinks you consume over a period of time.

The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper offers comprehensive addiction treatment for drug and alcohol addictions and co-occurring mental health conditions. When you quit alcohol after having developed alcohol dependence, your https://ecosoberhouse.com/ brain will be thrown into a chemical imbalance. As a depressant, alcohol will cause your brain and body to get used to its inhibitory effects on your nervous system. 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.

Even with tapering, you may still experience some withdrawal symptoms. Common how do you wean off alcohol signs include anxiety, irritability, sweating, and trouble sleeping. Knowing how to wean off alcohol safely means being prepared for these symptoms and having strategies to manage them.

• Minor symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can start as soon as six hours after the last drink of alcohol.
• If you experience dangerous signs such as high blood pressure, racing heart, or arrhythmias, slow your taper and seek assistance.
• An example of a short-term goal would be to reduce alcohol consumption by half within the next month.
• When you quit alcohol cold turkey, you quit drinking completely and suddenly.
• Alcoholism is linked to many chronic diseases, including heart disease, liver disease, and certain cancers.
• However, if you don’t taper properly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms, especially if you have severe alcoholism.

Generally, alcohol-free days are better towards the end of a gradual reduction, not towards the beginning. Quitting alcohol can be done safely, and it may be important for someone with a substance use problem. Chronic alcohol abuse can cause serious health problems, including heart and liver disease. An alcohol use disorder can also have an impact on your social, psychological, and financial health. You don’t have to let the fear of alcohol withdrawal stop you from cutting back or quitting. It’s physically dangerous, and it may also cause emotional instability.