By substituting alcoholic drinks for non-alcoholic drinks, you can still engage in most of your habit without getting the alcohol that makes it addictive. This can taper you off alcohol while still helping you keep up with your normal drinking routine, making the process easier. As you prepare to wean off alcohol, consider taking the following steps ahead of time to have a clear path to success. Alcohol tapers are strategies to stop drinking by slowly decreasing the amount of alcohol a person consumes.
Cons of Tapering off Alcohol
Contact us today to speak with a representative and begin on the road to lasting addiction recovery. A standard drink is a term used because different alcoholic beverages have different concentrations of alcohol, giving you varying amounts of alcohol depending on the fluid you drink. This can equate to as much as a full bottle of beer or less than two tablespoons of whisky. It is important to measure your alcohol use in standard drinks while tapering to allow for an accurate comparison of how much you use from day to day.
Can You Taper Off Alcohol Safely At Home?
She’s currently training for her first half marathon, inspired by her many colleagues at WH who have run one. At the end of the day, remember that drinking is just one of the many activities you can do with loved ones, says Gardner. Adding some https://appsychology.com/living-in-a-sober-house/ variety can help not only decrease your weekly drink count, but also expose you to new hobbies. You can also take the lead in other ways by volunteering to host or inviting people to get togethers where alcohol isn’t center-stage or even present at all, says Young. Game or craft nights, bowling, museum-exploring, and pottery are all things that can be done sans-alcohol (though your friends might bring some anyway).
- For more information on managing alcohol withdrawal, including the role of vitamin supplements, refer to the section on managing alcohol withdrawal in this article.
- Replacing alcoholic beverages with non-alcohol drinks is a great method of helping during a taper.
- By setting SMART goals, individuals can track their progress, stay motivated, and celebrate milestones along the way.
- The information provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only.
- An alcohol taper is a way to wean yourself off alcohol and avoid withdrawal symptoms.
- The goal of tapering down is to make a gradual change while causing less stress on your body, both physically and emotionally.
Heavy drinking during pregnancy can lead to brain damage and other serious problems in the baby. The safety of any amount of alcohol for a developing baby is uncertain, making it best to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy to protect the health of both the mother and the baby. Gradual reduction, professional support, and smart strategies for success.
Tapering can help you overcome alcohol dependence, which is a side effect of chronic alcohol use that causes cravings and withdrawal. Detox doesn’t treat addiction, which is a disease characterized by compulsive behaviors, such as chronic alcohol use. The development of alcohol withdrawal is primarily caused by the interruption of constant alcohol exposure to the central nervous system (CNS). Chronic alcohol exposure leads to adaptations in the CNS, such as desensitization of GABA receptors and an increase in glutamate receptors. This imbalance favors sober house excitatory neurotransmission, resulting in hyperexcitability in the CNS during withdrawal. By setting SMART goals, individuals can track their progress, stay motivated, and celebrate milestones along the way.
Get Enough Sleep and Maintain a Healthy Diet
Building a support system is essential as you navigate the challenges of tapering off alcohol. This system can include family members, friends, or support groups who understand and empathize with your journey. Having a supportive network can provide a safe space for you to share your struggles, seek advice, and celebrate your successes. 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.
The Effects of Drug & Alcohol Use During Pregnancy
- Located in sunny Southern California, Chapters Capistrano provides holistic, evidence-based treatment for substance abuse and addiction.
- This phenomenon is often described as “alcohol dependence.” The most common more mild withdrawal symptoms include headaches, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.
- There are multiple health benefits you can experience when you start drinking less alcohol.
- 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.
- Quitting cold turkey involves suddenly stopping all alcohol use, while tapering involves slowly decreasing the amount of alcohol a person drinks daily.
Research shows that most people believe that drinking can make them feel better. However, when alcohol makes up part of your typical routine, drinking can become something of an automatic response, especially when you feel stressed or overwhelmed. Turner notes the importance of bringing along a trusted support person when attending events that involve alcohol. It’s often easier to turn down a drink when you don’t have to do it alone.
Benefits of Virtual IOP Programs
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specificdisabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs. Overall, do whatever you can to make yourself as comfortable as possible. If you’re sweating, place a cold towel on your forehead or on the back of your neck. Emotionally, you may feel some anxiety or sadness about ending a chapter of your life and nervousness about the future. We all become conditioned to have certain responses to triggers throughout our lives.
Memorial Day Is a High Risk for Underage Drinking and Drug Abuse
Others may discover after consulting with a doctor that it’s safe for them to quit alcohol cold turkey if they choose to. However, they may still decide that tapering down feels most achievable for them. If you’re not sure if cold turkey or tapering is right for you, you can join the Monument Community to hear from others who have confronted similar questions. This depends on several factors, including how much alcohol you typically consume, how long you’ve been drinking, and your overall health. For some, the process might take a few days, while others may need several weeks to safely taper off alcohol. It’s important not to rush the process and to adjust your plan based on how your body responds.
Cold Turkey Method
They may also prescribe medications to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings, if necessary. Additionally, medical supervision can help identify and address any underlying health conditions that may have been exacerbated by alcohol consumption. In conclusion, the journey of safely weaning yourself off alcohol is unique to each person. While tapering off alcohol can be an effective strategy, it’s crucial to seek the guidance of healthcare professionals and personalize the approach to suit individual needs. This way, the process of breaking free from alcohol dependency becomes safer and more achievable.
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