As mentioned above, we strongly recommend speaking with a doctor to ensure your plan is a safe one, and won’t cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms. If you’ve been drinking heavily for a long time and think you might experience withdrawal symptoms, it’s best to talk with a medical professional before you begin a taper. They can help you decide if tapering is the safest option for you. If you have tried to quit drinking alcohol altogether, but find yourself struggling with the process, it may be time to seek professional help. Drinking excessively can have damaging effects on your health, both physical and mental, and it is important to get the support you need to overcome your addiction.
A person may need to detox at home for many reasons, including cost or time. It is important to only attempt a taper while under a doctor’s care. However, understanding how an alcohol taper works and what the process is like can help you prepare yourself and find the support you need. Delirium tremens (DTs) can begin 48 hours after your last drink and last up to five days. Between five and 25 percent of people with DTs don’t survive.
– Rekindle an old hobby or start a new one.
If you begin to have withdrawal symptoms during your taper, this is a sign that your taper may be going too fast, and you need to slow it down. The hardest thing will probably be to stop yourself from starting again. I’ll be honest, your chances of staying sober on your own are slim to none. It doesn’t mean you have to go to rehab (though that’s certainly an option). You can try support groups, therapy, psychiatrists, spiritual groups, and outpatient rehab services.
The point is that eventually, your craving will go away — the wave will crash. 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. Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health.
Alcohol Tapering Schedule
Eating healthy fruits and vegetables can help you balance the sugar levels that your body is used to. As such, there is only limited guidance available about the best ways to taper. Relapses happen during rehabilitation, but what’s important is how you move forward from it. You may want to talk with a loved one or therapist about why it happened and what you can do differently next time. Keep a list of emergency phone numbers on hand that includes contact info for your doctor, the police, a nearby hospital, and someone you trust. And consider joining a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
When you share your plan with your loved ones, they will likely respond with empathy and understanding. They may even have some helpful advice that can aid you in your journey. Weaning off alcohol can be a challenging and daunting process. It is important to surround yourself with supportive and encouraging people who can help you stay motivated and accountable. One of the best things you can do is to tell your friends and family about your plan to wean off alcohol. While it is generally the medically recommended method of stopping alcohol, it requires medical supervision to be safe.
What Is the Process for Starting a Detox Program?
This does not, by any means, mean that you have a 1% chance of a seizure if you taper with alcohol according to the schedule above. The actual percentage could be significantly higher for tapering with alcohol. I couldn’t locate a study on people who tapered at home How to Stop Drinking Out of Boredom with alcohol, because it’s kind of hard to assess the topic, and no rehabs are detoxing people with alcohol. Make sure they’re aware of the severe withdrawal symptoms that can occur and tell them what to do if you experience them (get a drink and possibly call 911).
You don’t have to let the fear of alcohol withdrawal stop you from cutting back or quitting. You may decide to seek medical treatment for your withdrawal symptoms or decide to enter a professional detox or rehab center. For others, simply cutting back the number of drinks can bring on alcohol withdrawal symptoms. At Landmark Recovery, we understand the complex journey you’re undertaking when deciding to free yourself from alcohol. The decision to quit is the first significant step toward recovery, and it’s not easy. However, the process of weaning off alcohol alone, known as alcohol detoxification, can be hazardous and often counterproductive.
Challenges of Tapering Off Alcohol
Depending on how much you drink, tapering off alcohol can take one to several weeks. It’s best to reduce your drinking by a small amount each day to avoid the shock to your system. So, if you normally have 6 beers a day, you could be done tapering within one week. It’s always best to consult a physician on the best strategy, especially if you drink heavily.
It can be very comforting to know that millions have gone through withdrawal. Stand in solidarity with everyone else who has decided to address their substance use disorder and the challenge required to achieve a healthier life. Tell your close friends and family before you begin your detox and ask them to support you during the process. Consider creating a visiting schedule so that you are never alone during the first week of detox.
When the body becomes dependent on alcohol, sudden cessation can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as seizures, tremors, and hallucinations. In medical detox, doctors and nurses provide around-the-clock care while helping you detox from alcohol. We offer a full continuum https://en.forexpamm.info/7-ways-creativity-supports-addiction-recovery/ of care and are an in-network provider for a range of insurance companies, including Aetna, Cigna and America’s Choice. Contact us today to learn more about the insurance we accept and find an alcohol addiction treatment program that can work well for your situation.
- However, some groups have stepped in to try to bridge this gap and have published sample tapering schedules to help those trying to stop drinking.
- It can help to make use of standard drink measurements, as mentioned above.
- A person may need to detox at home for many reasons, including cost or time.
- I don’t recommend tapering yourself at all, and I especially don’t recommend doing it rapidly, but it has been done.
- This will depend on a number of factors, including your current level of alcohol consumption, your personal preferences, and your overall health and wellbeing.
- Typically, alcohol withdrawal symptoms happen for heavier drinkers.
Find a reason to stay sober and keep that in mind as you go through this process. From what I understand, most hospitals WILL give you 3-5 days worth of benzos to taper with at home. Most doctors would rather save the beds in their psych wards for people who are actually suicidal and send you home. A substitution taper can involve substituting a prescription drug for alcohol.
Getting professional help can mitigate harmful withdrawal symptoms and ensure success. Going “cold turkey” means abruptly stopping drinking entirely, leading to uncomfortable withdrawal effects. The intensity of the withdrawal symptoms depends on the severity of the alcoholism.
- The detoxification timeline varies based on the severity of the alcohol addiction.
- Finding stress-relieving activities that work for you can help you to manage your emotions and stay on track.
- As such, there is only limited guidance available about the best ways to taper.
- There are a range of symptoms you can experience when you stop drinking.
- Yes, it can certainly be difficult to pull yourself off of the couch or out of bed, but a good walk can completely recharge your mental and emotional state.