5 Dry January Lessons From a Therapist Who Quit Drinking

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5 Dry January Lessons From a Therapist Who Quit Drinking

how do you wean off alcohol

It is only advisable to direct taper if the preferred drink is beer with a low alcohol percentage. Excessive drinking has numerous impacts https://ecosoberhouse.com/ 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. There are several ways to taper your alcohol consumption without therapy. Quitting alcohol for one month seems like a short time, but a 2015 study found that many people who participate in Dry January continue to drink less six months later.

Challenges of Quitting Alcohol

But if you still have control over your drinking and want to drink less, you may be able to self-taper. If you want to cut back your alcohol consumption or stop drinking alcohol altogether, tapering may help. Tapering is the process of gradually weaning off alcohol rather than quitting cold turkey.

how do you wean off alcohol

Understand the Importance of Tapering

how do you wean off alcohol

Tapering refers to gradually reducing alcohol intake rather than stopping abruptly. Knowing Oxford House how to taper off alcohol is key to preventing dangerous withdrawal symptoms such as seizures, tremors, and extreme anxiety. A slow, controlled reduction allows your body to adjust to lower alcohol levels without triggering severe reactions.

  • This is a critical aspect of understanding how to wean off alcohol safely.
  • Some people may also find it easier to just taper off their alcohol use rather than jumping immediately into an abstinence day even if they do not have significant withdrawal symptoms.
  • However, it can be challenging to stick with a long-term tapering schedule, so you have to find the right balance for you.
  • If you’re struggling to stick to a taper or do not trust yourself to moderate your alcohol use, having strict supervision and support can help you meet your recovery goals.

Can You Quit Alcohol Cold Turkey?

how do you wean off alcohol

If you take prescription medication, continue to take it as directed. But if you’re living with alcohol use disorder, drinking is more than a habit. People with alcohol use disorder can’t stop drinking even when it causes problems, like emotional distress or physical harm to themselves or others. Or maybe it’s a pregnancy that made you realize it’s time to stop drinking. Or maybe you’re just looking to improve your health, wake up hangover-free and give your liver (and your heart and brain) a break.

  • Alcohol addiction can be difficult and sometimes dangerous to handle on your own.
  • AUD can be dangerous, especially when you drink heavily in one sitting, risking alcohol poisoning.
  • For this reason, you should always talk to your doctor before attempting to quit drinking.
  • As your body gets used to alcohol, you will need more and more of it over time, which is called tolerance.

If you drink a few times a week, maybe you try to limit yourself to just Friday and Saturday or only when you’re with other people. If you’ve started drinking every day, just taking one day off from drinking a week can make a big difference. Enter “sober-curious,” a trend that’s about bringing a more mindful approach to drinking. It encompasses being more intentional about when and how much you drink to improve your health and well-being.

Benefits Beyond 30 Days of No Alcohol

If you go through a medical detox the people they may rehydrate you with an IV and may also give you vitamin shots. If you are doing a self detox be sure to drink lots and lots of fluids and to take vitamin pills. If you choose to drink water make sure that you get enough salt for electrolyte balance so that you avoid water intoxication. Tapering off alcohol is a method of reducing your alcohol intake gradually.

  • Residential center that offers luxurious personalized executive treatment for those who seek the ultimate in treatment, privacy, and comfort.
  • Anxiety, depression, and mood swings can all arise as your body adjusts to lower alcohol levels.
  • If you’re struggling with severe alcohol addiction, a medical detox program is your likely best option for tapering off alcohol safely.

Here are some tips and strategies for how to taper off alcohol safely. 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.

how do you wean off alcohol

The goal of tapering is to make the withdrawal process safer and more bearable. If you drink alcohol and are thinking about quitting, it is important to make sure you do so safely. One potential way to quit drinking is through tapering, which involves slowly reducing your alcohol intake over time. The kindling effect is an aspect of alcohol withdrawal that makes repeated attempts at withdrawal less safe. If you go through alcohol withdrawal multiple times, a kindling effect can occur.

how do you wean off alcohol

Find Treatment

A sample taper schedule involves calculating the number of drinks consumed per day. After this is how do you wean off alcohol calculated, make a schedule where you consume your normal amount on the first day and make regular reductions each day after. A substitution taper can involve substituting a prescription drug for alcohol. It can also involve substituting the drink of choice with another drink; for example, a person may taper off hard alcohol with beer. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms consistent with DTs, call 911.

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