Reducing alcohol intake can have significant positive effects on mental health. As you reduce your alcohol consumption, how to taper off alcohol you may notice improvements in mood, anxiety, and overall mental well-being. However, the initial stages of tapering can also bring emotional challenges, as your body and mind adjust to lower levels of alcohol. Engaging in therapy during this time can provide essential support and coping strategies.
- Tapering or weaning means ramping down your alcohol use until you get to zero—or to a more moderate level of drinking that you prefer.
- This depends on several factors, including how much alcohol you typically consume, how long you’ve been drinking, and your overall health.
- As the name suggests, this method involves gradually reducing the amount of alcohol you drink over time, so you consume less and less alcohol each day or week.
- Eventually, after a period of time, you will have tapered down to zero drinks.
- If you or a loved one is suffering from an alcohol use disorder, it can feel like being trapped in a tunnel with no way out.
- This can set you up for a safe and effective detox and put you in a good position to continue your recovery in rehab.
Choosing To Wean Yourself off Alcohol
- Although, you’ll need support if you want to successfully and safely taper at home.
- In turn, you can suffer from increasingly severe withdrawal symptoms every time you try to stop drinking.
- Maybe you don’t think you depend on alcohol exactly, but you still wonder whether you might be drinking too much.
- You don’t have to let the fear of alcohol withdrawal stop you from cutting back or quitting.
- Depending on how much you drink, tapering off alcohol can take one to several weeks.
Once it begins to leave your body, early symptoms of withdrawal begin. As such, there is only limited guidance available about the best ways to taper. It’s common for the first symptoms to appear within a few hours after your last drink. There are a range of symptoms you can experience when you stop drinking.
- These can indicate a life threatening condition called delirium tremens.
- By seeking professional help, you gain access to a range of resources and strategies to assist you in your journey towards sobriety.
- A medical professional can help you determine if a fast or slow taper, or quitting altogether, is appropriate based on a thorough medical assessment and evaluation of your withdrawal risk.
- Essentially, tapering provides less intense withdrawal symptoms but over a longer amount of time.
Consult a Healthcare Professional First
The combination of medication and therapy can significantly improve the chances of successful recovery. Support groups can take various forms, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), SMART Recovery, or other community-based groups. These groups often follow a structured program that includes regular meetings, discussions, and support from peers who have similar experiences.
Decreased Risk of Alcohol-Related Death
It’s important to know that if your body has developed a strong dependence on alcohol, trying to =https://ecosoberhouse.com/ quit “cold turkey” can be hazardous to your health. For some people, it’s best to get professional help when creating your reduction plan. For example, healthcare providers usually don’t take patients off antidepressants suddenly; rather, they gradually lower the dosages to help reduce antidepressant discontinuation symptoms.
Mental Health Treatment
Tapering helps people stop using alcohol and other substances in small and manageable steps. This can help your body adjust, and it can be easier to manage than quitting cold turkey. Talk to a Alcohol Use Disorder medical professional if you have any concerns about tapering off alcohol.
