Once you’ve changed to a less alcoholic option, you can gradually reduce your drink amount. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are more likely in heavy drinkers. Withdrawal usually begins 6 to 8 hours after the last drink and peaks within 72 hours. People attempting to quit may turn to drinking again to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
- In some cases, quitting on your own can cause life-threatening complications.
- I’m specifically talking about things like weed, cigarettes, and vaping.
- Find a reason to stay sober and keep that in mind as you go through this process.
Tapering your alcohol intake, or slowly decreasing it over time, can help you avoid severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Check in with your body for signs of detox
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. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms range in severity depending on how extensive the misuse how to taper off alcohol behavior was. The alcohol withdrawal symptom delirium tremens (DT) is estimated to kill up to 5% of those attempting to quit suddenly after chronic usage. This is a staggering number considering that many other drugs do not even have the possibility of lethal withdrawals.
They can take you to the hospital or help you get medical support. If you’re addicted to alcohol, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to recover without some https://ecosoberhouse.com/ form of addiction treatment. You may be able to detox at home and recover from alcoholism with the help of support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
Sample Alcohol Tapering Schedules
However, it is important to be aware of the risks of attempting a taper on your own. Sometimes, people think that they don’t need medical help if their symptoms are mild. Unfortunately, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can worsen quickly, and they can include agitation and hallucinations that make it more difficult to seek help. For this reason, it is best to seek medical advice on whether you should taper at home or under medical observation. The tapering down process can take place for the first several weeks or even months of the alcohol recovery timeline.
Stopping alcohol use is the first step of the recovery journey, but staying sober for longer and longer periods is the goal. Getting professional treatment and long-term support are two of the most valuable strategies for avoiding relapse. However, even the best-designed tapers can put you at risk for alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Taking It Slow: Importance of Gradual Quitting
Do anything and everything you can to distract yourself from drinking. Whether that’s watching TV, cooking dinner, cleaning the house, going for a walk, or taking a bath. Force your self to do normal activities, but nothing too strenuous or physical beyond what you might normally do.
This journey is often non-linear, and your goals can change over time. Behavioral health treatment for alcohol problems is often (but not always) covered by insurance. In the United States, most states have low-cost or free rehabilitation programs for those who are uninsured.
The Haven Detox-New England: Where Hope Meets Healing
Remember, you can always slow your taper, drink more alcohol, or seek medical help if needed. You can use an app like AlcoTrack (Android) or DrinkControl (Apple) to keep a log of your daily drinking and see your progression. You can enter in the type of drinks you consume and when you drink them to determine the total amount of alcohol you consume each day. Are you tapering because you physically depend on alcohol, or are you tapering because you want an excuse to drink longer? The rest of this guide addresses pre-planning, withdrawal symptoms, planning, creating a taper schedule, and next steps after a taper.
