If it’s winter, you may notice fewer colds than in the past, but in warmer months, the changes may be more subtle, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. “Giving your body six months of water absorption will improve your digestion and constipation,” says Dr. Mosquera. “After a few months, the brain will begin to return to health,” how to taper off alcohol says Dr. Abramowitz. Your sleep cycle is continuing to improve, so you’re getting even more REM sleep and feeling more rested. For men, this can look like lowered libido and erectile dysfunction, as well as decreased muscle mass. For women, it can increase the risk of breast cancer, impair bone health, and lead to mood changes.
What Are The Dangers Of Stopping All At Once?
Another strategy for a successful taper is to drink just enough to keep withdrawal symptoms at bay. If you find it is difficult to prevent yourself from drinking too much and getting drunk, locking your alcohol up in a cabinet and giving your friend or family https://ecosoberhouse.com/ member the key can help. Although with this method, it is important that the friend or family member is accessible when symptoms of withdrawals such as tremors return. Also, learn to cope with and avoid situations that might cause you to want to drink more.
Alcohol Detox at Home
- When you consider how to go about giving up alcohol, account for factors like how much you drink and your reasons for drinking.
- Over time, you can decrease the alcoholic drinks while increasing the non-alcoholic ones while still following the same behaviors you were used to.
- Deciding to taper off alcohol is a slower process that requires planning, but it can decrease both the chase of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms and relapse.
- We all become conditioned to have certain responses to triggers throughout our lives.
- To successfully taper your alcohol use, finding what works best for you is important.
However, you may experience withdrawal symptoms or relapse if you’re not tapering correctly and safely. If you’ve been drinking for a long time, you may experience withdrawal symptoms when you quit drinking. It’s always best to speak with a healthcare provider when changing your relationship with alcohol. Every person has unique needs, and tapering off may not be an adequate solution to reduce or stop drinking. See a healthcare provider if the rubbing alcohol causes severe pain in your ear.
Build a Sober Community of Support
These healthy lifestyle changes not only aid in the recovery process but also contribute to long-term well-being and improved quality of life. When it comes to safely weaning oneself off alcohol, having a structured plan in place can greatly increase the chances of success. This section will outline practical tips to support individuals in their journey towards reducing alcohol consumption in a safe and sustainable manner. Maybe they don’t have peer support or maybe their alcohol addiction is too severe. Being surrounded by triggers can make it extremely difficult to stay on track and avoid overdoing it on alcohol.
People who experience tremors, shakes or confusion when they quit drinking should consider medically supervised detox. You should talk to a doctor about the safest way to detox if you experience any withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking. Depending on how much alcohol you drink to start with, the amount of time an alcohol weaning schedule takes may vary. For example, those who drink more heavily may need more time to taper than those who drink less alcohol.
- You may face social pressure, ingrained habits, and emotional reliance on alcohol.
- When you call our team, you will speak to a Recovery Advocate who will answer any questions and perform a pre-assessment to determine your eligibility for treatment.
- Ultimately, you shouldn’t taper off of alcohol unless you’ve checked with your doctor first.
- If don’t have much of an appetite, you may want to take a multivitamin or drink a beverage high in electrolytes, such as a sports drink.
- When you are detoxing from alcohol at a rehab center, nurses and doctors monitor vital signs, provide adequate nourishment and treat complications if they occur.
- Alcohol withdrawal symptoms range in severity depending on how extensive the misuse behavior was.
Simple tips for cutting down
A direct taper means you continue to drink your regular drinks but slowly decrease the amount over time. Direct tapers are better if you prefer drinks that contain a low percentage of alcohol. There are two ways to taper off alcohol—a direct or substitution taper. The success of these strategies will depend on how much you drink and what you drink. Tapering can be an excellent way to prevent harmful withdrawal effects after ceasing alcohol intake.
- It’s possible to develop a better relationship with alcohol and make more mindful, informed choices about drinking without total sobriety.
- At the end of the day, one of the most important tools you have at your disposal is self-compassion.
- However, tapering can be dangerous if you have severe AUD, leading to uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
- Eating nutritious food, exercising, and getting enough sleep can help reduce some withdrawal symptoms, such as mood swings.
- Always consult a medical professional before starting any tapering schedule.
- What matters most is your ability to maintain an open, curious outlook as you learn what does and doesn’t work for you.
Warning signs can vary from person to person but may include increased cravings, mood swings, withdrawal symptoms, and difficulty managing stress without alcohol. By being aware of these signs, you can take proactive steps to address them and prevent setbacks in your journey. When embarking on the journey to wean off alcohol safely, incorporating healthy lifestyle changes plays a significant role in supporting the process.
- Licensed medical professionals and highly qualified addiction specialists at The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper can help guide you toward a life without alcohol.
- Depending on the extent of liver damage you have, you may need to completely abstain from alcohol in order to give your liver the best chance for recovery.
- Smaller drinks with a higher percentage of alcohol are stronger than the same size drink containing a lower-proof liquor.
- Generally speaking, alcohol home detox is neither the most effective nor the safest method of quitting alcohol.
