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From monthlong sobriety challenges to the Sober Curious movement, more and more people are taking a closer look at the role alcohol plays in their lives. 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.
However, certain food groups also have benefits when it comes to helping with the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms and detoxification. Some individuals find church and reconnecting with God to be helpful. You could post about your experiences anonymously online in r/dryalcoholics, they’re a fairly open and supportive group of people. When I was down and super depressed, talking about my experiences on there helped get me through and made me feel less alone. You can also take break days, where you drink the same amount as the previous day to sort of level yourself off.
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous
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. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. An alcohol addiction is https://ecosoberhouse.com/ dangerous, and the best way to reduce the risks of drinking is to stop using alcohol. Tapering your alcohol intake, or slowly reducing it over time, can help you avoid severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Some people are apprehensive to quit drinking because they’re nervous about the withdrawal symptoms experienced during alcohol detox.
Alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder, is a mental health issue. You’ve been conditioning your brain to work on alcohol, and over time, its structure has physically changed[2]. Overcoming this with sheer willpower is going to be difficult, but it can be done.
Severe Withdrawal Symptoms
Then come up with a reduction rate you think will be safe, and that you can stick to. With these things in mind, you need to weigh the pros and cons of tapering your alcohol use—ideally with someone you trust—to make a fully informed decision. You’ll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information how to taper off alcohol you requested in your inbox. Ask your doctor if you don’t know whether your pain medication is an opioid. Depending on the organ and whether or not there has been relapse(s), recovery is possible. There is hope that even after years of heavy alcohol use, the liver has the ability to regenerate or regrow.
- A medically-assisted withdrawal helps prevent serious complications, keeps track of a patient’s health condition, and relieves any painful effects.
- Alcohol detox centers have professionals trained to recognize and treat complications caused by alcohol withdrawal.
- Working with a medical professional to taper your alcohol consumption can help the likelihood and severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
- Withdrawal symptoms are generally uncomfortable to deal with, but they can be fatal.
- But quitting on your own can pose risks to your health and is unlikely to be successful.
- Addiction experts have not conducted many studies on alcohol tapering.
We’re here 24/7 to help guide you or your loved on through rehab and recovery. Submit your number to receive a call today from a treatment provider. Some people experience withdrawal when they stop or reduce the use of opioid medication.
Who Can Benefit From Tapering Their Alcohol Intake
Someday you may face an acute problem such as injury or surgery. If you’ve successfully tapered off opioid pain medication in the past, taking opioids for a brief time — with guidance from your doctor — may be appropriate. Discuss all your medication and pain management options, including pros and cons, with your doctor.
- The thought of abstaining from alcohol completely can feel daunting, and in some cases, it can even be dangerous without medical supervision.
- Don’t supplement your taper with additional medications from home, visits to the emergency room, or with alcohol or street drugs.
- Aside from unavoidable triggers, tapering off alcohol can also have side effects which can be difficult to manage at home.
- Treatment professionals at a rehab facility will be able to help you manage your pain with different medications.
- If you start to experience significant withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking, a taper can provide a much safer method to detox from alcohol.
Dr. Streem says that if your goal is to stop drinking altogether, you’re more likely to have success quitting all at once, rather than weaning off alcohol. But that advice changes if you’re living with alcohol use disorder. This is why it’s always best to find some form of long-term support in sobriety. Support groups, from Alcoholics Anonymous to SMART Recovery, are one free way to find a community of people on the same journey.
Consider professional support
If the drink is a mixed drink, it can contain sugar or other additives that should not be included in the taper and may worsen the effects of withdrawal symptoms. A direct taper means drinking the regular substance of choice but lowering the amount that’s consumed every day. Someone should only direct taper if their drink of choice is beer with a low alcohol percentage. Once your taper is complete, discard or immediately give away any remaining alcohol in your house and try to avoid high-risk environments such as bars, liquor stores, casinos, etc. The hardest thing will probably be to stop yourself from starting again.