How to Quit Drinking or at Least Cut Back

The best schedule varies based on how much you drink each day and your overall health. As mentioned above, we strongly recommend speaking with a doctor to ensure your plan is a safe one, and won’t cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Quitting alcohol cold turkey can be dangerous and should only be done under medical supervision.

Life-Threatening Withdrawal Signs

how to wean off alcohol

We support both moderation and abstinence as goals and, although we cannot provide medical detox remotely, we can help you design an effective tapering schedule to reduce your drinking. Depending on how much you drink, tapering off alcohol can take one to several weeks. It’s best to reduce your drinking by a small amount each day to avoid the shock to your system. So, if you normally have 6 beers a day, you could be done tapering within one week. It’s always best to consult a physician on the best strategy, especially if you drink heavily. You’ll need to stick with gradual reduction every day and not revert to previous levels of consumption, otherwise it won’t work.

Achieve Recovery with NH Women’s Rehab

Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues. Turner notes the importance of bringing along a trusted support person when attending events that involve alcohol. It’s often easier to turn down a drink when you don’t have to do it alone.

Addressing Severe Symptoms

If your body becomes physically dependent on alcohol, you may experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking. Studies have shown that 13–71% of people undergoing alcohol detox develop withdrawal symptoms. Factors such as pattern of alcohol use, other medical conditions, genetics and how your body responds to alcohol can play a role in withdrawal symptoms. This method works best with gradual reduction, as alcohol withdrawal symptoms can start within 12–24 hours after stopping drinking.

Cons of Tapering off Alcohol

As a step down from residential inpatient treatment, PHP allows participants the flexibility to balance the demands of both their personal and professional lives. Serenity Lane is here for all Oregonians in need of help to overcome alcohol addiction. Is alcohol beginning to take up more and more of your time, budget, and life? You may be wondering how to begin the process of ridding yourself or your loved one of alcohol use once and for all. Discover the benefits, support, and triumphs on your journey to seek joy and sobriety.

Challenges of Quitting Alcohol

This phenomenon is often described as “alcohol dependence.” The most common more mild withdrawal symptoms include headaches, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. If you’ve decided to taper off alcohol, you’ll need to be prepared with some strategies to make the process easier. You’ll likely face the urge to drink more than you’ve planned each day, but there sober house are some good tricks to help you delay that next serving and keep yourself honest. Quitting binge drinking may require different strategies than either tapering or cold turkey. For people who moderately consume alcohol, tapering off may be a good option. However, quitting cold turkey or tapering is not advisable for people with an AUD.

Slowly tapering your alcohol use can help you manage mild withdrawal symptoms and decrease the risk of AUD. However, you may experience withdrawal symptoms or relapse if you’re not tapering correctly and safely. Tapering off alcohol involves gradually reducing the amount of alcohol you drink. Besides its positive health benefits, it can help you quit drinking after weeks or months. It’s always best to speak with a healthcare provider when changing your relationship with alcohol.

Alcohol depresses your nervous system2, so your body creates more receptors for neurotransmitters, or messengers, to stimulate the nervous system. 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 were to suddenly stop drinking alcohol, your receptors would become hyperactive because they are no longer being depressed.
  • Some people withdrawing from alcohol could be at risk for delirium tremens (DTs).
  • It’s a 10-question screening test that gives you research-backed, personalized advice for quitting or reducing your intake of alcohol.
  • It’s important to take a gradual approach to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms.
  • Every person has unique needs, and tapering off may not be an adequate solution to reduce or stop drinking.
  • Sober living homes provide a comfortable, safe place for you to focus on your healing.

Alcohol proof is the amount of alcohol found in distilled spirits or liquor. Smaller drinks with a higher percentage of alcohol are stronger than the same size drink containing a lower-proof liquor. Find an accountability partner or someone you can call to keep you on track when you want to drink. Build a network of people you can go to when you need help, join a support group or see a therapist.

  • They’ll be able to help you create a tapering schedule that won’t only raise your chance of success but also avoid severe symptoms.
  • In many cases, medically-supervised alcohol detox is the only safe way to stop drinking, especially if you’re suffering from AUD.
  • Alcohol addiction can be difficult and sometimes dangerous to handle on your own.
  • Instead of criticizing yourself for having a hard time or slipping up and having a drink, remember that no one’s perfect.

You might even find that once you tell a friend that you’re going to stick to mocktails or limit yourself to two drinks tonight, they decide to join you. “People are sometimes substituting sugar for alcohol; many of those drinks are very high in sugar content,” says Carr. We are ready to cheer you on as you continue down the road of recovery toward a healthier, happier you. The annual cost of excessive alcohol use to Oregon’s economy each year is $3.5 billion due to lost productivity, health care expenses, criminal justice costs, and motor vehicle crashes. If you’re having trouble doing the same things you used to do, try new hobbies to fill your time.

There are also a number of anti-craving medications to help you avoid drinking again, or even help with your tapering process. Finally, finding a therapist or a recovery coach can help you develop new coping mechanisms and move forward in your life. That said, tapering off alcohol doesn’t completely eliminate withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal is dangerous and it’s important to be careful throughout the process. If you’ve decided to quit drinking, and tapering seems like the right approach, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to wean off alcohol—including useful strategies, how to create a tapering schedule, and how to stay safe throughout the process.

Overcoming Benzodiazepine Addiction

However, for many people with alcohol use disorder, tapering off alcohol is a far better experience than quitting abruptly. Alcohol addiction recovery doesn’t end with the cessation of alcohol consumption. Landmark Recovery’s aftercare programs are designed to provide this support, helping patients navigate life post-treatment and avoid relapse.

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