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. If you take prescription medication, continue to take it as directed. Once established, this change in a person’s brain chemistry impacts their thinking, and their ability to weigh the consequences https://thefremontdigest.com/top-5-advantages-of-staying-in-a-sober-living-house/ of drinking versus not drinking. It also results in severe cravings, often strong enough that a person can think of little else. For this person, daily life may begin to seem difficult to manage without alcohol. However, for many, the right combination of stress and environmental factors can set this chain reaction in motion.
Pros of Tapering Down Alcohol Intake
Research shows that most people believe that drinking can make them feel better. However, when alcohol makes up part of your typical routine, drinking can become something of an automatic response, especially when you feel stressed or overwhelmed. It’s possible to develop a better relationship with alcohol and make more mindful, informed choices about drinking without total sobriety. But maybe you’re unsure about quitting completely and don’t want to hold yourself to that goal. Knowing why you drink is essential, says Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC, a Virginia therapist specializing in addiction treatment and alcohol moderation. BetterHelp offers affordable mental health care via phone, video, or live-chat.
- Do your research in advance, make a solid plan, find a good support system, and be patient with yourself.
- If you are tapering yourself off alcohol for the first time, it can be helpful to know what symptoms to expect during the process.
- The letter’s content should be encouraging and remind you why you are going through the challenge of detox in the first place.
- People with a greater dependency on alcohol may need to stretch out the process to gradually reduce their alcohol intake.
Who is likely to have significant alcohol withdrawal symptoms?
Drinking lots of fluids, especially fluids with electrolytes, will help address dehydration and nausea and improve your overall health and ability to undergo withdrawal. Sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium are common electrolytes in sports Top 5 Advantages of Staying in a Sober Living House drinks. If alcohol withdrawal is so dangerous, is tapering off alcohol necessary for everyone who drinks? If you’ve been drinking consistently for a long time, it’s a good idea to consider the safest way to stop when it’s time to cut back.
- Various treatment programs are available to help you recover from addiction.
- With kindling, the brain becomes increasingly sensitized to stopping alcohol.
- For one thing, it creates tangible goals for the person tapering to reach, helping to build their confidence in themselves and the belief that they can eventually stop drinking completely.
- Most pills bought as diazepam (Valium), temazepam or alprazolam (Xanax) actually contain other substances.
- If you start to experience significant withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking, a taper can provide a much safer method to detox from alcohol.
Reduce Your Number of Drinks Per Day
Tell your close friends and family before you begin your detox, and ask them to support you. Consider creating a visiting schedule so you are never alone during the first week of detox. A supportive friend or family member can help you in many ways during withdrawal. It also can reduce the risk of relapse by not trying to attempt too much too soon, failing, and then going back to regularly using alcohol to cope with the feelings of failure. For one thing, it creates tangible goals for the person tapering to reach, helping to build their confidence in themselves and the belief that they can eventually stop drinking completely.
- This can happen whether you’re quitting alcohol cold turkey or tapering.
- “Cold turkey” refers to quitting alcohol, or any addictive substance, abruptly.
- At times, it’s easy to forget why you entered recovery in the first place.
- Alcohol also inhibits the glutamate receptor–which is the cause of staggering, slurring, and general interference with muscular coordination.
- They can provide recommendations to help you avoid harmful side effects.
- This is why it is essential to determine your method of tapering and your tapering schedule with the supervision of a medical professional experienced in an alcohol addiction recovery treatment.
Even if your situation seems like someone else’s, your body may respond differently to the tapering process. All of these withdrawal symptoms are common during acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome. For example, depression could cause suicidal thoughts, and eating poorly can weaken your immune system. If you feel comfortable doing so, discuss your challenges with your primary healthcare professional. Finding a therapist can also be a great starting point if you’re uncomfortable opening up to your healthcare professional.
Life Beyond Addiction
- By talking with your doctor or an addiction treatment specialist, together you can determine a safe tapering schedule that suits your needs.
- Unlike a home environment, medical detox services have the professional support and resources necessary to treat severe withdrawal symptoms.