This can help your body adjust, and it can be easier to manage than quitting cold turkey. Alcohol withdrawal occurs when neurotransmitters that combat the effects of alcohol on the nervous system https://www.inkl.com/news/sober-house-rules-a-comprehensive-overview suddenly have nothing to counteract them. Essentially, when an individual drinks, the brain amplifies certain activities to counterbalance the depressive effect alcohol has on it.
Alcohol and Cialis: Risks, Side Effects & Treatment
- Tapering will normally create less severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms but will spread them out over a prolonged period.
- Tapering alcohol is beneficial because you can avoid alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
- Another strategy for a successful taper is to drink just enough to keep withdrawal symptoms at bay.
- You can also get help by reaching out to a professional rehab facility directly, like The Recovery Village.
It’s important to remember that tapering off alcohol is a significant change that requires commitment and support. Another significant challenge is the psychological dependence on alcohol. Implementing healthy coping mechanisms is essential to replace the role alcohol plays in an individual’s life. This could include engaging in new hobbies, exercising, or seeking support from friends, family, or support groups. Additionally, understanding and avoiding personal triggers can help prevent relapse. Alcohol tapering, the gradual reduction of alcohol intake, presents several challenges, each requiring strategic solutions to ensure a safe and successful journey towards sobriety.
Because of the risk of a lower success rate and prolonged alcohol exposure, most healthcare professionals will recommend a professional detox over tapering. Some alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be so severe that they can lead to death. Contact a medical professional immediately if you notice any withdrawal symptoms. However, if you don’t taper properly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms, especially if you have severe alcoholism. If you choose to taper off alcohol, it is crucial to create a plan with medical guidance.
BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor. If you struggle to stop drinking, avoid places and situations that tempt you to drink alcohol. You may even ask your friends and family not to drink while around you. If you have developed an addiction to alcohol, we can help you with effective medication-assisted treatment at Gratitude Lodge in Newport Beach and Long Beach, CA.
Taking It Slow: Importance of Gradual Quitting
As such, there is only limited guidance available about the best ways to taper. Alcohol dependence can lead to fatal outcomes, with rising death rates linked to excessive alcohol use, as reported by Psychology Today. This condition not only affects individuals but also has profound social and economic impacts on families and society at large. But, as many in recovery will tell you, it is only the first chapter in a long process. Xenia Ellenbogen (she/they) is a journalist specializing in health, mental health, and wellness.
Will I Have a Seizure? Will I have DTs?I don’t know.
Lastly, engaging in alcohol therapy can also make a major difference in your healing journey. A therapist will work with you to create a personalized plan for cutting back and provide ongoing guidance and accountability. Medical detox is often the safest and most effective way to manage alcohol withdrawal for those with severe alcohol dependence. It provides the necessary medical expertise and support to ensure a safe and comfortable detoxification process. In most cases, conducting a home-based alcohol detox is not considered the safest or most effective approach to quitting alcohol.
This excess glutamate triggers alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which can sometimes be dangerous. In these cases, talk to your doctor before cutting back on your drinking. However, it is important to be aware of the risks of attempting a taper on your own.
Can You Taper Too Slowly?
If you’re self-tapering, I assume you don’t want to go to rehab. You can try out any of the things in my guide on Alternatives To Inpatient Drug Rehab. Some individuals find church and sober house 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.
For this reason, you should always talk to your doctor before attempting to quit drinking. This may work for many people, but in practice each individual will respond best to a different pace, and each doctor will have their own recommendations. The risk of tapering too slowly is that you won’t stick with it, while the risk of tapering too fast is severe withdrawal. If you experience dangerous signs such as high blood pressure, racing heart, or arrhythmias, slow your taper and seek assistance. That said, tapering off alcohol doesn’t completely eliminate withdrawal symptoms.
Prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption can impact your brain, causing changes to the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. Heavy drinking can lead to a reduction in the sensitivity of your brain to the amount of GABA produced. If you abruptly stop consuming alcohol, your brain may not have enough sensitivity to GABA, which can result in hyper-excitability and withdrawal symptoms.
- Instead, doctors and nurses encourage them to quit cold turkey with their help.
- Alcohol also changes your brain chemistry, which can result in higher levels of anxiety and depression for the first several months.
- People who have successfully tapered from alcohol before may be especially likely to benefit from this strategy.
- Alcohol withdrawal will last about a week to a week and a half for most people, with symptoms peaking two to three days into withdrawal.
- Working with a medical professional to taper your alcohol consumption can help the likelihood and severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Alcohol withdrawal is potentially fatal, especially for people with an alcohol addiction. Sometimes, they may experience seizures and delirium tremens (DTs). 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. Quitting alcohol cold turkey is not recommended and can be dangerous.