Quitting drinking can feel very isolating, making it even more difficult to do alone at home without medical support. Unfortunately, alcohol tapering has not been extensively studied. This means that there is little how to taper off alcohol data about the best way to taper your drinking. However, some groups have published tapering examples to assist those trying to quit drinking. Quitting alcohol cold turkey is not recommended and can be dangerous.

If you are tapering yourself off alcohol for the first time, it can be helpful to know what symptoms to expect during the process. Although the symptoms can vary for each person based on personal factors, many people share common experiences during this process. Licensed medical professionals review material we publish on our site. The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice. It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals.

Consider professional support

Early symptoms include headache, sweating, tremors, vomiting and difficulty concentrating. Over time, this can help you slow down and make more intentional choices about how much you’re drinking. You can read all about mindful drinking in this article by a licensed therapist at Monument. Behavioral treatment programs are helpful for people who want to quit drinking. These programs involve working with a team of mental health professionals in a group and individual setting. However, tapering can be dangerous if you have severe AUD, leading to uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

Easier said than done, but if you go down this path, you’ll be right back where you started. If you need to taper in the first place, you have already proven that you can’t drink like a normal person. You may find success decreasing your number of drinks by a set amount each day. You could do one a day if you’re very weary of withdrawal symptoms, but you might drag it out unnecessarily. You need to make your own schedule and determine what’s best for you. If you try a slower taper, you risk dragging it out too long and decreasing your chances of quitting.

Join a Support Group

Some withdrawal is normal, and some symptoms can be potentially life-threatening. Find a reason to stay sober and keep that in mind as you go through this process. 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. Take the first step toward addiction treatment by contacting us today.

There are many factors that can affect how long weaning off alcohol will take. Other people use medication-assisted treatment, which can help reduce alcohol cravings as you cut back. 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. If you drink heavily on a regular basis, it can be dangerous to stop alcohol cold turkey. For this reason, you should not suddenly quit drinking without talking to your doctor.

Nutritional support

If attending a service isn’t possible, perhaps because you are isolating, you can use this advice on safely detoxing from alcohol at home. You don’t have to mention anything about your drinking if you don’t want to, but make sure you’re in good shape. Remember, doctors are (usually) intelligent people who spent over a decade studying medicine to help people. Everything you say is confidential and you’re paying them to HELP you. Some individuals find church and reconnecting with God to be helpful.

People who are daily or heavy drinkers may need medical support to quit. Stopping drinking abruptly can lead to seizures and can even be fatal. Ria Health offers access to many of these tools, including prescription medications, recovery coaching, and online support groups—all through a HIPAA-compliant smartphone app. 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.

How to safely detox from alcohol at home

Quitting abruptly can be dangerous without medical supervision due to potential withdrawal symptoms. Gradually decreasing alcohol intake through supervised tapering can make quitting safer and ease withdrawal https://ecosoberhouse.com/ severity. You should always seek medical advice before attempting any kind of alcohol withdrawal. People with moderate to severe alcohol addiction may find an alcohol taper difficult to accomplish.

Risky withdrawal symptoms are not limited to the above.3 Learn more about alcohol withdrawal here and, once again, speak to a doctor first. 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 are some good tricks to help you delay that next serving and keep yourself honest. Generally speaking, alcohol home detox is neither the most effective nor the safest method of quitting alcohol. However, it is inexpensive and may be suitable for someone whose job, relationships, and well-being are not in jeopardy.