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How to Stop Drinking: Benefits of Quitting Alcohol

A gradual reduction approach involves gradually decreasing the amount of alcohol consumed over time. This can be achieved by drinking one less drink each day or by setting specific goals, such as only drinking on weekends. By gradually reducing alcohol intake, seeking medical supervision, and utilizing medications under healthcare guidance, individuals can safely and effectively wean themselves off alcohol.

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• These programs offer more flexibility than residential rehab, while still supporting a healthy lifestyle for people in recovery.
• Rehabilitation facilities can help you on your path to sobriety by addressing alcohol withdrawal symptoms and becoming involved in sober living support groups, like AA.
• For this reason, even at-home tapers should be done under a doctor’s care.
• One of the reasons that medical professionals tend to avoid tapers is that they can be difficult to follow and may be more likely to be unsuccessful than faster options.

Although tapering down has many advantages, it is critical that you consult with a medical or addiction treatment professional first. In many cases, medically-supervised alcohol detox is the only safe way to stop drinking, especially if you’re suffering from AUD. The goal of tapering down is to make a gradual change while causing less stress on your body, both physically and emotionally. Withdrawal symptoms can vary in severity and depend on many factors, such as drinking history, metabolism, age, medical condition, what other substances or medication you take, and more. Because everyone’s body reacts differently, there’s not a lot of research that proves tapering can decrease the effects of alcohol withdrawal. You don’t have to let the fear of alcohol withdrawal stop you from cutting back or quitting.

What Does it Mean to Taper Off Alcohol?

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. Just as what is a useful method for one person may not be for another, what is a safe method for someone may not be for someone else. However, when you quit drinking abruptly, your body’s chemical balance will be thrown off suddenly, leading to uncomfortable side effects. You will have an imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory chemicals in your nervous system. This is why many of the alcohol withdrawal symptoms seem to be related to overstimulation, like shaky hands, racing thoughts, and insomnia.

Benefits of Weaning off Alcohol

Instead, you may be treated with benzodiazepines, a class of medications that are chemically similar to alcohol. It’s important to work with a professional during the tapering because it can be a delicate process. Too high of a dose can prolong your withdrawal period or be ineffective. People who have alcohol use disorder that goes undiagnosed may have an especially difficult time cutting back on their alcohol consumption. If you’re struggling to stick to a taper or do not trust yourself to moderate your alcohol use, having strict supervision and support can help you meet your recovery goals. Outpatient treatment may be available for mild-to-moderate symptoms of alcohol withdrawal; however, should symptoms become severe, inpatient care may be required.

Tapering and Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

• Deciding to quit drinking and following through isn’t just about willpower.
• To learn more about when you may need help for alcohol misuse, visit our informational page on helping someone with an alcohol use disorder or take our alcohol misuse self-assessment.
• This balances out the effects of alcohol and makes your brain function more as it should while you have alcohol in your bloodstream.
• The main difference between tapering and quitting alcohol cold turkey is how fast you quit.

Consuming more than that can lead to liver damage and heart disease, and increase your risk for some cancers. A substitution taper refers to switching strong liquor for an alternative that contains less alcohol, like beer. Once you’ve changed to a less alcoholic option, you can gradually reduce your drink amount. A direct taper means you http://www.freedisk.ru/ru/freestuff/free_disk/?from=690&us=1&ru=1&eu=1&uk=1&ww=1&photo=0&nophoto=&noorder=1&order=1&receive=0 continue to drink your regular drinks but slowly decrease the amount over time.

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Taking care of your physical well-being is crucial during the alcohol tapering process. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water can help flush out toxins and minimize withdrawal symptoms. Proper nutrition, including a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, can support your body’s recovery and improve overall health.

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But deciding to cut back on drinking is much more important than the length of your alcohol taper. A medical professional can help you determine if a fast or slow taper, or quitting altogether, is appropriate based on a thorough medical assessment and evaluation of your withdrawal risk. Reducing alcohol intake can have significant positive effects on mental health. As you reduce your alcohol consumption, you may notice improvements in mood, anxiety, and overall mental well-being. However, the initial stages of tapering can also bring emotional challenges, as your body and mind adjust to lower levels of alcohol.

• Identify a family member or friend who you can call on to provide emotional support.
• Withdrawal symptoms are generally uncomfortable to deal with, but they can be fatal.
• Weaning off alcohol is a hard process, but it is something that you should be immensely proud of.
• If you’ve decided to quit drinking, and tapering seems like the right approach, we’ve got you covered.
• Insomnia, anxiety and paranoia — the opposite effects of alcohol — are the expected results.

Excessive drinking has numerous impacts on https://handbookbride.ru/watch-wedding/musik/207-ricky-martin-livin-la-vida-loca.html your body and mind, ranging from mild to severe. Learn which signs to look out for, and how to care for your well-being. For instance, many people binge drink on the weekend without drinking during the week.

If you have a severe alcohol addiction, it https://adamovka.ru/saint/?id=1515 might be best to seek professional addiction treatment. 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.