You do not have to have reached a crisis point to check into detox. Prepare yourself for those times when someone is going to offer you a drink. You don’t have to leave the house to get support from other people who understand and respect what you’re trying to do. Remind yourself of why you want to cut back, talk to a friend about it and distract yourself with a hobby or exercise, the NIAAA suggests. Instead of aiming for complete abstinence, for instance, aim to drink fewer than seven days a week.
Every person has unique needs, and tapering off may not be an adequate solution to reduce or stop drinking. If you typically drink espressos, which have more caffeine than other caffeinated drinks, start by cutting it with half or even a quarter of decaf coffee. Then, every few days, cut it down further, slowly reducing your intake over time. If you start to have any withdrawal symptoms, it means you’re cutting down too fast.
Reach out for support
This can happen whether you’re quitting alcohol cold turkey or tapering. An alcohol taper can be effective in beginning recovery and help set a realistic goal for those not ready to quit alcohol completely, but they’re not for everyone. Someone who has been drinking heavily for a long period may struggle with cravings and alcohol withdrawal symptoms, leading to relapse.
Celebrate your successes, no matter how small, and seek out support from friends, family, or professionals as needed. Remember that you’re not alone, and that many people have successfully overcome alcohol addiction and improved their lives. When an individual has developed a substance use disorder or dependence on alcohol, stopping its use outright can seem virtually impossible. On top of this, quitting immediately — or “cold turkey” as many users and professionals call it — can be dangerous. Withdrawal symptoms are generally uncomfortable to deal with, but they can be fatal.
Decreased Risk of Alcohol-Related Death
You might run into obstacles along the way that tempt you to drink. Keep in mind the reasons you chose to cut back on or quit alcohol. Maybe you’ve never been interested in logging your innermost thoughts, but journaling can be a great tool to track your feelings as you work on quitting alcohol. It’s common to have a difficult time when making big changes, but good self-care practices can help you manage overwhelming feelings and take care of your mind and body. 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.
- Tapering is the practice of slowly reducing regular consumption of a substance like alcohol.
- Nanci Stockwell of Advanced Recovery Systems discusses the risks of detoxing at home and the benefits of detoxing from alcohol and other drugs in a safe environment.
- Although the symptoms can vary for each person based on personal factors, many people share common experiences during this process.
- When you drink a lot over a long period, your brain reduces sensitivity to GABA.
- Individuals should be prepared to be uncomfortable during this period and have medical help available if needed.
- People with a greater dependency on alcohol may need to stretch out the process to gradually reduce their alcohol intake.
You may have tried to quit drinking alcohol and discovered that the symptoms you experienced were more severe than you anticipated. Maybe you decided to go back to drinking just to relieve those symptoms. Belinda Gordon-Battle is a licensed clinical therapist and life consultant based in Miami while providing therapeutic services across the globe. BGB, as her clients and colleagues call her, is an advocate of “removing the stigma” and normalizing the therapeutic process. If you’ve become dependent on alcohol, cutting it out of your life may produce withdrawal symptoms, such as a rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, sweating and shaking.
How Long Does it Take to Detox from Alcohol at Home?
Tapering off alcohol helps some people start their recovery journeys. It can also be a good idea for people who don’t want to, or can’t, attend Boston Sober Homes any type of full detoxification program. Before beginning a tapering schedule, speak with your doctor about the risks of detoxing at home.
- If you turn to alcohol to ease anxiety, try exercise as a healthy alternative.
- By keeping accurate records and staying engaged with your own behavior, you’ll be better equipped to make positive changes and achieve your goal of weaning off alcohol.
- When someone stops drinking, they must decide whether to quit “cold turkey” or taper their alcohol use.
- Glutamate receptor rebound also appears to contribute to the withdrawal symptoms described above.
Reframe supports you in reducing alcohol consumption and enhancing your well-being. Alcohol addiction can take a toll on your body, leading to poor nutrition and imbalances that can affect your overall health. Eating a healthy diet can help to restore your body’s natural balance, https://en.forexpamm.info/effect-of-alcohol-on-tremors-national-institute-of/ boost your energy levels, and promote healing. Focus on incorporating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats into your meals. Avoid processed foods, sugary sweets, and anything else that could trigger cravings or make you feel worse.
Drink water.
To stop drinking alcohol, you first need to understand your relationship with drinking. From there, you may need social support, consistent self-care, and new routines that can help redirect your mind. But if you’re living with alcohol use disorder, drinking is more than a habit. People with alcohol use disorder can’t stop drinking even when it causes problems, like emotional distress or physical harm to themselves or others. Whatever your reason to quit drinking, know that you’re doing yourself a favor.
People with AUD may be unable to quit drinking alcohol on their own or have attempted to quit before and relapsed. Hen you suddenly stop drinking alcohol after drinking it regularly for a while, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, shaking, sweating, nausea, and vomiting. These symptoms can be mild to severe, and they may last for a few days to a week. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical help right away. Withdrawal from alcohol can be dangerous, and it can even be life-threatening. Whether you’re a daily imbiber, heavy drinker, or frequent binge drinker, you’re likely to experience withdrawal symptoms when you quit.
These symptoms may start a few hours or a few days after your last drink of alcohol. Sometimes, symptoms may be severe enough to require medical treatment at a hospital or rehabilitation facility. Here are suggestions for how to get through alcohol withdrawal at home. If you want to change your relationship with alcohol, it’s important to have an honest conversation with a doctor about your drinking habits before you start tapering off. 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. You should plan to taper for between three and seven days depending on how much you’re used to drinking.
If you have decided that it is in your best interest to stop drinking, one option is to seek help from a family doctor or primary healthcare provider. If you are thinking about quitting drinking, talk to your healthcare provider. Medical supervision, behavioral health treatment, and mutual-aid groups can help you through alcohol withdrawal and stay stopped.
Check in with your body for signs of detox
Make no mistake about it, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be severe, and in some cases fatal. If you are a daily drinker, a heavy drinker, or a frequent binge drinker, suddenly quitting will likely produce a wide range of uncomfortable symptoms. There are a number of common alcohol withdrawal symptoms, but not everyone will experience these symptoms. They can range from mild to severe and are usually proportionate to the amount of alcohol you usually consumed and how long you’ve been drinking.
