Tapering is meant to reduce the withdrawal symptoms from quitting alcohol, but this isn’t a guarantee. As mentioned above, many people will still experience some level of withdrawal, just to a lesser degree. Expect to feel some discomfort, including anxiety, sweating or irritability. If you feel more severe symptoms, such as paranoia, increased pulse, or tremors sometimes called alcohol shakes, you should taper more slowly and consider seeking professional help. If you feel severe symptoms, such as hallucinations, rapid heartbeat or disorientation, call 911 immediately. If you’re unable to reduce how much you drink, you may have a disease called alcoholism that requires professional addiction treatment.

When to Seek Medical Attention

Additionally, medications such as acamprosate and naltrexone may be prescribed to support long-term abstinence. The tapering process is tailored to the individual’s needs, considering the severity of dependence and any comorbid conditions. Many individuals who struggle with alcohol addiction are also battling other medical conditions such as depression, anxiety, or personality disorders.

How To Wean Yourself off Alcohol Safely

Ultimately, the severity of symptoms depends on a number of factors, including age, gender, and longevity of the addiction. Those who find that they cannot taper off the number of drinks for any significant length of time have likely developed alcohol use disorder, a condition https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/meditation-for-addiction-recovery-methods-and-techniques/ commonly known as alcoholism. For others, simply cutting back the number of drinks can bring on alcohol withdrawal symptoms, making it more difficult to stop. Generally speaking, alcohol home detox is neither the most effective nor the safest method of quitting alcohol.

Eat before and in between drinks.

As long as safety precautions are taken, there’s no wrong way to begin a sobriety or moderation journey. This journey is often non-linear, and your goals can change over time. If you’re having difficulty sticking to your goal or just want some extra guidance, consider reaching out for professional support. 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.

Is it Safe to Detox from Alcohol at Home?

If you turn to alcohol to manage emotional distress, the added overwhelm can prompt the urge to drink, making success seem even more out of reach. What’s most important is looking at your drinking habits and finding a way to cut back that works for you. From month-long sobriety challenges to the Sober Curious movement, more and more people are taking a closer look at the role alcohol plays in their lives. Sunnyside uses a psychology-based approach to help you drink more mindfully, no matter what your goal is. You’ll get a 100% custom plan, then daily texts to track your progress and help you stay on target.

Insurance May Cover The Cost of Alcohol Detox

You can read all about mindful drinking in this article by a licensed therapist at Monument. Typically, alcohol withdrawal symptoms happen for heavier drinkers. Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session. People who want to reduce their alcohol consumption often do not realize how much of their social and daily routines alcohol has become. Tapering alcohol may be uncomfortable, and there may be subconscious triggers that stimulate the desire to drink alcohol. Stress is a common trigger that makes it hard to modify your alcohol intake.

• If you feel severe symptoms, such as hallucinations, rapid heartbeat or disorientation, call 911 immediately.
• People with alcohol use disorder can’t stop drinking even when it causes problems, like emotional distress or physical harm to themselves or others.
• For this reason, even at-home tapers should be done under a doctor’s care.
• Tapering or weaning means ramping down your alcohol use until you get to zero—or to a more moderate level of drinking that you prefer.
• Tapering can sometimes help a person avoid uncomfortable and sometimes deadly symptoms of withdrawal.

– Don’t go through withdrawal alone.

It’s often easier to turn down a drink when you don’t have to do it alone. 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 how to taper off alcohol at home 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. You don’t have to leave the house to get support from other people who understand and respect what you’re trying to do.

Tips for Tapering Yourself off Alcohol

• Switching to beer from hard liquor is safer because it is easier to control the amount of beer that is consumed and is harder to binge drink.
• Some alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be so severe that they can lead to death.
• Late symptoms begin between two and four days after the last drink, and they usually include changes in heart rate, breathing and blood pressure.
• Detox treatment usually occurs in a detox center such as a hospital or treatment facility under the supervision of medical professionals.

Understanding the Role of Alcohol Tapering in Treatment