How to taper off alcohol Reddit? California Learning Resource Network

Risky withdrawal symptoms are not limited to the above. 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. Quitting binge drinking may require different strategies than either tapering or cold turkey. Some people may also find it easier to just taper off their alcohol use rather than jumping immediately into an abstinence day even if they do not have significant withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal and Safety When Tapering Off Alcohol

I had lost my appetite and was very depressed, which is pretty standard for big time alcoholics. I even had someone tell me personally that my concern over withdrawals was just a way to rationalize my drinking. Tapering off of alcohol involves making gradual incremental changes. Most people begin by assessing how many drinks they generally have. They can measure their quantity of drinks over the course of a day, though for some people it is more helpful to count how https://northiowatoday.com/2025/01/27/sober-house-rules-what-you-should-know-before-moving-in/ many drinks they habitually have per week.

Lifestyle Quizzes

Establishing new habits and routines, and dealing with the underlying causes of your drinking habits, are essential to lasting recovery. Alcohol also changes your brain chemistry, which can result in higher levels of anxiety and depression for the first several months. Finally, just because you’ve gotten past the sober house withdrawal phase doesn’t mean you won’t continue to face psychological aspects of addiction—including alcohol cravings and drinking triggers. A sample taper schedule involves calculating the number of drinks consumed per day. After this is calculated, make a schedule where you consume your normal amount on the first day and make regular reductions each day after. A direct taper means drinking the regular substance of choice but lowering the amount consumed daily.

Alcohol Tapering Methods

It makes me not care to drink as much and if I do it’s a moderate amount. For me it had to be hobbies cause I was already very grounded & a seeker. But going hiking instead of a brisk walk has tricked my mind into making it just about having changed my life.

Step 3: Manage Your Withdrawal Symptoms

“Using a medication such as naltrexone increases the overall chances that people can cut down or quit,” Lee said. Ria Health offers several FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder. When combined with counseling, this approach is proven highly effective.

The timeline for alcohol withdrawal will be different for each individual. However, here is a sample timeline of what the average person can expect. It is important to only attempt a taper while under a doctor’s care.

Raise a Glass—Or Maybe Don’t: The Sobering Secret About Alcohol and Cancer

Residents work daily with our trained and dedicated staff to develop new values and coping tools. They also have the opportunity to live with and benefit from the experiences of other young men in the house who are equally committed to building new lives. If you are ready to say goodbye to alcohol and begin to take steps toward new life goals, reach out to us today.

I’m tapering off alcohol right now and I haven’t got any sleep the past four days, I’m so tired, any advice?

You might be surprised to find that you don’t need alcohol to enjoy certain events and previously would drink out of habit. “Replacing time or events spent drinking with other enjoyable activities is helpful. Exercise, family time, or cooking may provide distraction and promote your wellness,” Dr Lee said.

Creating a structured plan including more resources and increased self-care builds a strong foundation for recovery. If you are struggling to stop or cut down through alcohol tapering, this may be a sign to seek more help, Lee said. There are a variety of resources to explore, including 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or SMART Recovery, Lee explained.

• You’ll need to stick with gradual reduction every day and not revert to previous levels of consumption, otherwise it won’t work.
• Depending on the amount and length of time someone drinks, they may experience symptoms when tapering.
• Plus, you get to drive to and from the bar and save in uber/cab.
• It gets programmed into your brain quickly after that.
• A standard drink is a term used because different alcoholic beverages have different concentrations of alcohol, giving you varying amounts of alcohol depending on the fluid you drink.
• Now the prescription is expired and my psychiatrist has moved away and I haven’t found a new one.

As a rule of thumb, HAMS (a harm reduction support organization) suggests reducing your consumption by two standard drinks per day until you reach zero. For example, if you typically have 10 drinks per day, you could cut back to 8 the first day, then 6, 4, 2, and finally none. If you have 20 or more drinks per day, they suggest one drink per hour the first day, every hour and a half the next, then reducing by 2 drinks per day after that. Some people choose to taper more quickly by cutting the amounts in half–for example 20, 10 5, 2, 0.

I’d love to hear any experiences anyone has had quitting drinking by gradually tapering off alcohol. I’m familiar with the techniques from groups like HAMS, like just reduce your consumption by 2 drinks a day until to are at zero. Generally speaking, alcohol home detox is neither the most effective nor the safest method of quitting alcohol. However, it may be suitable for someone with a lower risk of experiencing alcohol withdrawal, or a person who has access to medical professionals at home. Design for Recovery, a structured sober living home located in West Los Angeles, works with young men to help them develop a new way of life in sobriety.

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. If you have trouble controlling how much you drink or experience significant alcohol cravings, you may need professional help instead of trying to taper your alcohol use at home. However, it is important to be aware of the risks of attempting a taper on your own.