Even if you don’t succeed the first time, there are still plenty of treatment options you can turn to. Gradually reducing alcohol intake can lead to various physical health benefits. These can include improved liver function, better sleep quality, enhanced cognitive function, and a lower risk of developing alcohol-related diseases. As your body detoxifies and heals, you may experience increased energy levels and overall well-being. As a Certified Professional Recovery Coach, I often speak with people who want to wean off alcohol.
Can You Quit Alcohol Cold Turkey?
For this reason, you should always talk to your doctor before attempting to quit drinking. This is why it’s always best to find some form of long-term support in sobriety. Support groups, from Alcoholics Anonymous to SMART Recovery, are one free way to find a community of people on the same journey. There are also a number of anti-craving medications to help you avoid drinking again, or even https://ecosoberhouse.com/ help with your tapering process.
Saved Costs and Time
Finally, just because you’ve gotten past the withdrawal phase doesn’t mean you won’t continue to face psychological aspects of addiction—including alcohol cravings and drinking triggers. 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. The risk of tapering too slowly is that you won’t stick with it, while the risk of tapering too fast is severe withdrawal.
Who Are You in Recovery
It’s vital to do this under the supervision of a medical professional to ensure the process is safe and smooth. The Recovery Village Ridgefield medical detox center in Vancouver, WA, is a fully staffed rehab facility designed to help you wean off alcohol in comfort. We offer 16 detox beds and around-the-clock medical care provided by a how to taper off alcohol multidisciplinary team of addiction experts. Alcohol detox medications can make the process safer and more comfortable. They can also ensure your alcohol detox is successful by making it nigh impossible to relapse if symptoms get difficult. Additionally, the post-detox treatment resources available at a professional treatment center can ease the transition to sober living and give you the tools you need to stay sober long-term.
Prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption can impact your brain, causing changes to the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. Heavy drinking can lead to a reduction in the sensitivity of your brain to the amount of GABA produced. If you abruptly stop consuming alcohol, your brain may not have enough sensitivity to GABA, which can result in hyper-excitability and withdrawal symptoms. We are dedicated to transforming the despair of addiction into a purposeful life of confidence, self-respect and happiness. We want to give recovering addicts the tools to return to the outside Sober living home world completely substance-free and successful. The support of an alcohol detox program may help you wean off alcohol more quickly and with fewer unpleasant side effects.
- Discover the benefits of substance use counseling, from effective therapies to vital support in recovery.
- Depending on how much alcohol you’ve been consuming, it can take days or over a week to gradually reduce your dose safely and get off alcohol.
- For example, if you start to suffer from alcohol withdrawal symptoms despite an attempt to taper, your symptoms may worsen before you have the chance to seek medical attention.
- Evaluate the pros and cons of tapering and consider quitting with medical help instead of trying to do it yourself.
Alcohol and Cialis: Risks, Side Effects & Treatment
Providers who advertise with us must be verified by our Research Team and we clearly mark their status as advertisers. Attending a residential rehab or outpatient program gives you coping mechanisms and life skills that can help you for years to come after treatment. You can strengthen your emotional and communication techniques to help you work through any tough situations that may arise in the future.
- For dependent drinkers, withdrawal from alcohol can be dangerous.
- A lakefront oasis providing a continuum of personalized addiction treatment surrounded by scenic views with private rooms, luxury amenities, and group outings.
- It also increases the chances of success by completing the detox quickly instead of dragging it out for weeks like a taper can.
- Engaging in hobbies and social activities that don’t involve alcohol can help fill time previously spent drinking and build a supportive environment.
- If you slip up or return to heavy drinking, try to understand that it is not because you are weak or lack will power.
Excessive drinking can weaken the immune system, increasing the body’s likelihood of developing an infection. Diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis are more frequent in individuals who chronically drink. BetterHelp offers affordable mental health care via phone, video, or live-chat. I’ve deepened friendships and done far more karaoke than I expected without alcohol playing a part. I didn’t need it to relax, I had other ways of enjoying my downtime. Drinking alcohol wasn’t a treat at the end of a hard day, nor was it the celebration of a good day.