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This medical supervision allows for some patients to quit drinking cold-turkey without compromising safety. 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. To avoid or reduce the impact of the withdrawal symptoms, people struggling with alcohol may choose to progressively taper off alcohol rather than quit abruptly.
- Tolerance, dependence, social habits, setting, the biology of the individual and more must all be considered.
- If you or a loved one are considering quitting alcohol or changing your drinking habits, it is important to seek medical advice.
- Contact us today to speak with a representative and begin on the road to lasting addiction recovery.
- With a robust foundation in 12-step philosophy, Federico can not only educate the clients on the model, but also integrate the tried-and-true principles in a more personal, clinical setting.
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 world completely substance-free and successful. Medically assisted detoxification is an inpatient program that keeps you stabilized during alcohol withdrawals. Staffed by medical professionals, these programs offer 24-hour monitoring so you always have support if any complications arise. Gain the perspective of those who have attempted tapering off alcohol. The more information gained and the more emotional support provided can make a big difference. Personal health, both physical and mental, as well as someone’s current drinking habits, should also be taken into account before deciding on anything.
What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Drinking Alcohol?
Alcohol withdrawal occurs when neurotransmitters that combat the effects of alcohol on the nervous system suddenly have nothing to counteract them. Essentially, when an individual drinks, the brain amplifies certain activities to counterbalance the depressive effect alcohol has on it. When that numbing sensation disappears entirely, the brain is left dangerously overstimulated. Insomnia, anxiety and paranoia — the opposite effects of alcohol — are the expected results. Thus, a user will likely seek out alcohol again to rid themselves of the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Addiction experts have not conducted many studies on alcohol tapering. As a result, little information is available regarding the best way to taper.
Quitting alcohol can be dehydrating, and they don’t call it detox for no reason. Antidepressant medications are not meant to be used for treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder unless there is evidence of a co-occurring disorder for which an antidepressant is an indicated treatment. Continued alcohol use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of alcohol. Alcohol is a part of many cultures worldwide, playing a part in many people’s social and personal lives. Regular alcohol use does, however, have downsides that sometimes go unrecognized. Measure the amount of alcohol in each drink to keep an accurate count of the number of drinks.
Reduce Your Number of Drinks Per Day
Drink slowly, and drink nonalcoholic beverages.Sip your drink slowly. Keep a drinking diary.For at least three to four weeks, keep track of every time you have a drink. From the stomach, most of the alcohol travels to the small intestine. In the small intestine, alcohol is easily absorbed into how to taper off alcohol the bloodstream. The circulatory system, which is made up of the heart, blood, and blood vessels, spreads alcohol throughout the body. Alcohol comes into contact with every major organ, including the heart. According to an abnormal psychology textbook, alcohol affects many parts of your body.
Controlled Breathing Breathing deeply can relieve stress that accompanies alcohol withdrawal. Deep breathing helps the body receive adequate oxygen, which can normalize heart rate and stabilize blood pressure, according to Harvard Medical School. Some small studies have found that meditation techniques, such as yoga, may help treat alcoholism when used with other therapies. However, more research is needed to prove that yoga is an effective complement to treatment. Safe alcohol withdrawal is an important part of starting a recovery process. For this reason, you should not abruptly stop alcohol use after a long period of heavy use without medical supervision.