Tapering is a term that you’ll sometimes encounter when you first begin learning about alcohol addiction. With tapering, a person typically tries to wean themselves off of alcohol by slowly reducing how much they drink over time. Asking can you wean yourself off alcohol to avoid withdrawals means that you’re likely already familiar with the potential dangers that are associated with quitting drinking too abruptly. Mild withdrawals are often uncomfortable enough on their own to cause a person to want to pick up a bottle. Severe withdrawals can include symptoms such as seizures and high blood pressure that can send you to the hospital. Still, you might be hoping to somehow make it through the detox process without having to go to a formal treatment program. While some people do successfully manage this, the risk of having a serious health event occur is too great for anyone who is likely to have withdrawal symptoms.
It’s hard to predict who will have trouble quitting alcohol. Some people manage to sail through the withdrawal period just fine even though they’ve been heavy drinkers for years. Others may not consider themselves to be at risk for issues until they land in the emergency room. You should consider the possibility of having bad withdrawal symptoms if you engage in any type of drinking that falls outside of the boundaries of the recommended amount. In most cases, this means drinking more than one to two alcoholic beverages a day. Even people who binge drink solely on the weekend could end up having serious withdrawal symptoms. Planning for the safest way to quit drinking alcohol helps you to not only avoid having a major medical problem, but it also helps you to start making a plan for staying sober after you get through the detox process.
Avoid the Pitfalls of Trying to Detox From Alcohol Alone
Although tapering can technically work for helping you to wean yourself off of alcohol, it can lead to several problems that include the following:
- Being unaware of the alcohol content of different drinks
- Accidentally ending up over-drinking again
- Failing to wean off alcohol on an appropriate schedule
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms even though you’re tapering
The primary problem with weaning is that a person who has an addiction is unlikely to be able to actually stick to their plan. If you were to be completely honest, then you might be able to admit right now that you’ve made similar promises to yourself in the past. Ask yourself if you can honestly just stop at a couple of drinks without going over the edge. Sadly, just feeling the pressure of needing to limit yourself to only a set number of drinks could cause you to drink more than ever before.
There is also the issue of the fact that it is sometimes hard to know exactly how many drinks you have had. For instance, some bartenders tend to pour heavier than others. Or, you might not properly account for the size differences in what is considered a standard drink among the different types of alcohol. Making even the smallest of mistakes with weaning off of alcohol can lead to a relapse within your first few days of sobriety or major withdrawal symptoms.
Alcohol detox also involves more than just regulating your drinking. There’s a lot of psychological things that happen during your first few weeks of sobriety, and you’re going to need support that goes beyond having someone count down your drinks at home. Alcohol detox programs are designed to help you get off of alcohol with as little physical and emotional distress as possible. In a formal detox center, you’ll immediately be surrounded by supportive professionals who understand that you might experience some anxiety, depression and self-doubt during your first few days of ending your addiction. They’ll be there to listen to your concerns as they also monitor your vital signs to make sure that you are making the transition to sobriety safely. As you begin to feel mentally stronger, you’ll also start working with your counselors to create a plan for how you’ll stay sober after you finish your detox treatment. Being able to make it through these first critical days without having a major health event makes it possible for you to begin the next phase of your sobriety on a stable foundation for success.
Are you starting to wonder if weaning off of alcohol might not be the best idea? If so, then let us help you find a safer option. Call us today at 833-497-3812.