Alcohol Detox at Home How to Detox from Alcohol Safely

If you tend to drink too much whenever there is any alcohol in the house, get rid of it altogether,  the NIAAA recommends. Food can absorb the alcohol in beverages, so eating before or even while you drink can dampen the effect and may make you want to drink less, says Crews. You might reach for alcohol when you’re really just thirsty, says Crews.

1. Which option is best for you depends on how much you’ve been drinking, how long you’ve had a problem, the stability of your living situation, and other health issues you may have.
2. Experts at The HAMS Harm Reduction Network, which comprises doctors, social workers, therapists and other experts, recommend using beer to taper because it’s easier to get drunk from liquor or wine.
3. If you’ve been drinking heavily for a long time and think you might experience withdrawal symptoms, it’s best to talk with a medical professional before you begin a taper.
4. Millions of readers rely on HelpGuide.org for free, evidence-based resources to understand and navigate mental health challenges.
5. If you drink nearly every day, drinking less might lower your risk of having high blood pressure.

Answer 5 quick questions to get your free mind plan from Every Mind Matters – including tips to help you deal with stress and anxiety, improve your sleep, boost your mood and feel more in control. High blood pressure does not usually have any symptoms, so the only way to know if you have it, is to get a check. If you are 40 or over, live in England and haven’t had a check in the last 6 months, you can get your blood pressure checked for free at your pharmacy today. There’s no completely safe level of drinking, but sticking within these guidelines lowers your risk of harming your health. Try using Alcohol Change UK’s unit calculator to work out how many units you drink and watch our video guide to alcohol units.

One of the keys to a successful taper is taking gradual steps that will cause as few side effects as possible. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. When you are detoxing from alcohol at a rehab center, nurses and doctors monitor vital signs, provide adequate nourishment and treat complications if they occur. Tapering can help you overcome alcohol dependence, which is a side effect of chronic alcohol use that causes cravings and withdrawal. Detox doesn’t treat addiction, which is a disease characterized by compulsive behaviors, such as chronic alcohol use.

Koob adds that alcohol use should be understood on a spectrum. While some people may be able to enjoy a glass of wine on occasion, others with moderate to severe alcohol-use disorder struggle to cut back or quit despite the consequences they experience. And some, like those who are pregnant, should not drink at all, he says. However, this approach is not going to work for everyone, he said, like those with alcohol-use disorder. Reducing or stopping drinking alcohol after drinking heavily for a period can also cause mental and physical effects like nausea, insomnia, and anxiety, according to WebMD. You have places, people, and events that are tied to drinking.

Tapering off alcohol may complicate other medical conditions or co-occurring mental health disorders. If you’ve been unable to quit helping vs enabling on your own, you should consider attending an alcohol rehab center. Alcoholism treatment allows you to detox in a safe environment.

Once you’ve made the decision to change, the next step is establishing clear drinking goals. The more specific, realistic, and clear your goals, the better. You may find it helpful to look for mutual support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and other groups, where you can connect with people who share experiences similar to yours. A support group specifically focused on alcohol recovery can provide valuable encouragement and information that can aid you on your road to being free from alcohol.

Talk to Your Doctor

Some people attain their goal only to find that old habits crop up again later. Medical experts now use the term “alcohol use disorder” rather than “alcohol abuse” to address the concern of excessive drinking. Within just a month of not drinking, your body can begin to reap the benefits. Your liver can start to heal, your risks of heart disease and cancer go down, and you may begin to sleep better. Exploring, in writing, what you find difficult and when you most want to drink can help you notice patterns that offer more insight into your alcohol use. Comparing the emotions that come up when you have a drink with the feelings you experience when abstaining also helps you recognize when drinking doesn’t fix the problems you’re trying to manage.

Eat while you drink

Managing internal triggers may require keeping a journal or alcohol diary. People may also decide to speak with a doctor about effective strategies. In addition, local or virtual support groups can help by providing an environment to safely discuss tips and challenges. Nanci Stockwell of Advanced Recovery Systems discusses the risks of detoxing at home and the benefits of detoxing from alcohol and other drugs in a safe environment. Use the NIAAA’s drink size calculator to determine the amount of alcohol in various drinks.

Avoid temptations

When you quit alcohol cold turkey, you quit drinking completely and suddenly. The alcohol content in specific beer, wine and liquor products differs. You can use the guidelines to get an idea of how many standard drinks you’re used to. Experts at The HAMS Harm Reduction Network, which comprises doctors, social workers, therapists and other experts, recommend using beer to taper because it’s easier to get drunk from liquor or wine.

By avoiding alcohol, you’re taking a big step toward improving physical health. As you begin to notice those health benefits, you’ll likely feel more energized and inspired to keep up your progress. Becoming more aware of your alcohol triggers and reasons for drinking can help you plan ways to help manage the urge to drink. Say you don’t have any cravings when you go without drinking. All the same, “a quick drink” often turns into three or four drinks. When you’re having a good time, you find it hard to stop, especially in the company of friends having the same amount.

If you’re reluctant to turn to your loved ones because you’ve let them down before, consider going to couples counseling or family therapy. Whether you choose to tackle your alcohol addiction by going to rehab, getting therapy, or taking a self-directed treatment approach, https://rehabliving.net/ support is essential. Recovering from alcohol addiction or abuse is much easier when you have people you can lean on for encouragement, comfort, and guidance. The symptoms listed above may be a sign of a severe form of alcohol withdrawal called delirium tremens, or DTs.