What to Expect When Tapering Off Alcohol

Even when alcohol manages to gain a grip over every single part of your life, it can still be hard to embrace the idea of going sober. There are many reasons why a person hesitates to get sober and healthy, and one of the biggies is the dread of quitting alcohol. Some, however, can attempt tapering off drinking alcohol slowly over time.

If you do not qualify for tapering off alcohol this way, a medical detox program puts you in safe hands. You can be assured that every stage of the detox and withdrawal process will be closely monitored. With the support and medical professional interventions the detox team provides, you will be guided safely into recovery.

Is it Time to Get Sober?

Maybe the negative consequences of your drinking problem are piling up. Perhaps your spouse has issued an ultimatum. Or you are in legal trouble and are mandated by the court to get treatment for the disease of alcoholism. Whatever the reason, getting sober is the first step toward repairing your life and restoring your health.

Here are some of the classic signs of alcohol abuse and addiction. If you recognize yourself when reading through this list, it is time to seek the help you deserve.

Have you:

• Had times when you ended up drinking more or longer than you intended?
• More than once wanted to cut down or stop drinking, or tried to, but couldn’t?
• Spent a lot of time drinking? Or being sick or getting over the after effects?
• Experienced craving – the strong need, or urge, to drink?
• Found that drinking – or being sick from drinking – often interfered with taking care of your home or family? Or caused job troubles? Or school problems?
• Continued to drink even though it was causing trouble with your family or friends?
• Given up or cut back on activities that were important to you or gave you pleasure, so you could drink?
• More than once gotten into situations while or after drinking that increased your chances of getting hurt? Such as driving, swimming, using machinery, walking in a dangerous area, or having unsafe sex?
• Continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem? Or after having had a memory blackout?
• Had to drink much more than you once did to get the effect you want? Or found that your usual number of drinks had much less effect than before?
• Found that when the effects of alcohol were wearing off, you had withdrawal symptoms? 

How Does Drinking Alcohol Use Disorder Develop?

Many factors can play a role in the development of alcohol dependency.  The more risk factors that are present at a young age, the more likely the individual will become an alcoholic. 

There are several ways alcohol use disorder (AUD) may develop. Someone may have a history of trauma, neglect, or abuse. They may have suffered the loss of a loved one and are struggling to overcome the grief. They may have a mental health disorder. In fact, according to the NIAAA, someone with AUD is 3.6 times more likely to also suffer from a mood disorder.

Alcoholism is a chronic disease that affects the brain. Ongoing heavy drinking basically trains the brain, through its reward system, to want and need alcohol. The initial dopamine rush you experience sends a message to the brain that this is pleasurable. The brain imprints this response and records it in memory.

As tolerance to alcohol increases, so does the rate of consumption. This only escalates the alterations in the brain’s pathways that are then wired to need the substance. The result is physical dependence and/or psychological addiction to alcohol.