Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

[Byrdlady]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

nezzaboy92;1688680 wrote: Thanks paulywogg, much appreciated! I'm now on day X (can't remember what number!, got 9 bottles of the lager I've been using, adds up to 7.2 units, 3.5 drinks. Had to drink two in an hour earlier because I had a dizzy spell but God willing it's stabilised now.

How much is one of those Bud Lites, alcohol wise? Presuming you're in North America, don't really see 'lite' beer over here, just so I know where I stand.

All the best, don't stop believin
x

You are on Day 6.
None of us here are doctors, but if you are down to 3.5 bottles of lite beer (and how do WE drink just half a bottle?) rather than languish around (the equivalent of waxing an area of hair and pulling it off slowly rather than in one fell swoop) my best advice is to quit cold turkey at this point. If you have successfully come down to this level you are most likely out of the woods. Most of us alkies don't taper very well, after all, this is our problem, after we start, we can't stop. Tapering is a lot like moderating, it is just torture and deprivation. I fought this for a long time, but finally enough was enough. I had to do it cold turkey. One drink just justifies another. The vast majority on here have NOT been able to taper, so I'd take the success you have had thus far and run with it. Just my 2 cents... Byrdie

[available]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

I have to agree with Byrd, when does the tapering stop? I could not taper or moderate to any "normal" degree. When i had those couple of drinks within a few days i was back to "oh its friday, just an extra one" and then for all the madness to start again.

I was petrified of withdrawals and seizures and the like as i work in a hospital but i had to just bite the bullet or i just would not have stopped at all. I had every excuse on not stopping al, as we all do and at the end of the day being totally af and accepting that decision was the best i have ever made.

Just my 2 cents also.

[nezzaboy92]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

Today's been below expectations (in a good way), 6.9 units. Thanks again for the support and advice, I think it might be about time to go cold turkey. Going to go to bed soon, its 12:10 here in this green and pleasant land (ha) and if I feel fresh in the morning, I'll run with it for as long as possible.

Will keep you updated, and to give myself something something to look back on. Starting to remember what 'post withdrawal sobriety' feels like...had this a few times, will be beautiful when it kicks in properly, makes you happy on its own. Went to the pub earlier and stuck to soft drinks...knew I was right when I was a kid: Pepsi does taste better from the tap.

Thanks again everybody, great to have people who understand first-hand around.

Keep the faith
x

[nezzaboy92]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

So it's Saturday, I've had 5.8 units, or just under 3 standard drinks. I'm nearly ready to quit properly: it's been a slow, very incremental taper but experience has taught me to be extremely cautious. Weekends are also normally when I slip up, so by staying in tonight I've avoided the main trap, (thank the Lord there's no football on) and am ready for tomorrow: 2 cans of Strongbow cider bought in advance, 4.2 units total, going to pour each can into three glasses, sup one whenever necessary.

Feeling sharper, more confident, ready to study, work, and make the most of myself. I'm going to make commitments to life and get to where I want to be. So many opportunities and advantages, time to make the most of them. Dog-eat-dog world and all that, even a Rottweiler wouldn't be much use with a belly full of vodka! Not out of the woods yet but I see a light.
Good luck to everyone who's trying this method

Much love
x

[Alky]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

So let me get this straight. You have been on a taper for a solid week and you're still drinking more than the 3-4 units of alcohol the Department of Health recommends an adult male consume per day (Alcohol Units per Week - Facts About Alcohol | Patient.co.uk)

Combined with your lack of a belief in the value of "regimented support groups" and "standardized system of aftercare," I don't think the odds are in your favor. I've only been on this forum a little over a year, and I've seen many people come here professing high hopes and expectations only to disappear. Sometimes they resurface professing that "this will be the time," before disappearing again. I know I certainly had the bravado starting out that I could kick alcohol on my own terms. I thought I would be the remarkable exception and be able to ignore the collective wisdom of all those who had trod this path before. Too bad it took another medical detox and three more emergency room visits before I finally "got it."

I don't mean to be undiplomatic, just realistic. I just can't blow smoke up anyone's ass.

[Alky]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

So let me get this straight. You have been on a taper for a solid week and you're still drinking more than the 3-4 units of alcohol the Department of Health recommends an adult male consume per day (Alcohol Units per Week - Facts About Alcohol | Patient.co.uk)

Combined with your lack of a belief in the value of "regimented support groups" and "standardized system of aftercare," I don't think the odds are in your favor. I've only been on this forum a little over a year, and I've seen many people come here professing high hopes and expectations only to disappear. Sometimes they resurface professing that "this will be the time," before disappearing again. I know I certainly had the bravado starting out that I could kick alcohol on my own terms. I thought I would be the remarkable exception and be able to ignore the collective wisdom of all those who had trod this path before. Too bad it took another medical detox and three more emergency room visits before I finally "got it."

I don't mean to be undiplomatic, just realistic. I just can't blow smoke up anyone's ass.

[nezzaboy92]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

Alky;1689138 wrote: So let me get this straight. You have been on a taper for a solid week and you're still drinking more than the 3-4 units of alcohol the Department of Health recommends an adult male consume per day (Alcohol Units per Week - Facts About Alcohol | Patient.co.uk)

Combined with your lack of a belief in the value of "regimented support groups" and "standardized system of aftercare," I don't think the odds are in your favor. I've only been on this forum a little over a year, and I've seen many people come here professing high hopes and expectations only to disappear. Sometimes they resurface professing that "this will be the time," before disappearing again. I know I certainly had the bravado starting out that I could kick alcohol on my own terms. I thought I would be the remarkable exception and be able to ignore the collective wisdom of all those who had trod this path before. Too bad it took another medical detox and three more emergency room visits before I finally "got it."

I don't mean to be undiplomatic, just realistic. I just can't blow smoke up anyone's ass.

A taper is a progessive reduction, no? Every day I've gradually cut down, not one day has passed where I've drank an amount as high as the day before. I'm very cautious, and the discipline of making one drink the limit for an extended period of time can only strengthen me mentally.

To be honest I'm not too wise about support groups, outside of a clinic the only one I've attended is AA, and I found it very unsettling. What sort of aftercare would you recommend for yourself, if you ever (God forbid) had to quit again? I'm just asking out of interest.

My job can keep me very busy and occupy a lot of my time, but time-wise it goes from zero upward, so it requires a commitment that can only be achieved in sobriety. In addition, I have my job, studies, my family, my girlfriend, and several close group of friends who have been genuinely supportive towards my addiction and give me the motivation and self-esteem I need to stay dry. Essentially, I can't make a fool of myself or piss people off if I want to stay in good stead. I don't react to a high workload with stress either: if I'm working hard to stay on top of everything that itself is a 'buzz'. This is why I ask you about aftercare as per your experience: you learn from your own mistakes and the success of others.

Thanks for your time
x

[red67]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

Here's my two cents....

I did taper when I quit. I was drinking rumplemintz (100 proof/50% alchohol), at least a pint a day and more on the weekends for 10 years. All of my research and counseling led me to believe I would probably be at a high risk for seizures if I quit cold turkey. I was told I had to go into a detox center to quit safely. Well I was not going to do that. I researched tapering extensively and when I finally made the decision to quit, I decided a 1 week taper was safe for me. I lowered my drinking each day until the 7th day when I just had one "goodbye" drink. I still had Rumlemintz left and knew I could not keep that in the house so the next day I gave the rest to my nephew. From that day forward (March 17th 2011) I never took another drink. This was my one and only quit.

From what I learned, you can not drag out the taper, one week is generally long enough for the process. If it goes on much longer you really run the risk of never really stopping and tricking your mind into thinking you can "moderate". And we know what that leads to...

What it comes down to is, are you really ready to quit for good? If you are, the tapering is just a means to an end. I did not feel any need to drink anymore than what I alloted on my tapering days. I just really really wanted to be done with drinking period, I just did not want to die trying.

Once you do quit, you have to have the mindset that you will never drink again no matter what. If you do start drinking again, it really starts the whole process over again and gets worse each time. Just read the stories here of the people who have quit and thought they could go back to drinking/"moderating". It's really very sad to see.

My advice is to end the taper as quickly as possible. It sounds like you are down to a point of safely quitting for good. I would also recommend finding a support group(I did not like AA either but I did like SMART Recovery and used that group for support after my quit for a few months), or at least reading here everyday to reinfoce your committment. It really does take more than a willingness to quit to make this stick. I still lean on this community for support and knowledge even after over 3 years. I do not need daily support like I did in the beginning but once an addict, always an addict. I never ever want to forget that and go back to the hell in was in for 10 years.

Keep reading and posting here, it really does help.

[nezzaboy92]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

OK, would rather not hear any 'I told you so's' but the taper didn't work, I was back to around 8 or 9 beers for 4 days. Today I had a very violent withdrawal, so I went to the doctor and was prescribed some Librium. Feel very fortunate to get it. Moving back to the city soon - sounds a bad move but it can be worse out here in the sticks, down there I've got my girlfriend keeping tabs on me. I have no desire to drink - I want peace of mind and success. I'll crack on with this detox, avoid the pub over the weekend, go to my nephew's Baptism then get myself down there.

[red67]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

No I told you so's at all from me. This is a battle and what works for one does not necessarily work for another. Are you going to detox with the librium? All I can say for sure is don't ever ever ever take another drink once you quit. This shit will get harder every time.

I hope you are feeling ok and that your weekend is safe.

[Byrdlady]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

I'm with Red! It's 1000 times easier to maintain than to try and quit again. You will get no 'I told you so's from us'....a more sympathetic group, you will not find. We've been there! Best of luck to you this time, stick close, read all you can, and post! Getting it out of your head and onto paper really helps! Just knowing you aren't alone makes the journey bearable. B

[nezzaboy92]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

Thanks guys, I think I need a bit of positivity, it's not that my friends and family aren't supportive, its just that as far as I know they've no idea I fell off the wagon so there's not much they can say, and I'd like to keep it that way now.

Byrd, I've learned before that it gets harder every time but today hammered it home for me. Back in the day, eight cans of lager was a moderate amount. Drink that a few nights in a row now and had a full blown seizure, the medication will keep that at bay, always does, and hopefully the detox time will be relative to the amount of time drinking, which hasn't been too long in the big picture.

Red, yeah I'm detoxing with Librium, it's worked before for me like a charm. No symptoms whatsoever, I was very lucky to get prescribed it, got a feeling if I was seeing the GP I usually see then I wouldn't be getting it. The detox is the easy part I know, Librium makes it a walk in the park if you've got a bit of willpower, which I do. The hard part is staying dry, obviously. I always list my hangover symptoms, and today added 'fit: lying on the bed praying to just hurry up and get it over with, then coming round thinking briefly that I'd lost the use of my legs and gasping air through my nose".

Last time I detoxed I got a lot of encouragement and support off those around me. There's actually a message from Facebook one of my friends sent me, after a night out where I stuck to Cokes, thus 'proving' that I was dry, and I often read it when I'm struggling, just to remind myself.

"Mate we're round mine now if you want to come!! Had a beaut night I'm so proud of you, don't mean to sound patronising but I just love you man and love to see you doing well!! You've made my night!! Looking forward to the next outing xx"

See when I get drunk I generally don't get invited out with the boys, especially not round their houses in case I f**k things up. That was from a while ago but it reminds me what I gain when I'm sober.

Peace
x

[nezzaboy92]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

It's been about 30 hours alcohol three. Physically I'm not so sure how well I'm doing, as I'm pretty sedated, but mentally I feel better already: got an exam this week so I've got an excuse (both to myself and my friends) to be staying in reading Machiavelli, and already getting into the things I love when I'm sober: clothes, sports betting, studying, talking to my girlfriend.

I'm going to the advice of some above posters (also some counsellers I've seen in the past and a lot of others) and finally seek some post withdrawal help.

I'm curious as to how long this will take however, if you've got any input at all it's welcome, based on experience or whatever. I know it's different for everyone etc and you don't need to put any 'I am not a doctor' disclaimers, just some shared experience would be nice.

FYI it's been around 6 weeks since I relapsed, and the amount I've consumed has fluctuated, peaking at around ten cans of lager.

Thanks guys

x

[paulywogg]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

I always feel better 3 days off,day 4 is a bitch for some reason,5 and on is smooth sailing(aside from crap sleep)for me anyways,great job on day 1

[Byrdlady]

Tapering Method - Opinions and Criticism more than welcome

Post withdrawal help is here foe the asking!
Please join us in the newbies nest, we have folks there now in their first couple days just like you. There are folks in all stages of quitting ao you get a wide alice of experience. I found ( and hve observed after years on this site) that once I hit day 13, something clicked in my head and I knew this was a lifestyle I could maintain. i am 3.5 years sober now so if I can do it, I know you can too. This is a lifesaving place, and I am proof! Byrdie