Alcohol withdraw is probably unlike anything you've ever been through. Most people first natural instinct is to stop drinking because they want to feel normal again. It seems logical but is actually the opposite of what you should do. When I went to the ER in withdraw the doctor told me "cut down slowly" not : go cold turkey or cut down super fast. Alcohol withdraw is scary, but you can make it through ok. It will be a rough ride. That rough ride can be improved by tapering.

Then when people learn about "tapering" their next instinct is to cut down very quickly over the course of 2 or 3 days. But this is too fast, wont work well, and you will suffer a lot more.

In your brain you have chemicals that make you feel relaxed or anxious. In withdraw the relaxed chemical is running low and the anxious chemical is running high. With tapering we use alcohol to restore the balance. Otherwise you're left with this overwhelming feeling that something is definitely wrong. Tapering properly will let your brain chemicals re-adjust to a more normal state and you will feel much better within a few days.

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