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There’s no one right way to go about quitting drinking — it’s all about figuring out what works for you and your lifestyle. Here are a few things you should consider and actionable steps you can take. Alcohol abuse and addiction doesn’t just affect the person drinking—it affects their families and loved ones, too. Watching a family member struggle with a drinking problem can be as heartbreakingly painful as it is frustrating.
The above groups for family members of alcoholics, as well as traditional therapy options, may help support you. There is even a branch of recovery coaching geared towards caregivers. The better you feel, the better you’ll be able to care for how to stop drinking someone else. Addiction is partially a disease of shame and isolation. Helping people with drug or alcohol dependence feel valued, and that they have a worthwhile life to live outside of their addiction, often plays a big role in recovery.
Taking a Break From Alcohol: Suggestions for 30 Days
Becoming more aware of your alcohol triggers and reasons for drinking can help you plan ways to help manage the urge to drink. MHA Screening is an educational program intended to help inform people about options they have in getting help for mental health issues. It may suggest tools and resources that offer information, treatment services, do-it-yourself tools, and/or ways to connect with others.
Most people who try to moderate use without lowering tolerance do not find much success. You are already aware that it takes more alcohol to get the same buzz you used to get. As you build tolerance, you become quite skilled at acting relatively “normal” even though you may have a very high blood alcohol concentration . Students will engage in poor judgment or risky dangerous behaviors because they feel they are fine. In order to moderate use, temporary abstinence is the best way to get there. If you’re looking at this page, then it means you’re interested in making a positive change in your life.
Deciding to quit drinking alcohol
The recent sober curious movement, for example, has inspired a lot of people to think about why they drink, and whether they really need alcohol in their social lives. In general, many who don’t identify as alcoholics have started questioning how alcohol impacts their health, in some cases even taking breaks from drinking. Alcoholics Anonymous and many rehab programs often present abstinence as the only option. However, scientific evidence indicates that this is not the case. In fact, for several decades now, the medication naltrexone has been successfully used to help people cut back and moderate their drinking, without requiring total abstinence. And in general there is sufficient research to suggest that moderation-based programs can be an effective alternative to traditional treatment.
External triggers are people, places, things, or times of day that offer drinking opportunities or remind you of drinking. These “tempting situations” are more obvious, predictable, and avoidable than internal triggers. As you change your drinking, it’s normal and common to have urges https://ecosoberhouse.com/ or a craving for alcohol. The words “urge” and “craving” refer to a broad range of thoughts, physical sensations, or emotions that tempt you to drink, even though you have at least some desire not to. You may feel an uncomfortable pull in two directions or sense a loss of control.
Common Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
This might actually encourage relapse, and then make you scared to quit again. Start by understanding your relationship with alcohol and choosing a date to quit. If you have alcohol use disorder, getting medical help is important. Laying it all out in black and white can take time and some serious self-examination. That’s OK. Understanding your habits and your motivations to quit drinking can help you understand the change you’re making in your life and reinforce why it’s important. Dr. Streem suggests starting with the World Health Organization’s Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test .
- Most people with alcohol problems do not decide to make a big change out of the blue or transform their drinking habits overnight.
- Find yourself a non-alcoholic drink that feels grownup and a bit of a treat to enjoy at the end of the working day.
- Try hobbies and self-care activities that make you feel relaxed, proud of yourself, included, and mentally and physically healthy.
- Talk to your doctor or an addiction specialist to learn more.
If your body is craving alcohol, you will have to detox. The sudden lack of alcohol in your system can send your body into withdrawal, resulting in various symptoms. A doctor can assess whether your body can safely manage the withdrawal process or if you’ll need medical monitoring and assistance. Simply being here, reading tips on how to quit drinking, considering the possibilities of your future is a positive first step. Let’s get you even closer to finding new hope and life in sobriety.