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While admitting that you have a problem is the first step in many recovery programs, part of that process is realizing that you’re afraid. You might be afraid of what happens if you keep drinking, but you’re more afraid of what happens when you stop. In addition to therapy, support groups, and self-help options, you should consider some of the medications that are available which may improve your chances of quitting alcohol successfully. Creating a plan is an essential part of knowing how to quit drinking. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism suggests that having a plan can help solidify your goals and give you a roadmap for how to achieve them.
Overcoming an addiction to alcohol can be a long and bumpy road. If you’re ready to stop drinking and willing to get the support you need, you can recover from alcoholism and alcohol abuse—no matter how heavy your drinking or how powerless you feel. And you don’t have to wait until you hit rock bottom; you can make a change at any time. Whether you want to quit drinking altogether or cut down to healthier levels, these guidelines can help you get started on the road to recovery today. For people who experience mild alcohol withdrawal symptoms, there are safe ways to detox at home.
Guide to Choosing the Best Program to Quit Drinking
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. In a large-scale study of alcohol treatment methods, researchers found that a combination of medical https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/boredom-drinking-and-how-to-stop-it/ management, medication, and cognitive-behavioral interventions was most effective. The study also showed that there was no single treatment approach that was right for every individual. Avoid taking prescription drugs that your doctor hasn’t prescribed to you.
- This commitment puts the power back in your hands to decide if you ever want to drink again, but once you experience the great benefits, you probably won’t want to.
- I use writing as my personal therapy when something is troubling me and I need to think.
- If you turn to alcohol to manage emotional distress, the added overwhelm can prompt the urge to drink, making success seem even more out of reach.
- The groups that operate within the framework welcome anyone looking to find a path to sobriety, including those who are religious.
- Quitting drinking can have many important benefits for your physical and mental health, but there are many other types of benefits you may experience as well.
Early symptoms of alcohol withdrawal usually start about six hours after the last drink. Early symptoms include headache, sweating, tremors, vomiting and difficulty concentrating. If you’ve been unable to quit on your own, you should consider attending an alcohol rehab center. Alcoholism treatment allows you to detox in a safe environment. It teaches you healthy ways to cope with stress and techniques for overcoming the underlying causes of alcohol addiction.
What Are the Side Effects of Quitting Drinking?
After 24 hours without alcohol, your body will start to detoxify and you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Researchers also suggest that mindfulness-based activities may help people abstain from drinking alcohol, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and meditation. But if you’re living with alcohol use disorder, drinking is more than a habit. People with alcohol use disorder can’t stop drinking even when it causes problems, like emotional distress or physical harm to themselves or others.
- The first is to commit to the purpose of the decision to stop drinking alcohol.
- At this point, your risk of developing all types of disease will be reduced and your bone density will start to increase.
It’s a good idea to avoid alcohol if you’re currently ill with COVID-19. No research suggests that you’ll develop long COVID if you drink alcohol while you have a COVID-19 infection. You sustain from alcohol can take a couple of steps to avoid contracting or transmitting the COVID-19 virus while drinking. Going “cold turkey” when you have a physical dependence on alcohol can be dangerous.
Overcoming Alcohol Addiction
If you don’t have a physical dependency on alcohol, and you drink lightly or moderately, consider stopping while you have COVID-19. While hand sanitizer containing alcohol may kill the virus on surfaces, drinking alcohol doesn’t cure or prevent a COVID-19 infection. Another clue that can be an indication of an unhealthy relationship with alcohol is if you make “rules” around drinking. This form of marketing uses features synonymous with a brand — things like label colours, bottle shape or font design — while not advertising the product itself.
Members are given a list of 13 statements that they must review each morning. They are also asked to choose one statement for the day that they will focus on. Women for Sobriety is a nonprofit organization founded in 1975 to help women overcome substance abuse. WFS was founded by a sociologist who wanted to treat addiction by examining how identity loss, guilt, and depression could play a role in substance use.
Once the initial symptoms of withdrawal have subsided, you may find that you have more energy than you did before you stopped drinking. This is because alcohol is a depressant, so when it’s no longer in your system, your body has more energy to work with. Some people who stop drinking may experience delirium tremens (DT). This condition is serious and may lead to symptoms such as high blood pressure, tremors, and seizures.
- Creating a plan is an essential part of knowing how to quit drinking.
- The Recovery Village’s offerings are designed for those who may need more care for substance use and mental health issues.
- However, the best strategies are those that people respond to the best.
- They try to drink only a few beers, not text people under the influence or leave their keys with someone to avoid getting behind the wheel.
- Get cost-effective, quality addiction care that truly works.
Only trained and licensed medical professionals can provide such services. If you or anyone you know is undergoing a severe health crisis, call a doctor or 911 immediately. Nena Messina is a specialist in drug-related domestic violence. She devoted her life to the study of the connection between crime, mental health, and substance abuse. Apart from her work as management at addiction center, Nena regularly takes part in the educational program as a lecturer.