2 Simple, Powerful Ways to Cut Alcohol Consumption
They provide strategies and tools to help you maintainsobriety. Make it clear that drinking will not be allowed in your home and that you may not be able to attend events where alcohol is being served. Implementing how to overcome alcoholism these new habits takes time, but reducing or eliminating your alcohol consumption is worth it. There is a comprehensive legal, educational, and commercial empire that prefers if you keep drinking.
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The first step in overcoming addiction involves deciding to make a change. From there, preparing, planning, finding support, and talking to a healthcare provider can help put you on a path to a successful recovery. For example, a person who is trying to quit smoking would start by deciding whether they are going to stop smoking cold turkey or gradually reduce their nicotine use. During the pre-contemplation and contemplation stages of change, a harm reduction approach may be helpful.
Alcohol Rehab
You may find it helpful to look for mutual support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and other groups, where you can connect with people who share experiences similar to yours. 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. One study found that attitude-related barriers were the most common obstacle that people face before entering treatment for an alcohol use disorder. Recovery from AUD is marked by stages of abstinence, withdrawal, repair, and growth. While the process may take several years, the outcome is a happier, healthier life where you have the freedom to fulfill your full potential. The challenge of this stage is to essentially develop and maintain healthy life skills that will serve you for a lifetime.
Figure out what scares you about getting sober
It’s important to acknowledge your ambivalence about stopping drinking. If you’re not sure if you’re ready to change or you’re struggling with the decision, it can help to think about the costs and benefits of each choice. Will quitting drinking solve all of your problems, in health and in life? If that’s where you’re setting your expectations, you might feel like you gave up something you loved (getting really drunk) for no good reason, even when that’s objectively not true.
- If a person is worried someone they care about has AUD, they should consider the following steps.
- Alcohol use disorder is what doctors call it when you can’t control how much you drink and have trouble with your emotions when you’re not drinking.
Find new meaning in life
You may see a friend who is a casual drinker say no when offered a drink and wonderwhy it’s easy for them. He or she may not needself-help tools, but those resources might work for you. You aren’t to blame for your loved one’s drinking problem and you can’t make them change. Research the kinds of treatment that are available and discuss these options with your friend or family member. When you drink, sip slowly and take a break of 30 minutes or one hour between drinks.
You doctor also can refer you to a treatment center or experts who can help. Pain, anger and frustration often surround the struggle with alcoholism. Maybe you’ve tried to overcome your addiction but have relapsed and feel like giving up.
Millions of readers rely on HelpGuide.org for free, evidence-based resources to understand and navigate mental health challenges. Please donate today to help us save, support, and change lives. Build a sober social network – If your previous social life revolved around alcohol, you may need to make some new connections. It’s important to have sober friends who will support your recovery. Try taking a class, joining a church or a civic group, volunteering, or attending events in your community.
Don’t keep alcohol in your house. Having no alcohol at home can help limit your drinking.
But in some alcoholics, withdrawal is not just unpleasant—it can be life threatening. Dr. Streem says that if your goal is to stop drinking altogether, you’re more likely to have success quitting all at once, rather than weaning off alcohol. But that advice changes if you’re living with alcohol use disorder. One of the reasons alcoholics continue to function while drinking and stay in denial is because the family and friends refuse to admit to dealing with an alcoholic. Because there is stigma attached to the term “alcoholic,” loved ones want to deny that they are living with an alcoholic. However, admitting to a problem is the only way to start dealing with an alcoholic.