You need to find new hobbies to take the place of things you used to do while drinking. You need to find new activities and people to socialize with if all of your previous social activities revolve around boredom. This didn’t motivate me to quit, but I was afraid of how bad things could get if I drank too much. One thing that has kept me sober is that I no longer wanted to be the person I was as a drinker. I’m not just referring to how I behaved while under the influence, but my general demeanor, reputation, and options for life were all begging for a massive change.
Steps
Turner notes the importance of bringing along a trusted support person when attending events that involve alcohol. It’s often easier to turn down a drink when you don’t have to do it alone. It’s possible to develop a better relationship with alcohol and make more mindful, informed choices about drinking without total sobriety. Knowing why you drink is essential, says Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC, a Virginia therapist specializing in addiction treatment and alcohol moderation. You’re likely to be in situations where you’ll be offered a drink.
- Explore how drugs are all around us, their impact, and prevention strategies to safeguard your loved ones.
- The NIAAA tells you the mathematical difference between drinking in moderation, binge drinking, and heavy alcohol use.
- Exploring, in writing, what you find difficult and when you most want to drink can help you notice patterns that offer more insight into your alcohol use.
- People in AA are either working to become sober or are in recovery.
- They provide strategies and tools to help you maintainsobriety.
Pace Your Drinking with Alcohol-Free Days
Structured self-affirmation exercises that take up less time, such as answering a series of yes or no questions, can also be effective in helping people reduce or stop drinking alcohol. There are lots of reasons why you might want to stop drinking alcohol. For some people, it’s a lifestyle change – to say goodbye to hangovers, sleep better, lose excess weight and have more energy. It might even be for a challenge, to buddy someone else who is giving up alcohol, or to raise money for charity.
- One of the best places to find support outside of your network of family and friends is at support groups, like AA (Alcoholics Anonymous).
- Clear goals help you break down the more significant challenge of quitting into smaller, achievable steps, which can be less overwhelming and give you a sense of progress.
Set A Maximum Number Of Drinks In A Given Sitting
It’s important not to rush the process and to adjust your https://luckyconstructions.com/treatment-national-institute-on-drug-abuse-nida/ plan based on how your body responds. A healthcare provider can give you a better idea of the timeline for your specific situation. This helps you stay accountable and ensures that you’re following your tapering schedule.
I did it, but I wish someone had warned me about the emotional challenges I’d face when I quit drinking. You’re afraid that going back to drinking after being sober if you stop drinking, you’ll miss out on a great social life. Instead of worrying that people will leave you behind for your bad behavior, you’re afraid that people will do it because now you seem too good. The best relapse prevention is staying busy, staying away from old drinking environments, and making sober friends. If you do drink, do everything in your power to avoid a heavy binge. This is where it becomes essential to think of the progress you made.
Figure out what scares you about getting sober
If you don’t have people currently in your life who can help you quit drinking, you’re still not in this alone. There are people willing and waiting to support you, guide you and love you through the ups and downs of ending unhealthy drinking patterns. In theory, setting one big giant goal of “never drinking again” makes sense. Unfortunately, immediately setting your mind to achieving this one and only hard-and-fast goal is why many people struggle to quit drinking or why they relapse early on in their recovery journey. Fortunately, urges to drink are short-lived, predictable, and controllable.
Remind yourself of the adverse long-term effects of heavy drinking and how it won’t really make you what is alcoholism feel better, even in the short term. 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.
Research has found that setting goals is crucial when you want to give up alcohol use. Goals provide a roadmap for your journey, making the process more manageable and structured. A doctor can evaluate your health, recommend a safe detox plan, and potentially prescribe medications to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. Seeing a doctor before you stop drinking alcohol is essential, especially if you’ve been drinking heavily for a long time. Understanding how to break free from your drinking habits can help ensure you stick to your new goal and achieve sobriety.
For example, keeping the home alcohol-free may prevent people from drinking. Avoiding social events that involve alcohol may also help someone overcome the urge to drink. Avoidance can be temporary, and people can return to social activities when they can better manage their urges. There may be many reasons why a person plans to stop drinking alcohol. However, it may be more challenging for people who live with alcohol use disorder (AUD) than someone who casually drinks. In the past year, around 10.6% of people in the United States, ages 12 and older, had AUD.