Alcoholism is a chronic condition characterized by the uncontrollable use of alcohol.
Alcoholism is defined as the inability to control one’s alcohol use due to a physical and emotional addiction to alcoholic beverages.
Repeated alcohol drinking, despite the legal and health consequences, is a hallmark of the symptoms. Alcoholics may begin their day with a sip of alcohol and feel bad about it, but they desire to cut down on their use.
How do I stop drinking?
Overcoming an alcohol addiction may be a long and winding path. It may even seem impossible at times. However, this is not the case. No matter how intense your drinking or how powerless you feel, you can recover from alcoholism and alcohol abuse if you’re ready to quit and willing to obtain the help you need.
You don’t have to wait until you’ve struck rock bottom to make a change; you may do it at any moment. These tips will help you get started on the path to recovery today, whether you want to stop drinking entirely or cut down to healthier levels.
The majority of persons who have alcohol issues do not decide to make a drastic shift or modify their drinking habits overnight. The process of recovery is generally slower. Denial is a major roadblock in the early phases of transformation.
You may make excuses and drag your steps even after acknowledging you have a drinking problem. It’s critical to admit your reservations about quitting drinking. If you’re not sure if you’re ready to change or if you’re having trouble deciding, consider the costs and advantages of each option.
Step To Overcome Alcohol Addiction
Make a table like the one below, comparing and contrasting the costs and advantages of drinking with the costs and benefits of stopping.
Is drinking worth the cost?
Benefits of drinking
- It helps me forget about my problems.
- I have fun when I drink.
- It’s my way of relaxing and unwinding after a stressful day.
Benefits of NOT drinking
- My relationships would probably improve.
- I’d feel better mentally and physically.
- I’d have more time and energy for the people and activities I care about
Costs of drinking
- It has caused problems in my relationships.
- I feel depressed, anxious, and ashamed of myself.
- It gets in the way of my job performance and family responsibilities.
Costs of NOT drinking
- I’d have to find another way to deal with problems.
- I’d lose my drinking buddies.
- I would have to face the responsibilities I’ve been ignoring.
Set goals and prepare for change
My drinking goal
- I will stop drinking alcohol.
- My quit date is __________.
My drinking goal
- I will stop drinking on weekdays, starting as of __________.
- I will limit my Saturday and Sunday drinking to no more than three drinks per day or five drinks per weekend.
- After three months, I will cut back my weekend drinking even more to a maximum of two drinks per day and three drinks per weekend.
Do you want to cut back on your drinking or completely stop? If you want to cut down on your drinking, pick which days you’ll drink and how many drinks you’ll have each day. Make a commitment to not drink at all on at least two days every week.
When do you wish to quit or reduce your drinking? Tomorrow? In a week’s time? What about next month? Within the next six months? Set a precise quit date if you’re aiming to quit drinking.
Accept that you need help
Accepting that you have a problem with alcohol is the most critical first step for anyone suffering from alcohol addiction. You may have been in denial for years, but the first step in overcoming your addiction is to acknowledge that, like any sickness, alcoholism is a disease that requires treatment.
Speak to someone
Discussing your worries with your GP or someone close to you who can give the additional support you need to take the next step in your recovery journey may be the best way to obtain the proper help.
Get help
There are several local and national support groups and self-help organizations, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and the Samaritans, that may provide you support and additional information about alcohol addiction, including treatment alternatives.
AA meetings allow you to discuss your alcohol addiction experiences with others who have been in similar situations. This can provide a source of solidarity and strength for many individuals suffering from alcoholism as they work to overcome their individual and communal addictions.
See a professional
As a result of underlying emotional disorders such as worry, sadness, or stress, alcohol is frequently utilized as a coping method. Seeing a therapist can assist you in identifying the causes of your addiction so that you can address and overcome them.
Priory hospitals provide a free and confidential evaluation with a trained therapist when you’re ready to talk more, following which you’ll be given a personalized treatment plan. Intensive talking treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or group therapy sessions can provide you with coping techniques and practical suggestions on how to quit drinking alcohol.
Seek inpatient treatment
Detoxification programs might assist you in quitting consuming alcohol in a secure setting. Residential treatment programs with nurse care and extensive therapy sessions can help you learn more about your addiction and connect with others who are going through the same thing.
How to accomplish your goals
Write down some thoughts on how you may assist yourself achieve your objectives once you’ve set your goals to either stop or cut back on your drinking. Consider the following scenario:
Remove all temptations. Remove any alcoholic beverages, barware, and other similar items from your home and business.
Declare your objective. Tell your friends, family, and coworkers that you’re attempting to quit or reduce your drinking. If they drink, urge them to refrain from doing so in front of you to help you recuperate.
Be honest with yourself about your new limitations. Make it clear that drinking is not permitted in your house, and that you may be unable to attend activities that provide alcohol.
Stay away from negative influences. Keep your distance from folks who don’t support your efforts to quit drinking or who don’t respect the boundaries you’ve established. It’s possible that you’ll have to say goodbye to certain acquaintances and social contacts as a result of this.
Take notes from the past. Consider your prior attempts to quit or cut down on your drinking. What worked for you? What went wrong? What can you do differently this time to prevent falling into the same traps as before?