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. To drop the number of drinks you have each week, start with a daily limit.

Distract yourself with something else, such as texting a friend, taking a walk, reading, eating a healthy snack, meditating, lifting weights, or doing a hobby. Ask a friend or family member to be on-call when you face a situation that makes you want to drink.

How to accomplish your goals

Medications can be part of an effective treatment plan. Unfortunately, research suggests that they are an underused option when it comes to treating alcoholism. Drinking or being sick from drinking interfered with work, family responsibilities, school, or social engagements. 1.5-ounces of 80-proof (40% alcohol content) distilled spirits or liquor (e.g., vodka, whiskey, gin, rum).

Now I’ve reclaimed my weekends, I decided to make the most of my newfound time and energy by running. I know it’s not for everyone, but I’d definitely suggest trying to find something you love that you had neither the time or the energy for after drinking. You could start out with 15 minute workouts or it could be something non-exercise related such as baking or simply arranging more early morning outings with the kids.

How To Stop Drinking: 15 Tips For Quitting Alcohol

People with a parent, grandparent, or other close relative with alcoholism have a higher risk for becoming dependent on alcohol. For many, it may be difficult to maintain low-risk drinking habits. About 50% of people who drink in this group have alcohol https://ecosoberhouse.com/ use disorder. You may have some negative stereotypes about people who drink too much, but addiction and binge-drinking are health issues that can affect anyone. If you have been a heavy drinker for a long time, you may need a more intensive program.

One of alcohol’s big lies is that it blunts the pain. I would argue it only buries it until it mutates into a much more ugly monster.

How can you stop yourself from drinking alcohol?

For many, maintaining sobriety is a lifelong process that requires commitment, self-compassion, and patience—all of which may benefit from ongoing support via aftercare services. Some of the more commonly utilized aftercare services include 12-Step meetings , regular sessions with a counselor How to Stop Drinking or therapist, sober living residences, and non-12-Step groups like SMART Recovery. If you’re having a hard time controlling your drinking, you may be suffering from alcohol use disorder . AUD is the inability to control drinking due to both a physical and mental dependence on alcohol.

• If you wish you could change your mindset so alcohol doesn’t have a hold over you anymore, I urge you follow Allen Carr’s Easyway to Control Alcohol.
• Try hobbies and self-care activities that make you feel relaxed, proud of yourself, included, and mentally and physically healthy.
• Complete sobriety isn’t a bad goal, of course, but it doesn’t have to be the only one.
• Denial of these changes can negatively affect family members and family life.
• To determine whether—and where—you fall in the alcohol use disorder spectrum, answer the following questions.

In fact, the sober lifestyle has recently become pretty popular. More alcohol-free bars are opening up throughout the country, which give people who don’t drink the opportunity to socialize with others while avoiding any potential triggers.

I’m In Recovery

Medical experts now use the term “alcohol use disorder” rather than “alcohol abuse” to address the concern of excessive drinking. These are our tried-and-true tips to quit drinking alcohol. You may want to abstain for a week or a month to see how you feel physically and emotionally without alcohol in your life. Taking a break from alcohol can be a good way to start drinking less.