You can start right now down the path to quitting alcohol. You might find your first step leads to your doctor, or a support group or even setting a date on the calendar for a target date to end your habit. Some people have the ability to quit drinking on their own, while others require medical help to overcome the physical symptoms of withdrawal.
If you think you are alcohol dependent, discuss with a health care professional about the need for medical supervision while you are in the withdrawal process. Medications are available through your doctor that can help lessen the difficulty of the physical symptoms. At later points in your recovery, there are medications available to even help you stay sober. Alcohol withdrawal can be safer with the help of a doctor.
Quitting Alcohol Can: Prevent or decrease health problems that worsened by alcohol use, such as liver damage. Prevent harm to your unborn baby if you are pregnant. Reduce related family issues or relationship problems. Increase your ability to be productive at work, school, and home. Reduce legal problems that you might have as a result of misuse of alcohol.
Education and emotional support are important when you stop drinking, particularly if you abuse alcohol or are alcohol-dependent. There are many resources available for support when choosing to quit alcohol:
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) - Alcoholics Anonymous holds meetings all over the world to support those who have made a commitment to overcome drinking. The groups consist of people who have had alcohol use problems, and you can choose to remain anonymous.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a well known and established program relying on a 12 step concept toward sobriety for life. Each day is dealt with 'one day at a time' and has experienced excellent results since its beginning. Most communities have an AA organization and it is a great resource offered at not cost to members.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) organizes meetings all over the world to help those who have a desire to stop drinking. You can also receive education, information, and support to help you stop drinking by asking your doctor, calling an alcohol treatment hotline, or asking your local hospital or alcohol treatment facility.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) organizes meetings all over the world to help those who have a desire to stop drinking. You can also receive education, information, and support to help you stop drinking by asking your doctor, calling an alcohol treatment hotline, or asking your local hospital or alcohol treatment facility.
Stopping alcohol use can improve your overall health and quality of life. It can also raise the quality of life of those you live with and people who care about you. You lessen your chances of experiencing serious health problems associated with alcohol abuse or dependence for years to come. Your chances of injuring yourself or others in alcohol-related accidents are also reduced. You might also improve relationships with your parents, children, and spouse or other close loved ones. Choosing not to drink shows responsible behavior serving as a guide for younger people, particularly children and teens.
You have the power within yourself to beat this destructive habit. Again, contact your doctor, a support group and surround yourself with hose people who are going to help you in your decision to overcome alcohol addiction. The help of both the mental and physical issues that come with withdrawal are there for you.
If you think you have an addiction to alcohol, talk to your doctor about whether you need to withdraw from alcohol under medical supervision. Your doctor can give you medicine that will help you safely withdraw from alcohol. Other medicines might be prescribed later to help you stay sober. With a doctor's help, withdrawal from alcohol is safer.
Continuing to drink alcohol, even if you do not frequently do so, can lead to problems with your relationships, job performance, and health and to possible legal consequences (such as being arrested for drinking and driving). If alcohol has interfered with your ability to perform daily tasks or with daily function, even if you only drink occasionally, you might need to stop drinking.
Continuing to drink when alcohol use has caused even minor problems in your relationships or job performance or has caused legal problems (such as being arrested for drinking and driving) usually leads to additional and possibly more severe problems in your life. By stopping drinking altogether, you should significantly improve the quality of your life and the lives of those who care about you.
Know your reasons for quitting. Make a list of these reasons and keep them close to remind you why this decision is so important to you. Include reasons held by your loved ones, because sometimes it is easier to reminded through their hopes for your than your own. Reading over this list can serve as an affirmation that you have made the right choice.
Make a plan and stick to it. Set a goal to stop drinking and when you are going to reach it. Post it in a place where you can see it often, like your refrigerator door or bathroom mirror. You might even want to put it in more than one place to help you stay on track throughout the day. Put it on a card and keep it in your purse or wallet where you will be reminded frequently.
Share your plan with others. Talk with your family members and trusted friends about your plan. Let them know how they can help you to be successful.
Appraise your advancement. In your plan, identify when you will evaluate your progress. Undertake a plan for 30 days so that the new behavior becomes a habit. Review your reasons for stopping alcohol use. Write down the benefits that you are seeing. If you drank after successfully stopping (relapse), it does not mean that you have failed. Relapse is common. Begin again, using your experience to help you learn how to stick with your plan this time.
Maintain your new behaviors. After trying this plan for 30 days, aim for another 30 days. Bad habits are hard to break, even when it might be in your best interest. But the more you practice good behaviors, the more likely it is that they will become positive habits. If you attempt a plan time and time again but are not successful, consult your doctor about other ways to stop drinking alcohol.
Avoid stumbling blocks. Many things can interfere with meeting your goal to cut down on or stop drinking. You might need to choose new friends or a new lifestyle if your current life revolves around alcohol use. To stay focused on your goal and succeed, see ideas to help you stop using alcohol on your own.
Attend a self-help group. Some people attend self-help groups to help them stick to their plan to cut down on or stop drinking. If you are not sure whether a self-help group is for you but would like to try, go to a group at least 3 times before you make your decision. There are different types of groups (such as men or women only, discussion, and speaker). Go to another group if the first one does not fit your needs.
Reward yourself. Use the money you once spent on drinking to do something enjoyable with your family or friends. Go out to eat, catch a movie, or play sports or a game.
Identifying your reasons for stopping is the first step. You might want to improve your health, relationships, or job performance. You might want to stop because you have risk factors for alcohol abuse or dependency. All answers are correct.
Making a plan is the second step in stopping. Decide when you are going to stop drinking. Set a time to evaluate your plan to see whether it is working and whether you are able to stop drinking on your own. Help from organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or individual therapy is often needed to help you reach your goal. All answers are correct.
It is very important to schedule a time period to evaluate your plan. At frequent intervals, evaluate how well your plan is working and whether your goals need adjusting. Participating in structured group counseling or individual therapy often helps you reach your goal of stopping drinking. All answers are correct.
If you have questions about this information, take it with you when you visit your doctor or other health professional. You might want to mark areas or make notes where you have questions.
If you try this plan to stop using alcohol and are not successful, talk with your doctor about other ways to get help.
