Alcohol might be the only drug that is truly socially acceptable in our society. People drink alcohol to reduce stress, cope with anxiety, or as a social activity. And yet, as acceptable as alcohol may be in most circles, it can also be very dangerous. Even if you’re able to drink in moderation and you’re careful about not putting yourself in dangerous situations when you’ve had a little too much, we definitely understand why you would want to quit. We also know how difficult that can be, so we have some tips that will help you stop.
Ask Yourself Why You Drink and Why You Want to Quit
First of all, ask yourself why you drink in the first place. It could be that you’re addicted to alcohol and simply can’t bring yourself to stop, or it could be that you feel pressured to drink in social situations with other drinkers. Maybe you’re under a lot of stress and drinking helps you cope with that. In any event, simply pinning down a reason why you drink can go a long way towards helping you quit.
Once you’ve pinned down the reason why you drink, it’s time to come up with reasons why you want to quit. It could be something as simple as wanting to save money when you go out with friends, or it could be that you don’t like how alcohol affects you physically or emotionally. It could be that you’ve been drinking heavily for a long time and you don’t like how it’s affected your health. Again, it’s about giving yourself a good reason to quit.
Make a Plan
Deciding that you want to quit drinking is all well and good, but you still need to come up with a plan to quit. Decide what you plan to do to quit, how you’re going to handle situations where you will be tempted to drink, and what you’re going to do if you backtrack on your plan. Talk to someone you trust who can hold you accountable and help you stick to your plan, and don’t hesitate to speak to a professional or check into an alcohol treatment program if you don’t think you can quit on your own.
Understand that It Will Be Difficult
Quitting drinking is not easy. In fact, it might be one of the most difficult things you will ever do, especially if you’ve been drinking heavily for a long period of time. Your body will need to detox, which causes symptoms such as anxiety, nausea, irritability, headaches, tremors, and other unpleasant side effects. In some cases, alcohol withdrawal can even be fatal, so don’t attempt to go through this on your own if you’re fighting an addiction to alcohol. Once again, check into an alcohol rehab program if you can’t handle it on your own.
Know How to Handle Societal Pressure to Drink
As we said before, alcohol may be the only socially acceptable drug. In fact, it’s so widely accepted that some people assume that there will be drinking at every social event. When this comes up, be ready to explain that you don’t drink and that you don’t want to. Hopefully, you’ll be around the kinds of people who will respect your decision and not pressure you to drink. If there is any pressure, don’t be afraid to leave.
Find Other Hobbies
If drinking was a big part of your social life, find other hobbies that you enjoy. There are plenty of social events out there that don’t involve alcohol if you feel like you need to be around friends, and you can find things to do to distract yourself from drinking. You can spend more time at the gym, learn how to play a musical instrument, learn how to paint, or anything else that you might enjoy. If you already do some of these things for fun, think about all the time you’ll be able to devote to them once you’ve stopped drinking.
Don’t Give Up
It’s been said that nobody is ever completely free from addiction. No matter what, you will be tempted to start drinking at some point. It’s the reason why people are “recovering” alcoholics even when they don’t drink anymore. No matter what happens, don’t give up. Even if you slip up or relapse, you can still quit and be sober.
As always, if you need help giving up alcohol once and for all, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be more than happy to help you find a treatment program that works best for you. Call today 855-334-6120
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Inpatient Alcohol Rehab?
