How to stop drinking 6 tips to quit drinking alcohol
“Try to have some alcohol-free days each week for your liver to be given a chance to regenerate,” Patel says. According to the British Liver Trust, having at least three alcohol-free days in a row gives your liver an even better chance to recover and repair itself. Half of the age group said they now only drink on “special occasions”, while two in five of the over-55s drug addiction are cutting back.
Examine alcohol health effects
Overcoming an addiction to alcohol can be a long and bumpy road. If you’re ready to stop drinking and willing to get the support you need, you can recover from alcoholism and alcohol abuse—no matter how heavy your drinking or how powerless you feel. And you don’t have to wait until you hit rock bottom; you can make a change at any time.
Handling setbacks in your recovery
After helping thousands break free from alcohol, I’ve discovered precisely why resolutions fail and what works. In your mind, sobriety means giving up a large part of this social life and all of the people you drink with. You may not think about this constantly, but it’s in the back of every drinker’s mind. It’s one of the things that all recovering alcoholics warn you about.
- Accept the urge and ride it out, instead of trying to fight it.
- The new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) includes cravings as part of the diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD).
- Ashwagandha is an herbal supplement used in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine.
- To drop the number of drinks you have each week, start with a daily limit.
- Alcohol has a way of seeping into various parts of your life, including how you spend time socializing and how you spend time by yourself.
- Tips for quitting drinking that work for another person may or may not work for you.
Get help, advice and support
If you usually pop into the pub after work, change your normal route home. Or try out a different pub that offers some alcohol-free drinks. Once you’ve broken that routine, you’ll probably find you won’t need to even think about it, or plan ahead. Some people are able to stop drinking on their own or with the beer after work help of a 12-step program or other support group (see below for links). Others need medical supervision in order to withdraw from alcohol safely and comfortably. Which option is best for you depends on how much you’ve been drinking, how long you’ve had a problem, the stability of your living situation, and other health issues you may have.
What Is the 20-Minute Rule for Alcohol?
It has long been used to prevent alcohol cravings, improve immune function, and reduce stress. Bananas are rich in vitamin B6, which the body needs to produce and use serotonin. This neurotransmitter is key to reducing depression and anxiety—common reasons people use alcohol and https://ecosoberhouse.com/ also common issues that arise when quitting alcohol (4).
Break the habit loop
An important first step is to learn more about alcohol use disorder and your treatment options. Alcohol causes changes in your brain that make it hard to quit. Trying to tough it out on your own can be like trying to cure appendicitis with cheerful thoughts. For some people, their why is centered around relationships. For others, it’s their careers that have taken a hit due to the effects of their drinking.
On general principle, you don’t have to reason it out yet again. Whenever you get the idea to resume drinking, you can tell that idea to go to hell. Pick a name for your urges that’s imaginative, strong, and meaningful to you. That little voice in your head that badgers and coaxes you. Some call it “The Inner Brat,” “The Alcohol Salesman,” “The Lobbyist,” “The Terrorist,” “The Whiner,” or just “The Enemy.” Pick a name that fits your experience with it. We aim to change how you feel about your drinking so that getting free becomes easy, enjoyable and you do not miss anything.
