It’s the question that plagues many struggling with their dependency on alcohol, “How can I stop drinking?” It’s easy to feel like a failure when you see others seeming to have more success overcoming their addiction. What’s important is that you don’t give up and make the conscious choice to help yourself and not give in to the negative thoughts telling you it’s impossible to stop drinking. Even if you don’t succeed at giving up alcohol entirely, learning how to cut back can be a good start.
What Role Does Drinking Play in Your Life?
When looking for an answer to the question, “How can I stop drinking?”, the first thing you need to do is get a firm assessment of your drinking. Are you drinking every day? Do you lose control in public, or do you keep your alcohol consumption contained behind closed doors?
Many people with an alcohol abuse disorder experience one or more of the following effects:
- Impairment of cognitive abilities
- Neglecting school, work, and other important duties
- Feeling sick once you stop drinking
- Running into legal troubles because of the fallout of your drinking
- Drinking becomes your top priority
There’s no one solution that works as a magical fix to a drinking problem. It’s not recommended that you try quitting cold-turkey on your own if you feel withdrawal symptoms while sober. You may end up experiencing side effects that could be detrimental to your health.
What Can I Do to Stop Drinking?
If you’re trying to figure out an answer to the question, “How can I stop drinking?”, you must accept that you have a serious problem. Once you do that, start taking stock of reasons you wish to stop or cut back on your drinking. Examine what you’re thinking or feeling when you have a drink. Make note of the times you drink, what you drink, and how long your binges last.
Many people find themselves surprised at the amount of alcohol they consume versus what they’ve been telling themselves. Having your drinking spelled out in writing forces you to push past the half-truths you may tell yourself and others about your alcohol problem.
Next, think about the things you wish to accomplish by giving up or cutting back on alcohol. Some goals that may end up on your list include:
- Improving your relationships with friends and family
- Feeling better physically
- Gaining control of your emotions
- Stop spending your available funds on alcohol
- Perform better at school or work
The following actions may also aid you in your goal to give up drinking:
- Set goals for how much you will drink. It can be anything from one glass of wine per day to giving up alcohol for a week.
- Remove any available alcohol from your home. You’ll improve your chances of achieving your goal by removing any immediate temptation.
- Write out your reasons for giving up drinking. It’s something you can look at whenever you feel tempted to break your personal agreement.
- Stay away from those who don’t respect your new boundaries. That could mean giving up some of your social life to avoid peer pressure.
- Ask friends and family to support you in achieving your goals. It may also be helpful to see a counselor or other professional for help.
Help With Drinking at Oceanfront Recovery
Another way of answering the question, “How can I stop drinking?” is to seek professional help for your alcohol problem. Oceanfront Recovery therapies and programs could be the key to helping you get over your addiction to alcohol or other substances.
Learn more about Oceanfront Recovery by calling 877.279.1777.
