16 Ways To Stop Drinking Alcohol

Make a note about how you feel physically and mentally on these days—recognizing the benefits may help you to cut down for good. Are you ready to quit drinking or cut down to healthier levels? These tips can help you get started on the road to recovery.

Alcohol cravings are common, especially when you first try to change your drinking habits. It could take some time and effort to find a strategy that helps you navigate them effectively, but you do have plenty of options for support. Certain antidepressants also show promise for helping reduce drinking when you live with depression. Your care team might recommend this approach if you experience symptoms of anxiety and depression along with cravings. The program is delivered fully online and on-demand, enabling private access to recovery for those with a busy schedule. Secular Organizations for Sobriety (S.O.S.) offers meaningful options for people who want to quit drinking without an overtly spiritual framework.

Remind yourself of the adverse long-term effects of heavy drinking and how it won’t really make you feel better, even in the short term. Whether you choose to tackle your alcohol addiction by going to rehab, getting therapy, or taking a self-directed treatment approach, support is essential. Recovering from alcohol addiction or abuse is much easier when you have people you can lean on for encouragement, comfort, and guidance. Some people are able to stop drinking on their own or with the 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.

1. If you experience symptoms of DT, such as confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, or delusions, seek medical attention immediately.
2. Get medical advice before you stop drinking if you have physical withdrawal symptoms (like shaking, sweating or feeling anxious until you have your first drink of the day).
3. Alcoholics Anonymous cautions its members not to get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired—all of which can make you more vulnerable to the urge to drink.
4. Addiction hardship is noted among the online, but generally not dwelt upon.

She incorporates cultural relevance and non-traditional interventions and strategies to strengthen her clients’ steps towards goals of behavioral, emotional, social and mental wellness. If you’re living with alcohol use disorder, treatment at a medical rehabilitation facility is your best option. Through therapy, support groups and medication, you’ll be supported on your path to recovery. Talk therapy is an important addiction what it is, causes, symptoms, types and treatment part of treatment for alcohol use disorder, but Dr. Streem says just about anyone who is making a life change, like quitting drinking, can benefit from therapy. Get medical advice before you stop drinking if you have physical withdrawal symptoms (like shaking, sweating or feeling anxious until you have your first drink of the day). It can be dangerous to stop drinking too quickly without proper help.

Or a post that alludes to past struggles with addiction before ultimately finding bliss in sobriety. There is a sense that sobriety is the answer to all of life’s problems. I stopped drinking three months ago under the illusion that it would be as simple as buying leggings with the offer code sobergalclub.

Binge drinking entails having four or more drinks in two hours for women and five or more drinks for men. About 25.8% of people 18 or older binge drank in 2019, and 14.5 million adults have an alcohol use disorder. However, this approach is not going to work for everyone, he said, like those with alcohol-use disorder. Reducing or stopping drinking alcohol after drinking heavily for a period can also cause mental and physical effects like nausea, insomnia, and anxiety, according to WebMD. This “increased risk” category contains three different drinking pattern groups. Overall, nearly 20% of people who drink in this category have alcohol use disorder.

Setting Healthy Boundaries in Relationships

So cutting down on alcohol should help you feel more rested when you wake up. If you regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week, try these simple tips to help you cut down. Her fields of interest include Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health, along with books, books, and more books. In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues.

Compare the Best Programs to Quit Drinking

If you feel comfortable doing so, discuss your challenges with your primary healthcare professional. Finding a therapist can also be a great starting point if you’re uncomfortable opening up to your healthcare professional. You might run into obstacles along the way that tempt you to drink. Keep in mind the reasons you chose to cut back on or quit alcohol.

One of the best places to find support outside of your network of family and friends is at support groups, like AA (Alcoholics Anonymous). People in AA are either working to become sober or are in recovery. They see the pain and struggles and reality of addiction that you may feel others can’t begin to comprehend. Recognizing the things in your life that trigger your desire to drink will further empower that decision.

Want to Quit Drinking? Use These 8 Strategies to Make It a Reality

Millions of readers rely on HelpGuide.org for free, evidence-based resources to understand and navigate mental health challenges. Please donate today to help us save, support, and change lives. The symptoms listed above may be a sign of a severe form of alcohol withdrawal called delirium drinking too much alcohol can harm your health learn the facts tremens, or DTs. This rare, emergency condition causes dangerous changes in the way your brain regulates your circulation and breathing, so it’s important to get to the hospital right away. For 3 to 4 weeks, write down every time you have a drink and how much you drink.

Support for Me and My Family

If certain people, places, or activities trigger a craving for alcohol, try to avoid them. This may mean making major changes to your social life, such as finding new things to do with your old drinking buddies—or even giving up those friends and finding new ones. While getting sober is an important first step, it is only the beginning of your recovery from alcohol addiction or heavy drinking. Common alcohol withdrawal symptoms can include nausea, shaking, and sweating—which can be unpleasant or even dangerous. In order to quit drinking, you may need proper medical support to detox safely.

Another clue that can be an indication of an unhealthy relationship with alcohol is if you make “rules” around drinking. Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health.