Common reasons include improving physical health, enhancing mental well-being, strengthening relationships, reducing expenses, and increasing productivity. Writing these motivations down and keeping them visible reinforces determination during challenges. By prioritizing personal goals, individuals create a strong foundation for long-term sobriety.
Options for Treatment
If you’re not sure if you’re ready to change or you’re struggling with the decision, it can help to think about the costs and benefits of each choice. Before you can learn about how to quit drinking, it is critical to assess your relationship with alcohol. Do you find yourself relying on alcohol way more than you should? Or are you just a social drinker and need it to unwind after a long day? You can ask yourself these questions and assess your urge to drink. It will help you understand the severity of your drinking habits and to take the right action.
Creating New Routines to Replace Drinking Habits
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms generally begin within 12–24 hours after your last drink. They will initially be milder, with a headache, tremors and mild anxiety being the first symptoms. While mild at first, they will begin to intensify as withdrawal progresses. Or maybe it’s a pregnancy that made you realize it’s time to stop drinking. Or maybe you’re just looking to improve your health, wake up hangover-free Alcohol Use Disorder and give your liver (and your heart and brain) a break. You don’t have to leave the house to get support from other people who understand and respect what you’re trying to do.
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It might also be worth checking out a 12-step program in your area, like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery, to see if it feels like something that might be useful for you. Consider writing them down and keeping notes on hand, so you have a physical reminder to look at when you need it to help motivate you to stay the course. For some people, it can be helpful to wear something like a bracelet to always have a reminder on hand when you need it. Satisfying hobbies can distract you from wanting to drink, but they also help you relax — something everyone needs to do. Feeling at your best physically can boost resilience and emotional strength, equipping you to weather challenges that trigger the desire to drink. Practicing your refusal ahead of time can help you feel more comfortable and confident when you find yourself in a situation that involves alcohol.
Top 7 Ways to Stop Drinking: How to Quit Alcohol
Once you’ve made the decision to change, the next step is establishing clear drinking goals. The more specific, realistic, and clear your goals, the better. Quitting alcohol leads to numerous health benefits, such as improved liver function, better sleep, weight loss, lower blood pressure, and enhanced mental clarity. Instead of feeling guilty, it is better to reflect on what made you slip up and adjust your plan accordingly. Refrain from viewing it as a failure and giving up on the process.
- Oar Health offers medication FDA-approved for the treatment of alcohol problems.
- You may need to stop drinking if alcohol affects your health, emotions, relationships, or responsibilities.
- Remember, it’s a gradual process, and you may face challenges, but there is a way around them if you are determined.
Consider tracking and analyzing your urges to drink for a couple of weeks. This will help you become more aware of when and how you experience urges, what triggers them, and ways to avoid or control them. According to the CDC, heavy drinking is defined as 15 or more drinks per week for men and 8 drinks or more per week for women (2). Start by talking to any doctors, nurses, or therapists you may already be seeing.
Additionally, once a person has quit drinking, a void appears in their life that alcohol used to fill. Part of how to stop drinking is learning new ways to fill that void. When you quit drinking alcohol, there isn’t any way around feeling like you’re missing something. As early as one week after stopping alcohol, you will likely begin to see benefits. The physical symptoms of withdrawal will be past their worst for most people, and the benefits of quitting alcohol will start to be noticeable. If your body is used to a certain amount of alcohol, you may feel certain effects when you stop.
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NIAAA’s website is full of practical research and science-based methods to help you stop drinking. The best way to stop drinking NIAAA tells you the mathematical difference between drinking in moderation, binge drinking, and heavy alcohol use. This didn’t motivate me to quit, but I was afraid of how bad things could get if I drank too much. Going from a life of drinking to a life in recovery from alcoholism can be challenging. You also need a reason that will help keep you from having relapses, dealing with withdrawal, and staying committed to your goal of sobriety. A healthy fear of the consequences is important, but using them alone to curb your alcohol consumption has another serious drawback.
The site also delivers a list of sobering statistics about the reality of alcoholism. These statistics remind you that you’re often one bad decision away from completely ruining your life. We’re a ticking time bomb, and with each passing hour and sip of alcohol, the timer gets closer to zero. When operating on fear alone, the focus is on avoiding the consequences rather than maximizing the benefits. Acknowledging your fears gives you the best chance of making a change. Fear keeps you from regressing, goals drive you forward, and new habits to make it all stick.
Spirulina: Health Benefits, Uses And Side Effects, According To Experts
It is intended as a resource to understand what treatment choices are available and what to consider when selecting among them. For more information, please visit the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator®, an online tool that helps individuals find the right treatment for them—and near them. The Navigator offers a step-by-step process to finding a highly qualified professional treatment provider. While getting sober is an important first step, it is only the beginning of your recovery from alcohol addiction or heavy drinking. You can find professional support to stop drinking through rehab programs, counseling services, and recovery centers like True Self Recovery.
Replace Drinking Alcohol With Other Activities
Treatment options for quitting alcohol vary based on individual needs and dependence levels. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) helps reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. For severe withdrawal, inpatient detox programs provide 24/7 medical monitoring to manage symptoms safely. In some cases, benzodiazepines may be prescribed to prevent seizures. Seeking professional treatment improves recovery success and reduces relapse risks.
Seminar only takes 6-7 hours & video programme 3 hours
Whether you’re ready for treatment or just exploring your options, we’re here to help. Talk with roommates or loved ones about keeping it out of the house as well. It’s almost important to avoid place that tempt you to drink. While these changes may feel drastic, they’re powerful steps toward protecting your progress. The first thing to understand is that sobriety isn’t just about quitting. It’s about rediscovering who you are, rebuilding what matters and reclaiming your peace.
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