Best Programs to Quit Drinking of 2023
Dr. Prylinski recommends people in recovery seek ongoing support, which may include counseling, medications and support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous. “Certainly, it’s different for each person,” tips to quit drinking says Brett Prylinski, D.O., a family medicine physician at Piedmont. He encourages patients to be honest about their drinking history, which doctors can review to create a treatment plan.
Alcohol & Romantic Relationships: Reflections & Advice from Oar’s Ambassadors
When operating on fear alone, the focus is on avoiding the consequences rather than maximizing the benefits. If it’s all you’ve known and you give it up out of fear, your desire for familiarity will win in the long run. However, if you are in pursuit of something new and better, you’re more likely to stick to it. This commitment puts the power back in your hands to decide if you ever want to drink again, but once you experience the great benefits, you probably won’t want to. I won’t lie to you and say that it’s guaranteed that you’ll have a large support network. I won’t lead you on and make you think that everyone will appreciate you trying to become a better human being.
- 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.
- Research shows that the majority of people who eventually achieve long-term sobriety have at least 1 relapse.
- You can become conditioned to reach for a drink when your environment offers up certain cues.
- Willpower is the hard way to quit drinking and not the Easyway to quit drinking.
Physical symptoms
You feel like your friends and family won’t understand or support your decision to stop drinking. It can be helpful to make a plan ahead of time for how to handle a relapse. For example, some people choose to write a list of reasons why they want to stop drinking alcohol, and revisit the list to remind themselves after a relapse. You may want to speak with a loved one or therapist about a strategy to prevent relapses from happening. If you’re dependent on alcohol to function, it’s recommended you seek medical advice to manage your withdrawal.
Set goals and prepare for change
Even after admitting you have a drinking problem, you may make excuses and drag your feet. It’s important to acknowledge your ambivalence about stopping drinking. 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.
- Heavy drinking is linked to a greater likelihood of developing many chronic health conditions.
- Millions of readers rely on HelpGuide.org for free, evidence-based resources to understand and navigate mental health challenges.
- Prescription medications are also available to help with smoking cessation, including varenicline (Chantix).
- As part of my commitment to change, I identified alcohol as the main problem and control it.
- Dependent drinkers who stop drinking may experience withdrawal symptoms which range from cravings and headaches, to seizures, hallucinations and delirium, depending on the level of dependency.
The tips/instructions help but without the right method/map you may never find your way to freedom so please read on after the tips to understand the best method to stop drinking. “I’m not your dad; I’m not the cops,” Dr. Prylinski says. If you’re unsure how to talk about your own drinking, he suggests discussing more general alcohol issues first. But to quit in the safest way possible, you’ll want to consult a doctor first. Everyone’s physiology is unique, and dropping alcohol cold turkey can be life-threatening. Regular drinking can affect your body’s ability to fight infections.
Be cool about withdrawal symptoms
- “But that dichotomy — yes or no, you have it or you don’t — is inadequate,” says Dr. John Mariani, who researches substance abuse at Columbia University.
- Fear of loneliness can keep you cutting back or cutting out your drinking.
- When you get a drink, nurse it, then go back to seltzer.
- But finding something else to occupy your time can help you drink less.
- It’s much easier to avoid drinking if you don’t keep temptations around.
- This plan can be for one night, a certain length of time, or a few days every week, but it’s important to try and stick to it in order to accomplish your goal.
- SMART support group meetings are available worldwide and focus on self-empowerment and making healthy lifestyle changes.
- I personally used to worry that I wouldn’t be strong enough to stay sober.
