6 steps to quit drinking on your own
- Sober living
- 24 May 2022
For instance, your doctor might find that your heart and liver are in better shape, or your skin may have a certain new glow. Your effort in trying to learn how to stop drinking alcohol is the beginning of a healthy transformation. While the journey may be tricky, the rewards are worth the effort. What seems impossible and hard to do will become simpler when you follow the steps discussed in the article.
- Joining support groups helps you stop drinking by providing accountability, shared experiences, and practical coping strategies.
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- Below are some specific strategies to try, and you can add your own at the end.
- Here are 8 benefits I’ve observed from 9 years of sobriety.
- Physical activities may help curb urges to drink and improve a person’s mood so they are less likely to consume alcohol in the first place.
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Alcohol affects your brain function, so cutting back can improve your memory, cognitive processes such as thinking clearly and planning, and your coping mechanisms. The headache, nausea and dizzyness might not appear for a few hours after you’ve been drinking, and are related to dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic so it makes you urinate (pee/mimi) more. Have a glass of water before you have alcohol and alternate alcoholic drinks with water or other non-alcoholic drinks. If you regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week, try these simple tips to how to avoid drinking again after sobriety help you cut down. Others may want one-on-one therapy for a longer time to deal with issues like anxiety or depression.
Understanding withdrawal symptoms and how to manage them
No matter your situation, Dr. Das emphasizes the power of enlisting help as you embark on a life sans booze. Trying to ignore alcohol cravings is not the best way to manage them. It is better to accept them as normal and actively treat them through a variety of methods, including possibly taking medication. As a specific example, a small study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence involved 140 adults and indicated that a short session of aerobic exercise reduced cravings for alcohol (10). Although the available evidence is mixed or lacking in humans, the following natural supplements, herbs, and vitamins might help curb alcohol cravings (5, 6, 7). Prescription medications can be a useful tool in treating alcohol cravings.
Begin your Recovery
- Group therapy, led by a therapist, can give you the benefits of therapy along with the support of other members.
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- The site also delivers a list of sobering statistics about the reality of alcoholism.
- You may drink to avoid certain feelings, for instance, but you also may drink to enhance certain feelings.
‘It can also lead to deficiency of nutrients and commonly depletes B-vitamins, vitamin C, potassium, zinc, calcium and magnesium. Magnesium helps maintain a healthy heart, brain, nervous system, bones, and regulates blood sugar. Whether you had way too much Guinness yesterday, it was St Patrick’s Day after all, or you shared an intimate moment with a large bottle of wine this weekend – you may be feeling a little hungover. If Relenza doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask amphetamine addiction treatment your doctor or pharmacist. To learn more about Relenza and the nasal spray flu vaccine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Eliminating your access to alcohol is crucial, especially in the early days of sobriety.
- Feeling at your best physically can boost resilience and emotional strength, equipping you to weather challenges that trigger the desire to drink.
- It’s recommended to drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, spread across 3 days or more.
- Others are outpatient programs, where you live at home and go to the center for treatment.
- In 2022, the World Health Organization took an even stronger position, stating that “no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health” based on available evidence.
The drug blocks an enzyme involved in metabolizing alcohol. This causes you to feel hangover symptoms shortly after drinking. Generally, the more alcohol you drink on a regular basis, the longer it takes for cravings to subside. As you take a step to improve your well-being by quitting alcohol, don’t forget to secure it financially. Explore the reliable ManipalCigna Health Insurance plans with comprehensive coverage tailored to your healthcare needs. It is an excellent practice to remind yourself how well you are doing to boost your confidence.
We’ve rounded up our top tips to give upalcohol and start on your journey. You may not need to completely reinvent your life to quit drinking, but making a few changes in your surroundings to help avoid alcohol triggers can make a big difference. Talk with a doctor to learn more about the safest ways to quit drinking alcohol.
One watershed moment was a 2017 publication from the American Society of Clinical Oncology that established that even modest drinking could increase a person’s risk of developing cancer. Science has clearly established that excessive drinking is bad for you. But what remains confusing, especially with the steady stream of new studies that sometimes seem to contradict each other, is how bad moderate drinking is — and what “moderate” even means. While yes, abstaining from alcohol will do great things for your skin (particularly in the long run), it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Products also play an important role, says Dr. Reszko, helping to both support the natural reparative processes at play as your skin sobers up and filling in some gaps.
There are withdrawal symptoms, environmental temptations, and outright stress. If you put down the bottle for 30 days, but you slip up and have a drink on day 31, this doesn’t undo the 30 days before. You learned something, made progress, and put yourself in a better position for success. Like any big change, there might be times where it doesn’t feel easy, so it’s important to reward yourself with something as you make progress.
Treatment Options
Get medical advice before you stop drinking alcohol 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. Whether you want to take a break from drinking or you’re quitting alcohol for keeps, bring in some pros to help. If you don’t have a regular doctor, see a primary care provider or visit a free health clinic near you. The NIAAA also offers pointers about resources for low- and no-cost treatment and support options, like getting in touch with your state’s agency for substance abuse help. The safest way to stop drinking is with a structured plan that includes medical supervision, a support system, and coping strategies for withdrawal symptoms.