How to Stop Drinking: 14 Tips for Success
As you begin to notice those health benefits, you’ll likely feel more energized and inspired to keep up your progress. Turner notes the importance of bringing along a trusted support person when attending events that involve alcohol. It’s often easier to turn down a drink when you don’t have to do it alone. For example, after identifying each component in my previous habit. Instead of depriving myself of the reward of relaxation after getting off from work, I experimented with alternative routines to replace drinking. Mayo Clinic on Prostate Health, 3rd Edition is an easy-to-read yet comprehensive guide to preventing, understanding, treating and living with prostate disease.
How to stop binge drinking
Once you find that middle ground, you can continue to enjoy your favorite drinks without jeopardizing your health, safety, or sense of well-being. Whether you’re sober curious, know for sure you’re why can’t i control my drinking ready to quit, or fall somewhere in between, Dr. Streem shares advice for how to stop drinking. If you’re living with alcohol use disorder (also known as alcoholism), you’ll likely benefit from additional medical interventions.
Your Health
You can’t control the way anyone else feels or reacts. Another clue that can be an indication of an unhealthy relationship with alcohol is if you make “rules” around drinking. Pressure to drink more was greater for those who were “risky drinkers” – that is, those who drank more than six standard drinks in one session at least weekly. This is presumably because those of us who drink more are more likely to find ourselves in social groups where heavier drinking is the norm.
- And every so often she takes a monthlong break from drinking so it doesn’t start to creep up.
- That’s why building your own recovery toolkit can make a difference in your ability to weather the most intense cravings.
When to See a Doctor About Your Drinking
- When you consider how to go about giving up alcohol, account for factors like how much you drink and your reasons for drinking.
- In the past, it was only the people with the most severe cases of alcohol dependence who got treatment or help.
- These glamorized versions of drinking often mask the routine nature of alcohol consumption, making each drinking occasion feel “special,” when in reality, it was becoming a habitual part of many’s lives.
- Because denial is common, you may feel like you don’t have a problem with drinking.
In times of stress, hardship, or loss, help your loved one find better ways to cope with negative emotions. If they’re going through a breakup or job loss, for example, be there to listen and assure them that things will get better. Instead of going to a bar where they can “drown their sorrows,” offer other alternatives, like taking a hike together or going on a road trip.
Why We Drink: The Truth About Our Alcohol Obsession
- People who only drink occasionally probably won’t notice any physical or psychological symptoms.
- Dr. Streem says that if your goal is to stop drinking altogether, you’re more likely to have success quitting all at once, rather than weaning off alcohol.
- This disorder also involves having to drink more to get the same effect or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking.
- The avoidance common in the socially anxious may be initially overcome through alcohol, but requires repeated doses if an individual wants to re-engage in the future.
If you’re living with alcohol use disorder, quitting drinking is important for your health. But quitting on your own can pose risks to your health and is unlikely to be successful. Rehabilitation facilities can help you on your path to sobriety by addressing alcohol withdrawal symptoms and becoming involved in sober living support groups, like AA.
Cultural norms would have you believe that drinking is integral to certain activities, like a wedding reception, football game, brunch or night out on the town. It’s important to be aware that alcohol doesn’t have to be a part of those things, Dr. Oesterle says. Alcohol can be especially problematic in older adults because it can conflict with medications and worsen the symptoms of other health problems that are common among older people. It’s a good idea to reach out to your family and friends to help you stay accountable as your make lifestyle changes to cut back or quit alcohol use. In some people, the initial reaction may feel like an increase in energy.
The bar may be different, and occasionally, I may throw in a dinner date. But the drills were the same—drink, more drinks, then fuzzy memory and conversations I can’t remember. On a really “special” day, there might be some vomit next to the sidewalk. Have you ever thought that you’d never be able to celebrate a special day without alcohol? In our society, alcohol seems to be the go-to for nearly every occasion. The idea of a booze-free celebration could almost seem unthinkable—or at least it was for me, for a long time.
Unpacking our drinking norms and the cultural obsession with alcohol.
If you’re concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person. No matter how you choose to support your loved one’s efforts to stop binge drinking, remember you’re not their therapist. You also can’t be expected to constantly monitor their decisions. Your role is simply to remind them of commitments they made and offer small nudges in the right direction.
Over time, alcohol use begins to affect the neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, in your brain. Letting others know about your choice to stop drinking may help motivate you to stick with your decision. From month-long sobriety challenges to the Sober Curious movement, more and more people are taking a closer look at the role alcohol plays in their lives. Alcohol can exacerbate hot flash symptoms, which occur because of disruption to the body’s thermoregulatory zone. Alcohol also interferes with this zone, making the hormone-driven changes worse.