Replacing alcohol with healthy activities that do not encourage drinking can be a healthy alternative. Self-affirmation is a powerful strategy to help motivate people to change their habits and behaviors. Self-affirmation How to Stop Drinking exercises, such as recognizing self-worth, can allow an individual to focus on their important values. According to researchers, self-affirmation can help a person stay on track even in a threatening environment.
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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. It’s equally important not to be too hard on yourself if you slip up every once in a while. That’s why – for people who are alcohol dependent – it’s important to talk to a knowledgeable health professional before stopping drinking. If you’re a heavy drinker, you’re at an increased risk of developing certain diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
Identifying triggers
Your doctor may be able to prescribe medication that can help, or you can usually refer yourself to a specialist alcohol team for support. Your GP may be able to arrange or signpost you to counselling and psychological support, and you could access local support groups to help you stay on track. Alcohol can cause problems in relationships, such as conflicts, communication problems, and trust issues. So, giving up alcohol may help you to improve your relationships with friends and family. One of the unexpected benefits of giving up alcohol is that you may find yourself more productive than before. This is because alcohol can cause fatigue and decreased motivation, so when you stop drinking, you may find it easier to get things done.
Medications
By cutting alcohol out of your life completely, you may notice a number of improvements to the way you look and feel. Among other things, you might find you have more energy, that you’re sleeping better, or that you’ve lost a fair amount of weight. Firstly, if you think you may be dependent on alcohol, you should consult your doctor or another health professional. You could speak to your GP or a member of their team, or there are a number of national alcohol support services that you can confidentially self-refer to for advice and support. Once the initial symptoms of withdrawal have subsided, you may find that you have more energy than you did before you stopped drinking. This is because alcohol is a depressant, so when it’s no longer in your system, your body has more energy to work with.
Ask your doctor whether any medications may help in the process. Identify a family member or friend who you can call on to provide emotional support. The Recovery Village was established in 2013 by Mitchell Eisenberg, MD, and Lewis Gold, MD, co-founders of Sheridan Healthcare, a nationwide healthcare company from which they eventually retired. The goal was to address an unmet need to provide treatment for substance use along with underlying mental health issues. Secular Organizations for Sobriety (S.O.S.) offers meaningful options for people who want to quit drinking without an overtly spiritual framework.
You’ll have more energy and stamina, and you may notice that your skin looks healthier. The brain also begins to repair some of the damage and shrinkage you may have experienced while drinking. One study showed that after 6 weeks of abstinence from alcohol, brain volume increases by an average of 2%.
The Loosid app includes chat groups for meeting other people in your local area who are practicing sobriety. In addition, the app has a Sobriety Help component with tips on how to stay sober and what to do after a relapse. The SMART program is based on the idea that substance use is a way to cope with life stressors that begins as a coping strategy but becomes a problem.
- A healthy fear of the consequences is important, but using them alone to curb your alcohol consumption has another serious drawback.
- Learn how many people ages 12 to 20 engage in underage alcohol misuse in the United States and the impact it has.
- One of the most significant benefits of giving up alcohol is that you may increase your lifespan.
- Alcohol can increase your blood pressure and make your heart work harder.
- Long-term alcohol abuse can damage many of your organs, but it doesn’t happen in a certain order, says Dr. Otulana.
Caring for a person who has problems with alcohol can be very stressful. It is important that as you try to help your loved one, you find a way to take care of yourself as well. It may help to seek support from others, including friends, family, community, and support groups. If you are developing your own symptoms of depression or anxiety, think about seeking professional help for yourself. Remember that your loved one is ultimately responsible for managing his or her illness.