Addiction can take hold of your life and feel like a deep pit that is impossible to get out of. While you can never be completely cured from an addiction to alcohol, there is hope that with hard work you can heal. Getting your life back from alcoholism is possible by seeking treatment, changing your lifestyle, and then working to maintain your recovery.

• People with alcohol use disorders don’t have to look far to find help.
• Because change is so difficult, it’s useful to have a guide when attempting to kick an addiction to drugs, alcohol or behavior.
• Since alcohol is relatively easy to get, legal to consume for those 21 and older, and is somewhat socially acceptable, it is one of the most widely-used intoxicating substances.
• In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues.
• According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, women shouldn’t drink more than one drink per day, and men shouldn’t drink more than two drinks per day.

Avoid Replacement Addictive Behaviors

• Maybe you feel that you’re drinking too much or too often.
• Instead of giving in to an urge to use, come up with alternative activities, such as going for a walk or calling a friend or family member to talk, so that you keep busy until the urge passes.
• Fortunately, most of the acute symptoms of withdrawal pass within a week or two of quitting.
• Asking yourself questions can help you more accurately assess the circumstances.
• Talk to your doctor or an addiction specialist to learn more.
• Once you make that decision to change, however, you can begin the process of preparing to take action.

Your doctor or healthcare provider can diagnose alcohol use disorder. They’ll do a physical exam and ask you questions about your drinking habits. To prevent symptoms of alcohol withdrawal from worsening, people need to stay in a controlled and calm environment.

Asking for Support

Trying to tough it out on your own can be like trying to cure appendicitis with cheerful thoughts. Alcohol use disorder is what doctors call it when you can’t control how much you drink and have trouble with your emotions when you’re not drinking. Some people may think the only way to deal with it is with willpower, as if it’s a problem they have to work through all on their own.

These tips will help you cut back on drinking alcohol.

Good alcohol treatment prepares you for these challenges, helping you develop new coping skills to deal with stressful situations, alcohol cravings, and social pressure to drink. Keep a record of your drinking to help you reach your goal. For 3 to 4 weeks, write down every time you have a drink and how much you drink. Reviewing the results, you may be surprised at your weekly drinking habits. Once you’ve made the decision to change, the next step is establishing clear drinking goals.

Engage in other activities

It’s a 10-question screening test that gives you research-backed, personalized advice for quitting or reducing your intake of alcohol. If you’ve become dependent on alcohol, cutting it out of your life may produce withdrawal symptoms, such as a rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, sweating and shaking. Psychological symptoms can include irritability, anxiety and restlessness. Medical experts now use the term “alcohol use disorder” rather than “alcohol abuse” to address the concern of excessive drinking.

Make time for self-care

Rehab or professional treatment can get you started on the road to recovery, but to stay alcohol-free for the long term, you’ll need to build a new, meaningful life where drinking no longer has a place. If you’ve struggled to quit drinking or overcome alcoholism, you may require rehab. Formal treatment foralcohol addiction allows you to detox in a safe how to overcome alcoholism environment and provides comprehensive therapy to teach you how to staysober. Almost everyone who struggles to quit drinking requires some form of peer support. As with any goal, quitting alcohol iseasier if you have friends and family members supporting you. They can encourage you to stay sober and help you findother healthy ways to have fun.

These numbers are so alarming they now recommend a goal of reducing dangerous alcohol use by 10 percent before 2025. Research has found that of the 20.3 million adults in the U.S. who have a substance use disorder, 37.9% also have another type of mental illness. Drink plenty of fluids, but you don’t have to drink just water. Keep it interesting and varied with sparkling water, virgin cocktails (also known as mocktails), fruit juices, low-fat milk, or kombucha. Keep in mind that fruit juice and kombucha may be high in sugar. Keep a list of emergency phone numbers on hand that includes contact info for your doctor, the police, a nearby hospital, and someone you trust.

The changes reflect the fast-evolving climate in addiction medicine, in which harm reduction, or practices meant to limit the most acute harms of substance use among active drug users, is increasingly in vogue. 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. Its first secret trick is building tolerance through neuroadaptation. As we drink more, our bodies adapt, requiring higher quantities to achieve the same effects, pushing us deeper into the pitcher plant.

Helpful Links

However, when alcohol makes up part of your typical routine, drinking can become something of an automatic response, especially when you feel stressed or overwhelmed. 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. It’s possible to develop a better relationship with alcohol and make more mindful, informed choices about drinking without total sobriety. But maybe you’re unsure about quitting completely and don’t want to hold yourself to that goal. Knowing why you drink is essential, says Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC, a Virginia therapist specializing in addiction treatment and alcohol moderation.