How to Stop Drinking: 14 Tips for Success

Rarely has anyone come into my office with concerns about alcohol abuse because of drinking three or four drinks a few times a week. For some drinkers, controlled drinking or moderate drinking is an option, and for a small portion of the population, about 5%, controlled drinking is nearly impossible. While many people believe “once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic,” many people diagnosed with alcoholism can learn to control their drinking and become social drinkers again. That said, if you have been diagnosed with alcohol dependence, most addiction psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, social workers, and addiction counselors would strongly recommend abstinence. This is always a very personal decision that should be made with careful consideration of the risks and benefits of drinking versus abstinence. It is important to note that home remedies should never be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.

Telemedicine is a growing industry, and is making medical assistance easier to access than it was before. People can now talk to a doctor through video chat and get help for many common ailments. Alcohol abuse turns out to be no exception, and resources like medical counseling, recovery coaching, and even prescriptions are now available through telemedicine programs. Any of these medications can make a big difference in battling physical addiction, making the psychological parts of alcohol dependence easier to work through.

How To Quit Drinking Alcohol

You’ll get a 100% custom plan, then use daily texts to track your progress and help you stay on target. If you are reading this, you are well on your way to understanding yourself better and getting what you want and need in life. Say you don’t have any cravings when you go without drinking.

Talk to your family doctor or an addiction counselor about whether a moderation or abstinence-based approach is right for you. If you decide together that moderation is the right goal, there may be a program or support group that will support you in your new lifestyle. There are also medications that can be helpful for people who want to reduce their drinking. Behavioral therapy, such as counseling or support groups, can help people develop skills to avoid or overcome stress and other triggers that could lead to drinking.

Symptoms

It’s normal to enjoy alcohol as part of a vibrant social life, but when your drinking habits begin to impact your health and relationships, it might be time to stop drinking so much. With Sunnyside, every Sunday we text you a new recommended plan of what your weekly drinking targets can be. You can adjust these goals to fit your own lifestyle and needs, but by having a plan, you’re taking the first step towards accountability. Start by understanding your relationship with alcohol and choosing a date to quit. If you have alcohol use disorder, getting medical help is important. Therapy can help you understand why you drink and learn new habits so you can live a healthy lifestyle that doesn’t rely on alcohol as a crutch.

Another clue that can be an indication of an unhealthy relationship with alcohol is if you make “rules” around drinking. A sober life doesn’t have to mean more time at home as you try to block out triggers. It can mean more time for your other interests, and even new interests. More time to meet new people, catch up with old friends and try new things. Controlled drinking refers to a number of different treatment strategies people might use to drink less (moderation) without giving up drinking altogether (abstinence).

How to Stop Drinking: 8 Tips That Actually Work

Ria Health offers a combination of remote medical supervision, anti-craving medication, weekly recovery coaching, online support groups, and app-based tools. All of this is accessible from your smartphone, on your schedule. If you are experiencing negative impacts from drinking and are struggling to cut back, you may have alcohol use disorder. It’s always best to see a doctor for an evaluation, but for a quick check, take our alcohol use survey to see where you stand.

Taking the time to explore what works best for you is important so that you can find healthy coping tools to manage difficult emotions without relying on alcohol. Taking a break for a month can give you some perspective on how much you drink, and what it feels like when you don’t. For some people, this can be a motivating step towards sobriety or moderation. For others, it can be a chance to start pursuing long-term abstinence at a time when fewer people around them are drinking. The exact symptoms of alcohol withdrawal depend upon how much you drink and your individual body chemistry, but they tend to follow a similar pattern.

If you slip, return to your plan.

If one wants to pursue this approach, it is best not to go it alone. Talking to an addiction psychologist or other addiction professional can guide you through some generally recommended techniques. Ask your doctor or counselor for a referral and/or work together to develop strategies for controlling your alcohol consumption and drinking responsibly or quitting all together.

The drug is now being assessed in early trials at the NIH Clinical Center in Maryland. Medical Director Dr. Elizabeth Drew graduated from Hahnemann University School of Medicine and completed her family practice residency at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown PA. In 2005, she opened her family medicine office in Doylestown, and in 2008 she treated her first patient for opiate addiction. She understands that addiction is a chronic disease that no one would choose to have, and her treatment philosophy is based on respect, compassion, and empowerment.

Set a goal

To make it as easy as possible for you to get started with mindful drinking, we’ve put together a simple mindful drinking PDF that you can download right now, print out, and start tracking your drinks. We even have a spot for you to put your goal and offer some fun tips to keep you motivated. You can do it in a notepad, on a whiteboard, on post-it notes on the refrigerator, or even email yourself every day. You just start with a quiz, choose a plan, and track your drinks via text message.

• You may also consider joining an online support group to help you feel less alone.
• Even if you’re not technically a heavy drinker, this may be a signal you’re drinking too much.
• Some groups have online forums and chats as well as in-person meetings.
• If you think drinking alcohol is affecting your life negatively, talk to a friend, family member, mental health professional or medical provider.
• Prepare yourself for those times when someone is going to offer you a drink.

Fortunately, these withdrawal symptoms shouldn’t last very long — about a week — but listen to your body in case something feels abnormal during this time. Try to stay focused on your end goal, and don’t be afraid to call your doctor if something doesn’t feel right. If you’re a long-term, heavy drinker, you may need medically supervised detoxification. Detox can be done on an outpatient basis or in a hospital or alcohol treatment facility, where you may be prescribed medication to prevent medical complications and relieve withdrawal symptoms.

How to Know When It’s Time to Cut Back

But if you’re living with alcohol use disorder, drinking is more than a habit. People with alcohol use disorder can’t stop drinking even when it causes problems, like emotional distress or physical harm https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/why-cant-i-cut-down-or-control-my-drinking/ to themselves or others. 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.