If you’re ready to make a positive change, here’s what you may want to know about the recovery process. Drinkchat is a free online chat service with trained advisors offering confidential advice. If you’re simply looking to speak to someone on the phone or chat online for more advice on your own or someone else’s drinking, get in touch with Drinkchat or Drinkline. Have a glass of water before you have alcohol and alternate alcoholic drinks with water or other non-alcoholic drinks. “The alcohol was certainly a numbing agent,” listener Mark Vowers told us.
Pinpoint Your Triggers
Overcoming an addiction to alcohol can be a long and bumpy road. If you’re ready to stop drinking and willing to get the support you need, you can recover from alcoholism and alcohol abuse—no matter how heavy your drinking or how powerless you feel. And you don’t have to wait until you hit rock bottom; you can make a change at any time.
Make a plan.
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. Talk to your doctor or an addiction specialist to learn more. Quitting alcohol can lead to withdrawal symptoms, especially for those who have been drinking heavily. Symptoms can range from mild anxiety to severe physical reactions.
- Having a plan to quit and exploring resources that can help you give up alcohol successfully can improve your chances for success.
- During this stage, most people focus their energy on coping with cravings and resisting the urge to drink.
- Make a note about how you feel physically and mentally on these days—recognizing the benefits may help you to cut down for good.
- Quitting entirely on your own is possible, but your chances of success are much higher if you have assistance and an evidence-based plan.
- Josh Lee is a clinician and researcher with a focus on medication-assisted treatment of alcohol and opioid use disorders.
- It is important to remember that one size does not fit all.
Find new meaning in life
Whether you want to quit drinking altogether or cut down to healthier levels, these guidelines can help you get started on the road to recovery today. 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.
Cutting back or quitting drinking isn’t easy, but with the right tools in your arsenal, it’s more than achievable. If you’re considering giving up alcohol, but aren’t sure I drink every night am I an alcoholic how to stop drinking, you are far from alone. The truth is no two people’s reasons to quit drinking—or their journeys to quitting—are going to be the same.
Get online support.
You’re likely to be in situations where you’ll be offered a drink. And practice what you might say as a follow-up explanation if someone ask. Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health.
Drinking on an empty stomach is never a good idea, so make sure you eat food when you drink. Inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities are another effective place to surround yourself with people who will walk you through detox and recovery with no judgment. Because substance use disorder is a complex disease, you likely have more than one trigger. When you feel a craving coming on, assess what’s around you and what you’re feeling. Eliminating your access to alcohol is crucial, especially in the early days of sobriety. There will be temptations around you that you can’t control—so focus on what is in your control.
Finding Alcohol Rehab and Treatment
- The level of care you need often depends on the severity of your condition.
- You might turn to friends, family, and loved ones for this type of support, but this can be challenging if your past alcohol use has alienated people in your life.
- In order to quit drinking, you may need proper medical support to detox safely.
- This stage typically starts 3–5 years after you’ve stopped drinking.
If mild symptoms do not progress, the person will likely stabilize and recover. However, people living with AUD may need to wean off alcohol slowly. People may also decide to speak with a doctor about effective strategies. In addition, local or virtual support groups can help by providing an environment to safely discuss tips and challenges. Prepare yourself for those times when someone is going to offer you a drink. You might also hold onto a nonalcoholic drink instead, ask a friend to support you in difficult situations or simply exit early if temptation gets too strong, the NIAAA suggests.
Quitting Alcohol Guide: How to Stop Drinking
They can help people manage withdrawal symptoms and keep them on track to stop drinking. A person can use various strategies to help them stop drinking alcohol. It is helpful for individuals to understand their motivations and goals behind it. Having a personalized plan can also increase the success rate of stopping drinking.
Designing a supportive environment may require removing items or people from someone’s life. Removing triggers helps support the goal of stopping drinking. Once urges and cravings are well-managed, a person may consider reconnecting with certain individuals. 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 to themselves or others.