How to Quit Alcohol

by Ed Philips

Anyone has the ability to stop drinking as soon as today. The first step is up to you. You can consult your doctor, contact a support group, or even just set a date as a goal to be the day that you set aside the bottle for good. Make sure though that while many can stop drinking on their own, if you feel you are unable to do this, seek medical help that can at least help you manage your physical symptoms of withdrawal.

If you think you are alcohol dependent, discuss with a health care professional about the need for medical supervision while you are in the withdrawal process. Medications are available through your doctor that can help lessen the difficulty of the physical symptoms. At later points in your recovery, there are medications available to even help you stay sober. Alcohol withdrawal can be safer with the help of a doctor.

Stopping alcohol use can: Prevent or reduce health problems that are made worse by alcohol use, such as liver damage. Prevent harm to your unborn baby if you are pregnant. Reduce related family concerns or relationship problems. Increase your ability to be productive at work, school, and home. Reduce legal problems that you might have as a result of misuse of alcohol.

Education and emotional support are important when you stop drinking, particularly if you abuse alcohol or are alcohol-dependent. There are many resources available for support when choosing to quit alcohol:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Alcoholics Anonymous manages meetings around the world to help those who have a wish to stop drinking. These groups are made up of people who have had alcohol use issues, and you may stay anonymous.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a well known and established program relying on a 12 step program toward sobriety for life. Each day is dealt with ‘one day at a time’ and has experienced excellent results since its beginning. Most communities have an AA organization and it is a great resource offered at no cost.

Many walks of life have made use of the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) program. Most people find its supportive nature combined with instilling a sense of self responsibility to be what they need to help them through. Knowing that you are not the only one affected by alcohol can make a lot of difference.

If you desire to quit drinking, you can enlist the help of any of the following: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), your family doctor or counselor, a local hospital or alcohol treatment facility, or a local or national alcohol treatment hotline, the number will be available in your local phone book.

Stopping your use of alcohol can improve your general health and quality of life. It can also increase the quality of life of the people you live with and those who care about you. You decrease your chances of developing serious health problems associated with alcohol abuse or dependence. You reduce your chances of injuring yourself or others in alcohol-related accidents. You might also improve relationships with your parents, children, and spouse or other close loved ones. Not drinking also is a good way for you to model responsible behavior for younger people, particularly children and teens.

You can take steps today to stop drinking. Your first step might be to contact a support group, see your doctor, or set a date in the near future to stop. While some people can stop drinking on their own, others need medical help to manage the physical process of withdrawal.

If you think you have an addiction to alcohol, talk to your doctor about whether you need to withdraw from alcohol under medical supervision. Your doctor can give you medicine that will help you safely withdraw from alcohol. Other medicines might be prescribed later to help you stay sober. With a doctor’s help, withdrawal from alcohol is safer.

Continuing to drink alcohol, even if you do not frequently do so, can lead to problems with your relationships, job performance, and health and to possible legal consequences (such as being arrested for drinking and driving). If alcohol has interfered with your ability to perform daily tasks or with daily function, even if you only drink occasionally, you might need to stop drinking.

When choosing to drink alcohol, even when experiencing all of the problems discussed, only more trouble awaits you. Many times what lies ahead is even more painful and severe and can destroy your life and those around you. By stopping drinking altogether, you can ensure that this outcome will not happen.

Identify your reasons. Make a list of the reasons you want to stop drinking alcohol. You might want to ask a trusted friend or family member to help you make the list complete. Keep this list so that you can renew your commitment from time to time.

Make a plan. Set a date to stop drinking. Complete a plan to stop drinking alcohol. Post it in a place where you can see it often, such as on your refrigerator door or bathroom mirror. You might want to put it in more than one place. You also might want to put it on a card and keep it in your purse or wallet.

Share your plan with others. Talk with your family members and trusted friends about your plan. Let them know how they can help you to be successful.

Evaluate your progress. In your plan, identify when you will evaluate your progress. Try a plan for 30 days so that the new behavior becomes a habit. Review your reasons for stopping alcohol use. Write down the benefits that you are seeing. If you drank after successfully stopping (relapse), it does not mean that you have failed. Relapse is common. Begin again, using your experience to help you learn how to stick with your plan this time.

Maintain your new behaviors. After trying this plan for 30 days, aim for another 30 days. Bad habits are hard to break, even when it might be in your best interest. But the more you practice good behaviors, the more likely it is that they will become positive habits. If you attempt a plan time and time again but are not successful, consult your doctor about other ways to stop drinking alcohol.

Avoid stumbling blocks. Many things can interfere with meeting your goal to cut down on or stop drinking. You might need to choose new friends or a new lifestyle if your current life revolves around alcohol use. To stay focused on your goal and succeed, see ideas to help you stop using alcohol on your own.

Attend a self-help group. Some people attend self-help groups to help them stick to their plan to cut down on or stop drinking. If you are not sure whether a self-help group is for you but would like to try, go to a group at least 3 times before you make your decision. There are different types of groups (such as men or women only, discussion, and speaker). Go to another group if the first one does not suit your needs.

Reward yourself. Use the money you once spent on drinking to do something fun with your family or friends. Go out to eat, see a movie, or play sports or a game.

Identifying your reasons for stopping is the first step. You might want to improve your health, relationships, or job performance. You might want to stop because you have risk factors for alcohol abuse or dependency. All answers are correct.

Making a plan is the second step in stopping. Decide when you are going to stop drinking. Set a time to evaluate your plan to see whether it is working and whether you are able to stop drinking on your own. Help from organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or individual therapy is often needed to help you reach your goal. All answers are correct.

It is very important to schedule a time period to evaluate your plan. At frequent intervals, evaluate how well your plan is working and whether your goals need adjusting. Participating in structured group counseling or individual therapy often helps you reach your goal of stopping drinking. All answers are correct.

If you have questions about this information, take it with you when you visit your doctor or other health professional. You might want to mark areas or make notes where you have questions.

If you try this plan to stop using alcohol and are not successful, talk with your doctor about other ways to get help.

About the Author:

Discover how to Stop Drinking Alcohol by Ed Philips and Stop Drinking Alcohol Today.