Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
In this article
Medically Reviewed by Dr P. E. Pancoast, MD
You may have a drinking problem if:
Self-reflection helps determine if you need to stop drinking. If you have to ask, "Am I an alcoholic?" you most likely are.
Other common signs that you have an alcohol problem include:
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If you want to quit drinking, you can try following a few steps.
No matter your approach to quitting, it is much easier when you have people you care about to lean on. Support can come from various people, including:
Letting these people know you want to quit drinking can also help you stay accountable. You could also join a recovery support group, like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
Spending time with people who understand what you are experiencing can be healing. You can also learn from what others have done to achieve sobriety to guide your journey.
If push comes to shove, you can always seek treatment. Attending an outpatient or inpatient rehabilitation facility is the best way to stop drinking. Primarily due to medical supervision and care.
Alcohol can be a detriment to your body in many ways. Even drinking moderately can sometimes leave you feeling unwell, groggy, or hungover.
Drinking too much can increase the likelihood of the following:
Over time, alcohol’s toll on your body can be hard to reverse. Knowing alcohol's effects on your body can help you stop drinking.
Changing your habits is a good way to start your journey of quitting alcohol. While you don’t need to overhaul your lifestyle completely, you can start adopting habits to support your goals. This includes:
Changing old habits also means making an effort to build a sober social network. It is essential to have sober friends who will support your recovery journey. Consider taking a class, volunteering, or attending events in your community to meet new people who can support you.
Once you decide to quit drinking, setting clear goals is important. It’s best to be as specific and realistic as possible.
For example, you can set a goal to quit drinking by a specific date. If you want to start slow, you could aim to stop drinking alcohol on weekdays. Determine how many drinks you'll allow yourself, and stick to that goal.
For many people, successfully quitting drinking only happens after several attempts. You might have a few setbacks, but don't let them discourage you. Sobriety is an ongoing process, and there’s no endpoint.
Your long-term goal of staying healthy should keep you motivated. Don’t be afraid to ask for help too. As mentioned before, you don't have to undertake sobriety alone. Having people support and motivate you can help you stay on track.
Quitting alcohol cold turkey isn't an easy feat to achieve and it doesn't happen overnight. For many people, recovery is a slow process, and drinking less can be a great way to start.
If you're looking to lessen your alcohol consumption, here are a few tips you can follow:
If you're addicted to alcohol, the first days of quitting can be difficult. Drinking alcohol can be tempting and you might even relapse. You may even start feeling physically ill with withdrawal symptoms.
Although recovering from alcoholism isn't a walk in the park, it is worth it. The long-term benefits you gain from quitting can make you healthier and happier.
The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be tough to deal with. Depending on your level of addiction, you might experience the following symptoms:
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms occur during the detoxification stage, which can be the most difficult part of quitting. But once you make it through, you’ll experience the benefits of not drinking.
Some of these benefits include:
Some people feel these benefits as early as a week after detoxification. For others, it can take months.
Knowing when to seek alcohol addiction treatment is essential to a successful recovery. Some signs that substance abuse treatment might be needed include:
The sooner you get help for alcohol use, the less likely you will suffer long-term consequences.
There is no right or wrong time to seek treatment. If you believe you need help, you should seek help.
There are many treatment options available for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and addiction, including:
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