Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
Medically Reviewed by Dr P. E. Pancoast, MD
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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 these 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.
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 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.
With less alcohol in your life, you'll be able to experience a lot of benefits and improvements. By focusing on the positives and thinking about the long-term benefits, you'll be able to maintain sobriety much longer.
Some people feel these benefits as early as a week after detoxification. For others, it can take months. Although you may feel alcohol withdrawal symptoms, the benefits of not drinking can be worth it.
Some of these benefits include:
Eventually, you will have to deal with cravings, so you should always plan for them. The urge to drink can be triggered by various things like anxiety, pain, or even situations.
Here are a few suggestions from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) to help you deal with cravings:
Identifying why you drink alcohol is an important step in giving it up. By understanding the root cause of your alcohol use, you can reduce cravings by avoiding that situation.
Common alcohol triggers include:
Quitting alcohol can be stressful and overwhelming. If you have used alcohol to manage distress and emotional problems, the stress of maintaining sobriety can trigger your cravings.
It's common to have difficulties adjusting to big changes, especially old habits like heavy drinking. To make sure you're not overwhelmed, focus on your well-being.
Here are a few self-care practices you can use to manage stress:
Tapering off alcohol can lengthen your recovery time but it may be better for you in the long run. If you have a hard time quitting alcohol then gradually reducing the amount you drink can help you on your journey to sobriety.
There are two ways you can taper off alcohol:
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.
Treatment facilities use medication with behavioral therapy to help you detox and recover from alcohol. They also offer programs and techniques to help you maintain sobriety after treatment.
Some treatment facilities are luxury rehab centers where they provide a safe environment where you can focus on recovery. Overall, treatment centers provide around the clock suppervision and support to improve your chances of a successful recovery.
In 2021, Dry January has become increasingly popular. Going without alcohol for 30 days can have benefits for your mind and body. Sober October is also popular.
Taking a month without alcohol can give you a look into what your life could be if your cut out alcohol completely. Some people may even feel the beneficial effects of sobirety during or after the 30 days.
Loneliness can be a difficult thing to move through espeically if you drink to ease the pain. Being alone can make you vulnerable.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to connect and socialize with friends or family today. You can hop on an online hang out or play video games if you can't physically see your loved ones.
You can find like-minded and sympathetic people through support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or SMART recovery. If you can't join a physical meeting, most support groups also offer online meetings.
Alcohol withdrawal is one of the biggest challenges people face when they stop drinking alcohol. If you're addicted to alcohol, the first days of quitting can be difficult.
Alcohol withdrawal can make you feel physically ill without alcohol and this can cause you to start drinking. You may even relapse if you're not careful.
To Avoid this make sure you're prepared to handle withdrawal symptoms. Talk with a healthcare professional if you’re concerned withdrawal symptoms. Together, you can come up with a plan to get through it.
Keping track of the amount you drink and when you drink is crucial information. You can use this information to track how you're doing and how far you've come.
You can show the diary to a doctor or healthcare professional to help you maintain sobriety, especially if you're having difficulties. Having a diary to keep track of your progress can also remind you about why you're quitting in the first place.
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:
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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:
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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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