If you’re interested in how to stop drinking, first you need to look at your drinking habits. If you’re drinking very heavily, it might be worth speaking to a professional – perhaps your doctor or a local alcohol addiction rehab center in northern IL. Whether you want to stop drinking out of necessity or simply to stop before it goes too far, this article will cover everything you need to know on how to stop drinking and look after your health.
Make Your Intentions Known
Peer pressure can be a potent trigger when it comes to drinking. This is why it’s crucial to make your intentions known to your friends, family, and colleagues. Most people will honor your decision to stop drinking, so there will be less pressure to ‘have just one’ next time you’re at a social gathering.
Find a Support Network
Having a supportive group of people around you who have also made the decision to give up alcohol can help you stay strong. These people will understand you, be able to give advice, and will help you through when times get tough.
Identify Your Triggers
It’s worth looking at what makes you want to drink in the first place. Is it to quell social anxieties, or when you feel lonely? There could be all sorts of reasons, so take some time to reflect on what makes you want to drink. Once you can understand these triggers, you can take steps to avoid or manage them.
Remove Yourself from Tricky Situations
If you’ve recently decided to give up drinking and haven’t honed your willpower skill just yet, it’s a good idea to avoid temptation. That means avoiding bars and other social gatherings where alcohol is freely available. Again, understanding your triggers will be an essential part of this so you can avoid going into those situations where you might be tempted.
If you do find yourself in a situation where you feel your willpower starting to fail, remove yourself. If you’ve made your intentions known to friends and family, they’ll understand if you need to leave a social gathering. The same goes for arguments or discussions that would’ve once had you reaching for a drink. Simply remove yourself from the situation and do something productive such as going for a walk.
Reward Progress
You should reward all milestones; from a week to a month, to a year. This kind of positive reinforcement will remind you that you’re doing the right thing. How you reward yourself is up to you. You might treat yourself to a new gadget, a video game or a book. Or you might go out with loved ones for a picnic or fancy dinner.
If you have supportive people around you, they can help with these rewards.
Ready to Learn How to Stop Drinking?
Completely stopping alcohol can have a range of effects on the body, especially if you’ve been drinking heavily or consistently for a long time. Sometimes, it’s better to cut down gradually. Consider substance abuse treatment programs to help you through this, especially if you start to get any withdrawal symptoms. A few programs that could help are:
- Inpatient or outpatient programs
- Women’s rehab center
- Men’s rehab center
- 12 step recovery program
Giving up drinking is a big step, but with the right plan and support, it’s possible. Contact Northern Illinois Recovery Center today at 855.786.1978 and learn how to stop drinking.
