There are many reasons why a person would want to stop drinking alcohol. Whether you are interested in stopping drinking due to a health-related issue or you realise that alcohol is taking over your life and you have to enter rehab for alcohol addiction, choosing to stop drinking is a positive step forward. If you are contemplating eliminating alcohol from your lifestyle, just know that you are not alone. There are so many people around the world who have said goodbye to their drinking habits in order to lead healthier lifestyles.
Quitting drinking alcohol is not always easy, and it can even become a constant struggle for many people. However, It is possible for any one to recover from alcohol abuse regardless of how difficult it feels or how badly you are addicted. Here are 5 tips that you can do to make it easier to stop drinking alcohol and start living a sober life.
1. Share Your Intentions With Other People
Let your loved ones, friends and family know that you are going to stop drinking alcohol, along with your reasons behind your decision. It will make it easier for them to understand why you are saying no to drinks on a night out, and also help them to encourage and be there for you. Reminding yourself and those who love you that your goal is to stop drinking alcohol will motivate you to stay sober and may even inspire someone else to stop or reduce their drinking as well.
2. Prevent Temptation
When you first stop drinking alcohol, it is recommendable to stay away from situations that would make it easier or more tempting for you to drink. This can mean avoiding the pub for some time, or if you are the kind of person that enjoys an alcoholic beverage with their meals when they go out to eat then choose places that do not serve alcohol or nominate yourself as the designated driver for extra motivation.
3. Recognise the Triggers
It is also a good idea to recognise your triggers, or drinking patterns, and substitute times when you would usually drink with another activity. If you usually end your work day by having a drink at your local bar then arrange to meet friends for a walk or movie. If you are quitting alcohol in order to improve your health then it could be a good idea to substitute it with a class at the gym or a swim.
A large focus of rehab for alcohol addiction involves identifying your triggers, and for good reason. Recognising your triggers is crucial, especially if you have attempted to eliminate alcohol in the past but were unsuccessful. Try to understand why your efforts were ineffective last time. Did you still end up at the pub at the end of the day? Did you have alcohol in the house?
4. Begin by Cutting Down on Your Drinking
If your goal for cutting out alcohol is to lead a healthier lifestyle, then reducing your alcohol intake instead of stopping cold turkey can be the right way to go. Cutting down on the amount of alcohol that you drink is usually easier to manage and can be an effective way to eventually give up drinking for good. If you are used to drinking every night then introduce some drink-free nights or limit your intake to a few days a week or month. This can become a habit that eliminates temptation and possibly encourages you to increase your amount of alcohol-free days.
5. Reward Yourself
You should realise that changing your lifestyle can be a difficult process and it is a good idea to reward yourself for your progress along the way. Some people make the mistake of becoming really hard on themselves if they slip up. It is better to motivate yourself by creating short-term goals or milestones, such as starting with a few alcohol-free days, which can turn into weeks and eventually months.
Some ideas of rewards include putting aside the money that you would have spent on alcohol and use it to pay for something you enjoy on a weekly or monthly basis. You will be surprised at the amount of money that you can save when youAi??stop drinking alcohol.
Why Rehab for Alcohol Addiction Works
Going to rehab for alcohol addiction is a great way to start getting sober. It provides recovering addicts with both alcohol detox and addiction treatment. Many recovering alcoholics who enter rehab can benefit from supervised detoxification before beginning their recovery process, especially if they have been drinking for a long time or are severely under the influence. Alcohol addiction treatment uses methods that are designed to help you achieve sobriety in a safe and effective way.
Get Help at The Dawn Alcohol Rehab Thailand
Located in Chiang Mai, Thailand, The Dawn Medical Rehab and Wellness Centre is an inpatient drug and alcohol rehab where our clients are taken care of by a licensed team of addiction professionals who use evidence-based techniques that are designed to increase your chances of success (at a quarter of the cost of a Western centre). Contact The Dawn today to receive a no-obligation assessment and find out what help is available.
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