Keep in mind the reasons you chose to cut back on or quit alcohol. Maybe you’ve never been interested in logging your innermost thoughts, but journaling can be a great tool to track your feelings as you work on quitting alcohol. Learn more about the health effects of drinking alcohol.
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Practicing your refusal ahead of time can help you feel more comfortable and confident when you find yourself in a situation that involves alcohol. Letting others know about your choice to stop drinking may help motivate you to stick with your decision. From month-long sobriety challenges to the Sober Curious movement, more and more people are taking a closer look at the role alcohol plays in their lives. Accept the urge and ride it out, instead of trying to fight it.
Evaluating the costs and benefits of drinking
- Seeking professional support through True Self Recovery can provide the structure, accountability, and guidance needed to achieve lasting sobriety.
- You may need to stop drinking if alcohol affects your health, emotions, relationships, or responsibilities.
- Engaging with a support group fosters connection, motivation, and commitment to lasting sobriety.
- Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health.
Distraction techniques work because cravings are time-limited. Keep this list accessible for moments when thinking clearly becomes difficult. Remove every bottle, can, and flask from your home, car, and office. Don’t keep How to Stop Drinking “just one bottle for guests” – that’s your addiction talking.
Looking for a way to track your urges and cravings?
- By this point, you will have had about 6,000 fewer calories than you would have previously during a two-week period.
- Belinda Gordon-Battle is a licensed clinical therapist and life consultant based in Miami while providing therapeutic services across the globe.
- The more supportive people you can involve in your quest to quit alcohol the better.
Given the diverse biological processes that contribute to AUD, new medications are needed to provide a broader spectrum of treatment options. Evidence-based AUD treatment is available, change is possible, and most people who Alcoholics Anonymous have AUD recover or markedly improve. FDA-approved medications such as naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram can significantly improve your chances of success. Learn more in our article on medications that help you stop drinking. Identify any potential barriers ahead of time—like social events or emotional triggers—and make a plan to handle them.
Cravings can be triggered by stress, social settings, or habits, but developing healthy coping mechanisms can help resist urges. Seeking support from family, friends, or peer groups provides encouragement, accountability, and emotional stability. Having trusted individuals involved in your journey reduces stress and reinforces commitment. Building a strong support system and creating a structured plan for managing triggers increases the chances of long-term sobriety.