Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance often include substance use disorder services under mental health benefits. To understand your coverage, check with your insurance provider or speak with a treatment center that offers insurance verification. However, it is important to note that alcohol is very addictive. If you find that you cannot stop drinking, even if it is obvious that it is negatively impacting your life, you may need to seek help for alcohol use disorder. There is no shame in this — a chemical dependency on alcohol can cause severe withdrawal symptoms, and seeking medical attention is important to ensure recovery. There may be many reasons why a person plans to stop drinking alcohol.

Assess your current habits

• In addition, alcohol use can adversely affect your personal, professional, academic, and social abilities.
• NIAAA’s website is full of practical research and science-based methods to help you stop drinking.
• Checking in via an online alcohol support group is also a great way to practice accountability.
• I’m not just referring to how I behaved while under the influence, but my general demeanor, reputation, and options for life were all begging for a massive change.

Avoiding external and internal temptations may require an individual temporarily distancing themself from certain people or events and deep reflections on urges that arise from within. Doctors, nutritionists, and counselors can also help support people to stop drinking alcohol. A person can drug addiction treatment improve their success rate by designing a plan to stop drinking and using the resources that work for them. Many types of support are available in the community and on the internet. However, the best strategies are those that people respond to the best. People can also use a drinking diary to examine their reasons for abstaining on certain days and the effectiveness of their strategies to avoid drinking.

How to Stop Drinking Alcohol for Good

• In addition to that, you need to know the warning signs of severe alcohol withdrawal so you can seek medical attention, should it come to that.
• It’s important to move your body and, when possible, get outside.
• Switch to having tea at night if you used to wind down with a glass of wine or try the many types of alcohol-free beer and wine that are becoming widely available.
• However, the best strategies are those that people respond to the best.
• Your Care Team will recommend a combination of prescribed medication, alcohol therapy, and community support to get you from where you are to where you want to be.

Instead of criticizing yourself for having a hard time or slipping up and having a drink, remember that no one’s perfect. What matters most is your ability to maintain an open, curious outlook as you learn what does and doesn’t work for you. Research shows that most people believe that drinking can make them feel better. However, when alcohol makes up part of your typical routine, drinking can become something of an automatic response, especially when you feel stressed or overwhelmed. Turner notes the importance of bringing along a trusted support person when attending events that involve alcohol. It’s often easier to turn down a drink when you don’t have to do it alone.

Table of contents

Whether you’re sober curious, know for sure you’re ready to quit, or fall somewhere in between, Dr. Streem shares advice for how to stop drinking. If you’re living with alcohol use disorder (also known as alcoholism), you’ll likely benefit from additional medical interventions. There are times when cutting back on your drinking can be helpful, but there are times when quitting alcohol altogether is the best solution. If you want to stop drinking for good, don’t let past relapses discourage you from trying to quit. It is normal and even expected for people to try to quit at least once before achieving sobriety.

• There are effective treatment approaches that can help you quit, so talk to your doctor or a mental health professional if you need more help finding options that will work for you.
• Quitting alcohol doesn’t mean quitting enjoyment for the rest of your life; it means gaining a balanced and fulfilling life free from alcohol.
• If you want to stop drinking for good, don’t let past relapses discourage you from trying to quit.
• As a result, many report enhanced sleep quality, improved skin appearance, and better digestion after cutting back on alcohol.

So how do you cut back?

By formalizing your thoughts, you solidify your commitment to change. This can also make it easier to reflect on your progress and celebrate small victories as you navigate your journey. Remember, knowing your “why” can tips to quit drinking help you stay focused during difficult moments. But it doesn’t have to be if you implement these four strategies for avoiding relapses.

These triggers might include specific social settings or emotional states that prompt cravings. By recognizing these factors ahead of time, you can prepare strategies that make it easier to navigate challenging situations. Talk with roommates or loved ones about keeping it out of the house as well. It’s almost important to avoid place that tempt you to drink.

So many other methods of quitting drinking put fear in your mind – warning of terrible “serious” symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. That said, If you’ve been drinking excessively, then stopping drinking cold turkey can lead to withdrawal symptoms. Family and friends can provide encouragement and support when you stop drinking. By opening up about your relationship with alcohol, you might also encourage others to explore their own drinking habits.

Dr. Streem says that if your goal is to stop drinking altogether, you’re more likely to have success quitting all at once, rather than weaning off alcohol. But that advice changes if you’re living with alcohol use disorder. Laying it all out in black and white can take time and some serious self-examination. Understanding your habits and your motivations to quit drinking can help you understand the change you’re making in your life and reinforce why it’s important.

You might have a few setbacks, but don’t let them discourage you. Sobriety is an ongoing process, and there’s no endpoint. Changing old habits also means making an effort to build a sober social network.

Whether it’s improved relationships, better health, or weight loss, keeping the “why” in sight can help boost your motivation. We have a whole article dedicated to the benefits of quitting alcohol which you can read, with additional free resources available. The tips/instructions help but without the right method/map you may never find your way to freedom so please read on after the tips to understand the best method to quit alcohol use.

Develop and lean on a support system

Managing internal triggers may require keeping a journal or alcohol diary. These are challenging to avoid and work through because they may appear randomly. Small changes can make a big difference in reducing your chances of having alcohol-related problems. Reach your Dry January goals with these tried-and-true tips.