How to stop drinking

How to stop drinking

So you’ve come to the decision that you want to learn How to stop drinking alcohol. Maybe you’ve tried a few times to just cut down, and drink more sensibly like others around you seem to.
But you’ve had limited success, perhaps you manage it for a week or so, and then you’re drinking more again. Then the blackouts and awful hangovers start. Finally you decide it is time to quit.

If you learn how to stop drinking, you have benefits

Prevent or reduce health problems that are made worse by alcohol use, such as liver damage.

Prevent harm to your unborn baby if you are pregnant.

Reduce related family concerns or relationship problems.

Increase your ability to be productive at work, school, and home.

Reduce legal problems that you might have as a result of misuse of alcohol.

So it is very important to know How to stop drinking.

Below is a Self Test which has 12 questions you need to be asking yourself, to see if you have a drinking problem.

1 - Do you ever use alcohol alone?

2 - Do you regularly drink when you wake up or when you go to bed?

3 - Has your job performance ever suffered from the effects of your alcohol use?

4 - Have you ever tried to stop or control your drinking?

5 - Do you feel it is impossible for you to live without using alcohol?
6 - Do you ever question your own sanity?

7 - Is your alcohol use causing problems at home?

8 - Have you ever felt defensive, guilty, or ashamed about your drinking?

9 - Have you ever used alcohol because of emotional pain or stress?

10 - Do you continue to use alcohol despite negative consequences?

11 - Do you think you might have an alcohol problem?

12 - Would you know how to stop drinking alcohol?

I have found that most people who have a drinking problem have nearly answered YES to them all; if you have then you need to seek help or advice from someone about quitting or slowly cutting down your drinking problem.

How to stop drinking? The first thing is to –

Consider your motivation for stopping
Weigh up the pros and cons of the changes you are about to make.
What are the good things about your drinking right now, what does it do for you? This is important to consider, because you need to find other ways to achieve this.

Then what are the bad things about your drinking? Really dig deep with this - look at your relationships, your health, job, self-esteem, depression etc.

Next what are the good things you expect to happen when you stop drinking, how will your life be better?

Finally what are the negative bits about quitting? What is putting you off the idea? Again, this is important because you will have to find some way to solve these concerns.

How to stop drinking, when friends urge you to?

It is not good if friends put you under pressure or if you feel pressure to drink. Drinking alcohol is a choice, and it is your choice not to do it. Your friends should respect that. Friends who want the best for you will respect your opinion and what you do. If they don\'t, you should ask yourself if they are such good friends, and if you want to be friends with them. It is important to know the reasons why you don\'t want to drink or at least not so much. It is also good to have knowledge about alcohol, for example about the risks. Then you can clearly explain to others why you have come to this decision. If people insist, you can tell them a few things, for example:

I don\'t like it, I would rather have a soft drink.

I just enjoy things more when I\'m sober.

My evening is nicer without intoxication.

I don\'t need alcohol to get happy.

I want to stay clear.

I have to drive home.

I do sports, and alcohol is bad for my condition.

I want to be fit tomorrow.

For how to stop drinking in innocent way, you can also try a joke or a white lie, like:

I can\'t stand it. I get sick.

It gives me a bad humor.

I made a bet not to drink.

How to stop drinking >