If your goal is to quit drinking, do you want to gradually reduce the amount of alcohol you consume over time or give up drinking all at once? There’s no right answer, but you should go into quitting with a roadmap for your journey ahead. drug addiction treatment Even when you understand the benefits of quitting drinking, it still can be an intimidating prospect to actually kick the habit and know how to quit alcohol safely. The reality is there is no right or wrong way to give up alcohol. Tips for quitting drinking that work for another person may or may not work for you.

Care options

• The federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends not drinking at all, but suggests that if you do, keep it under two drinks a day for men and one for women.
• This 20-minute break allows the alcohol to hit your bloodstream and reduces the cravings for another drink, preventing you from overdoing it.
• Addiction treatment involves comprehensive approaches to address underlying triggers and provide strategies for coping with cravings.

In the early days of sobriety, be very discerning about your social calendar. Avoid overly tempting places, especially those that are triggers for you. It is okay to cancel previously scheduled plans and turn down offers to hang out. You don’t want to go to the party or pub because there will be a lot of alcohol, and you’re self-aware enough to know that won’t be good for you.

Support Strategies for Quitting

At Ria, we offer weekly meetings with certified counselors to help members stay on track and build skills for long-term change. Ria Health offers several FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder. When combined with counseling, this approach is proven highly effective. Excessive drinking has numerous impacts on your body and mind, ranging from mild to severe. Learn which signs to look out for, and how to care for your well-being. Dr Lee says cutting down on drinking is often part of someone’s plan to achieve better overall health.

• There is no shame in admitting this — the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 28.9 million Americans suffered from alcohol use disorder in 2023 alone.
• Quitting alcohol and building better habits can help your body gain the necessary nutrients for proper functioning.
• Actionable goals can help you by giving you exact data on your drinking habits.

Change your environment

• Having to go out to buy alcohol creates a barrier that gives you time to reconsider.
• There are ways, however, to navigate situations like this, and they all involve strong communication and boundary-setting.
• It is normal and even expected for people to try to quit at least once before achieving sobriety.
• Therapy can help you understand why you drink and learn new habits so you can live a healthy lifestyle that doesn’t rely on alcohol as a crutch.

Doctors, nutritionists, and counselors can help people stay on track to stop drinking. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also has an Alcohol Program with printable resources for people to follow. Severe symptoms may require benzodiazepines to prevent serious consequences of alcohol withdrawal. People may also decide to speak with a doctor about effective strategies.

What Is Outpatient Rehab Like

Your effort in trying to learn how to stop drinking alcohol is the beginning of a healthy transformation. While the journey may be tricky, the rewards are worth the effort. What seems impossible and hard to do will become simpler when you follow the steps discussed in the article. Remember, it’s a gradual process, and you may face challenges, but there is a way around them if you are determined.

If you suspect you have an alcohol use disorder or you feel overtly dependent on alcohol, it is helpful to consult a healthcare provider before attempting to quit. They can help you stop drinking in a more regulated way without triggering serious withdrawal symptoms like nausea, sweating, shaking, etc. Belinda Gordon-Battle is a licensed clinical therapist and life consultant based in Miami while providing therapeutic services across the globe.

Tips to Stop Drinking Alcohol for Good

After you’ve worked out your triggers, it’s time to make a plan to deal with them. Triggers are the people, places, situations, and feelings that make you want to drink. Alcohol withdrawal can cause a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms, from mild discomfort to really severe complications and everything in between. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical care immediately. Moderate consumption is medically defined as 2 drinks or less per day for men and 1 drink or less for women per day.

Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues.